For many of the Cross Country Coaches what they have been asking for is now Official. Girls will move up from 4K to 5K in Cross Country next fall. While at the State Meet on Saturday I was able to ask Don HInton of MHSAA of the status of the move up and he confirmed that there had been the two votes yes by the board for the move. So now Mississippi will join many other of the States at 5K. Will this effect the racing that is the question. It will make the State Cross Country Meet go longer and according to Hinton may make it into a two day event.
That change however is not official and will be considered over the Summer. The big problem with that is the State Cross Country Meet falls on the Saturday after the last regular season football games on that Friday. So many runners are cheerleaders and band members running on that Friday could be a big problem. On behalf of this reporter though the thought of only having to make 6 trips a day from the Start line to the 1 mile to the finish line instead of 12 is a blessing and my poor feet are thanking MHSAA. However, the two day meet will be an organization problem that MHSAA has to solve.