At-large bids OK’d for state running events

Divisional breakdowns also set; OHSAA votes down baseball proposal

Outdoor track and field season is still more than six months away, but the Ohio High School Athletic Association rendered Sept. 21 an important day for the sport anyway.

At its monthly board of directors meeting, the board unanimously approved a proposal from the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches to add two at-large qualifiers for the state track and field meet in running events.

Since Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium has nine lanes — which have been all used in recent years for finals, but not for preliminaries — it was deemed not to be an additional burden to add qualifiers for prelims.

The top four from each regional will still automatically qualify for state in running events, but after that the two fastest times overall from the four regionals will also make state.

The OHSAA also approved divisional breakdowns for track and field, which will be: BOYS » Division I, 300 and more; Division II, 155-299; Division III, 154 and less GIRLS » Division I, 298 and more; Division II, 155-297; Division III, 154 and less

In turn, here is where News-Herald coverage area schools will be this coming spring:

Boys

DIVISION I » Brush, Chardon, Euclid, Geneva, Harvey, Kenston, Lake Catholic, Madison, Mayfield, Mentor, North, Riverside, South, University DIVISION II » Beachwood, Benedictine, Berkshire, Chagrin Falls, Hawken, NDCL, Perry, West Geauga, Wickliffe DIVISION III » Cardinal, Cornerstone Christian, Fairport, Gilmour, Kirtland, Newbury, Richmond Heights, VASJ

Girls

DIVISION I » Brush, Chardon, Euclid, Geneva, Kenston, Madison, Mayfield, Mentor, North, Riverside, South DIVISION II » Beachwood, Beaumont, Chagrin Falls, Harvey, Hawken, Kirtland, Lake Catholic, NDCL, Perry, VASJ, West Geauga, Wickliffe DIVISION III » Berkshire, Cardinal, Cornerstone Christian, Fairport, Gilmour, Newbury, Richmond Heights

This past season’s state track and field meet was reported to draw 27,409 fans over two days, with a net proceeds of $21,824.

In board meeting highlights from other sports:

• The board rejected a proposal from the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association to extend the season two weeks due to the new National Federation of State High School Associations-mandated pitch counts.

• State baseball ($3,205), softball ($300) and tennis ($2,702) resulted in minimal net financial losses.

• State lacrosse had net proceeds of $73,492, but the tournament in that sport is deemed to begin at the regional level and has team entry fees among other differing parameters.