To the Editor:
With 49 states in the Union having multiple classes of Cross Country, isn’t it time we do the same here in Indiana?
Let us start with the fairness factor. Watching big schools ‘sit out’ their top runners for sectionals or regionals because they have a huge number of runners who can make it safely to regionals or semi state was finally corrected by only having 3 tournament races; sectionals, regionals and state. This makes sectionals and regionals much more competitive and teams less likely to sit out their top runners — though some still did this year.
With that as the backdrop, let’s look at the numbers from the state meet at Lavern Gibson on Oct. 28, 2023 using the class system for Indiana basketball.
In the boys race, 25 total teams competed: 22 4A schools, two 3A schools, one 2A school and zero 1A schools. 91.6% of all boys runners were from 4A and 3A schools. 1.6% were from 1A schools.
In the girls race, it was much the same: 20 4A schools, four 3A schools, zero 2A schools and one 1A school. 91.2% of all girls runners were from 4A and 3A schools. 3.2% from 1A schools.
The question that should be asked is — why is it only for certain athletes that the IHSAA wants to create fairness?
Indiana is the only state that has decided to continue allowing schools with a population of sometimes less than 100 high school students to compete with those with over 5,000. That is the precise reason that the IHSAA decided to use the class system for basketball and football, not to mention the increased revenue from more championship games.
Some of the excuses ring hollow. “We can’t have all of the classes run at the same time.” Why not? Ceraland Cross Country Course in Columbus has the Rick Weinheimer Classic and all the runners start at the same time. Then, when awards are announced, the computer program separates small schools from big schools. Other meets across the state and nation do just that.
“We cannot have that many runners run on the course at the same time.” Again, not true. The Nike XC Twilight that is run at the Lavern Gibson Course in Terre Haute every year — where the Indiana State meet is held — have in some of its open races over 600 runners. If you make two classes of schools — large and small — you would have about 500 runners in the state race, boys and girls. The course is large enough to handle it.
“It’s the way it’s always been done.” See Basketball, Football, Soccer, et cetera.
It’s always in my nature to not just complain about a problem, but have a solution. So here you go …
Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, we could have the exact same sectional and regional hosts with a class system. All the sectional hosts had no problem hosting all the schools at their respective courses. The regional courses could have had a lot more runners, in fact, Shelbyville almost looked empty as compared to the other times semi-state was run there.
Here is my breakdown for the 2 classes and how they move on (and it’s almost the exact same as it is now);
From Sectionals to Regionals:
Five Teams from 3A/4A move on. The top 15 runners not on one of those teams move to regionals. Five Teams from 1A/2A move on. The top 15 runners not on one of those teams move to regionals.
From Regionals to State:
Four Teams from 3A/4A move on. The top 15 runners not on one of those teams move on to state. Four Teams from 1A/2A move on. The top 15 runners not on one of those teams move on to state.
That is 430 runners. Almost 200 less than some of the Nike Twilight Open races this year. There would still be one race and in some years when a 1A or 2A runner is running at the same time as the big school runners, you would still be able to compete without a separate race.
The course can handle it.
The schools would love to handle it.
It’s time the governing body step up and do what is right for athletes who are not just in basketball, football, soccer and the numerous other Indiana high school sports that get to crown state champions who do not have a school population in the thousands.
Dustin Doyle
Bargersville
