09/30/20 – Cross Country Season Updates & Clarifications

September 30, 2020 Cross Country Blog Updates

As we are a few weeks into the season, the KHSAA wanted to send out some updates and clarifications on the Cross Country season. We have heard positive feedback from the first few weeks and wanted to be sure to communicate with schools on the progress of the season.

We have a list of tentative REGIONAL SITES posted. Please note, due to the current pandemic and the fluidity of the virus, schools should be flexible with any changes to sites/dates as we get closer to the postseason. Currently, the regions are scheduled the week of October 19. Host schools should begin planning with consideration of the time schedule to ensure each class has its own time slot and an ample amount of time between classes to assist with sanitation efforts.

Coaches, it is also important to note that multiple ACT dates are available in October.  The ACT released information about adding additional testing dates for the 2020-21 school year and the KHSAA office posted these dates on the website in early August. The KHSAA cannot possibly avoid conflicts with all of these dates, including postseason dates/times. CLICK HERE for a list of ACT dates. 

As for the regular season, we have had inquiries about the masking of student-athletes at races. Athletes are permitted to wear gloves and/or masks/face coverings during competition with no restriction on color or type. Athletes shall wear masks/face coverings in the team staging area, corral, and until the start of the race. Runners may remove their mask/face covering when called to the starting line by the starter, but the mask/face covering should not be discarded. With officials clerking at the starting line (Rule modification 8-4-5), this requires each coach to ensure all student-athletes on his/her team are compliant prior to clerking. Coaches are required to be masked at all times regardless if on or off the course. Any medical waivers shall be presented ahead of time to meet management and the coach shall have a copy at all times. 

The staff is working on details for the postseason and any updates/changes will be communicated accordingly. Any Cross Country specific questions should be sent to Assistant Commissioner Sarah Bridenbaugh (sbridenbaugh@khsaa.org). 

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 280 member schools both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 215 state championships to 51 teams and 164 individuals in 13 sports and 6 sport-activities, funds catastrophic insurance coverage for its more than 106,000 rostered member school student-athletes, provides coaching education and sports safety programs for more than 12,000 coaches, and licenses and facilitates the distribution of training material for over 4,000 contest officials.

The KHSAA staff routinely publishes blog posts to better communicate with its various constituencies and the public. For a list of those blogs, go to http://khsaa.org/news-stats-pubs/sports-blogs/