New travel restrictions imposed by the state of New Jersey have forced meet organizers from this weekend's East Coast Cross Country Championships to disinvite teams and athletes from Maryland set to compete. The meet will feature only teams and athletes from New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania.
Maryland had a few teams and athletes entered in the exclusive 250-person field (125 boys and 125 girls), including the Howard girls and both the Severna Park boys and girls. Andrew Myers, Peter Sorensen and Elizabeth Pickett were also initially entered in the field as individuals.
The news effectively ends the 2020 fall running season in Maryland. Last weekend, the Maryland Elite Two Mile wrapped up in-state competition with some fast times on the track.
Now, with the prospects of an indoor season looking desperate at best, coaches and athletes will turn their heads toward the second semester, during which the MPSSAA currently plans to contest both fall and spring sports seasons. The feasibility of contesting sanctioned sports once again in Maryland during the 2020-21 school year will likely depend on the direction of future COVID-19 rates in the state (which are reaching peak May levels once again) and the potential availability of a COVID-19 vaccine.