Even the usually sunny Southern California was marred by unseasonable weather like El Niño (Lizette Adams photo)
This past weekend was a virtual washout, err I mean snow/cold out. I think for the first time since I've lived in Illinois (23 years total) that more meets were cancelled than ran. Our MileSplit stat master told me we had 36 meets inputted into our results section this past week vs. 63 for the same period in 2015. Kudos to Downers Grove South for running the Mustang Girls Invite which they conducted at 2p during the peak of the day where the temperature hovered around 40 degrees. Belleville West hosted their boys meet in the southern part of the state which was significantly warmer (15 degrees or more depending on who you ask). And don't forget about Arcadia where more than two dozen Illinois athletes competed in warmer climes.
Sunday was a much better feel with temperatures climbing into the 50s in parts of Chicago land and it had me thinking about a few things that I would like to share. We have talked about changing state championship venues before as well as the dates. We all have discussed conducting co-ed state meets as well. However, I have yet to read or discuss on record or off record regarding why nothing significant hasn't been done to address making our sport more conducive for the entire six months. We are now losing two or more weeks to weather cancellations or meet events and schedules being modified. The girls have it worse because their season ends a week earlier than the boys. In fact, Illinois rates as the earliest Midwest state to conduct a girls championship. See 2016 Midwest state meet schedule below:
Midwest State meets: Illinois- girls May 19-21, boys May 26-28; Iowa- May 27,28; Indiana- June 3,4;, Kansas- May 27,28; Michigan- June 4; Minnesota- June 11, Missouri- May 27, 28; Nebraska 20,21; North Dakota- May 27, 28; Ohio- June 3,4; South Dakota- May 27, 28; Wisconsin- June 3,4
The majority of the region states hold their meets co-ed and at the end of May or early June for the very reason we should- the weather! It is also a travesty to not have the girls state championship at a later date when the official practice date starts with the boys. I asked the powers that be within the IHSA why can't our state meet be modified. I was told because of a conflict with summer school and the lack of dorms for lodging. Really? Eastern Illinois University where the state meet is held starts its six-week summer session on May 16. My math tells me the college students don't finish up until after mid-June. It is true EIU is out of school for the Memorial Holiday which normally falls on the boys state weekend. But there are still tons of students on campus. There is also plenty of lodging in a 35 mile radius of Charleston which many schools exercise. So in other words there is no reason why we can't move our state meets into late May for girls and early June for boys. I am going to sound like a broken record once more: "as this past weekend proved, our meets and vital practice time have been ruined because of inclement weather." Late March and early April have proven year in and year out as problem time periods. It is important for young athletes and junior varsity kids who yearn to compete for a spot in varsity invitationals or gain experience racing outdoors. Late April and beyond is all about varsity competition that features major invites, conference, and the mighty state championship series. We now live in an era where meet directors and coaches are quick to call a cancellation even if the temperature is 45 degrees. So once again why not move the state meets to the first weekend in June? What do you think?