OHSAA to host first middle school track and field meet

The Ohio High School Athletic Association will host the first middle school state track and field meet this coming spring.

Announced in a release on Wednesday afternoon, the meet will be for seventh and eighth grade boys and girls and will be held at Lancaster High School on Saturday, May 13. Participants must achieve a qualifying standard during regular-season meets. The top 16 performers in each event will be invited to the state meet.

“Many people might not know that the OHSAA oversees seventh and eighth grade sports, too, for member junior high schools,” OHSAA Commissioner Dr. Ross said in Wednesday’s release.

“We have been looking at ways to expand our involvement with middle schools and expand opportunities for them to get involved in a tournament setting. This will accomplish both of those goals.”

Potential qualifiers will be posted and updated on BaumsPage.com throughout the season. Only fully automated running times will be considered. Field event results must be certified by an OHSAA licensed official. If a qualifier chooses not to compete, the next best performer will be invited until the maximum 16 participants are set.

The new meet was proposed by the OHSAA’s Middle School Committee and approved the by OHSAA Board of Directors. It will be the second middle school state athletic event. The OHSAA has held a middle school state cross country meet the last four seasons.

The OHSAA will host the 110th boys and 43rd girls state track and field meets at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus in June.

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