State Meets Cancelled for 2020

NEWS RELEASE

50 Industrial Drive, Augusta, Maine 04330 • (207) 622-0217

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Contact Person: Mike Bisson, Assistant Executive Director

Release Date: November 9, 2020

Subject: Cross Country State Championship

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It is with regret that the Maine Principals’ Association announces the cancellation of the

2020 State Cross Country Championships. Please know that this was not a decision

that was taken lightly, but one that the leadership at the MPA felt necessary to take

based on a couple of major concerns.

1. The concern of bringing students together from all parts of Maine through

state-wide travel as we are experiencing a significant increase in the number of

Covid-19 cases in Maine.

2. The new mask mandate for student-athletes to wear masks throughout the

competition. Many cross country runners have not been acclimatized to wearing

the mask while competing in a high stakes race since the mandate took place

last Friday. This is a concern for the health and safety of the student-athletes.

We received a great deal of feedback from school administrators and coaches

regarding this meet and all concerns were heard. We also know that there will be a

great deal of disappointment from those scheduled to compete in this race.

The Maine Principals’ Association is a professional association representing Maine’s

K-12 principals, assistant principals, and career and technology center directors. The

Association dates to 1921 and focuses its work on promoting the principalship,

supporting principals as educational leaders, and promoting and administering

interscholastic activities in grades 9-12.