A State of Normalcy
Just two
days before the Cross Country State Championship was set to begin in Maine, the
Maine Principals' Association, their TSSAA equivalent, released this statement:
It
is with regret that the Maine Principals' Association announces the
cancellation of the 2020 State Cross Country Championships. Please know
that this was not a decision that was taken lightly, but one that the
leadership at the MPA felt necessary to take based on a couple of major
concerns
1. The concern of bringing
students together from all parts of Maine through state-wide travel as we are
experiencing a significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Maine.
2. The new mask mandate for
student-athletes to wear masks throughout the competition. Many cross country
runners have not been acclimatized to wearing the mask while competing in a
high stakes race since the mandate took place last Friday. This is a concern
for the health and safety of the student-athletes.
We
received a great deal of feedback from school administrators and coaches
regarding this meet and all concerns were heard. We also know that there will
be a great deal of disappointment from those scheduled to compete in this race.
After reading
this statement, I can't decide which would be worse: Living in a state where
they postponed all sports with the hopes of cramming them into the spring or
living in a state where you competed an entire regular season in the fall only
to have it cancelled two days before the state championship. I'm thankful we
live in neither. If you've been reading our discussion board however, some are
having a hard time mirroring that sentiment.
Ultimately,
the state meet is not about me and it's not about them, it's about the
athletes.
"I'm so
grateful I got the chance to race & do what I love when many people can't
right now."
- Zoe
Arrington (11-5-2020)
I, and
others, couldn't agree more. Last second course adjustments aside, from the start
on Thursday to final finisher on Friday, the state meet served as a dose of
normalcy to cap off a season that was anything but.
Congratulations
to all those who competed. Hope to see you on the track.
