NCHSAA Indoor Track state finals to be held outdoors this season

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors has made a decision regarding the 2011 NCHSAA indoor track and field championships.

The Board has decided to have the indoor state championship as a winter track championship for this year only, which means indoor events will be contested at an outdoor facility. Many member schools already use outdoor or "polar bear" meets to give athletes an opportunity to meet qualifying standards.

The issue of a championship site occurred when construction on the University of North Carolina campus rendered the normal venue for the event, the Eddie Smith Field House, unable to use for competition this year. Discussion on the options ranged from not having a state championship culminating event to holding the championship at another facility out of state.

Additional details will be worked out, including looking at potential sites for the event, temperature options if it gets too cold or organization differences for the event since it will be outdoors.

"Our Board felt like this option was the best way to provide a culminating championship opportunity for our student-athletes and also keep the championship in state," said Davis Whitfield, NCHSAA commissioner.


-- NCHSAA Press Release