Vermont Championship Race Information

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Vermont Principals' Association
Vermont Championship
November 1, 2003
Race Information

1. Distance. 5,000 meters for girls and boys. The Committee recommends that member schools adjust their course distances to 5,000 meters for meets during the season.

2. Uniforms. Jewelry is not permitted. Uniforms for all runners in both the Championship Races and the Challenge Races must comply with Rule 9 of the National Federation Rules! Read these rules: Rule 9-5; Rule 4-3 in the National Federation Rule Book. See Situations 9.5.3 and 4.3.1(I)-(N) in the National Federation Casebook. Uniforms must comply with rules regarding: school issued tops; school issued shorts; shorts must be worn; boys must wear boxer-type shorts; girls may wear either boxer-type or brief shorts; undergarments must comply with the rules; many items must be identical for all team members. Shoes must be worn. Timepieces may be worn. Click for Rules about Uniforms.

3. Spikes. Spikes may be worn by runners in the Vermont Races. Note that spikes may or may not be permitted in the New England Championship, depending on the venue. the host state, and the decision of the New England Council.

4. Race Eligibility. Athletes must have competed in a minimum of four interscholastic meets to be eligible for either the Championship Races or the Challenge Races. Request a waiver for injured or ill athletes from the VPA and send the waiver with the Entry Blank. A school with VPA permission for eighth graders to compete should note that on entry forms. The coach may choose up to seven runners on the day of the Championship Race. Only seven athletes from each team may compete in the Championship Race for each school. If more than seven runners from a school start or finish the Championship Races, all runners but the seven slowest will be disqualified.

5. Entries. Entries must be completed and either federally postmarked by certified mail no later than Friday, October 17, 2003, or hand-delivered by 4:00 p.m., Monday, October 20, 2003. No FAXed or e-mailed entries will be accepted. Mail or deliver to: Dan Grossman, Meet Director, Thetford Academy, Academy Road, PO Box 190, Thetford, VT 05074.

6. Individual Entries. Schools may enter individuals in either the Championship Races or the Challenge Races.

7. Team Entries for Championship Races. Schools may start up to seven eligible runners in the Championship Races. In Divisions I and II, if 5 runners for a school finish, they will be scored as a team, and in Division III, if 4 runners for a school finish they will be scored as a team. All runners for a team who finish the Championship Race will either score or displace. If more than seven runners from one school start or finish the Championship Races, all runners but the seven slowest will be disqualified.

8. Fees. Any number of girls in both races - $35. Any number of boys in both races - $35. Make checks payable to Thetford Academy. Entries will not be accepted without a check for the fees. Please don't send entry fees separately.

9. Bib Numbers. Numbers will be assigned to each runner. Numbers must be worn on the front of the jersey for the whole race, until the runner leaves the chute. Do not pin the pull-tags at the bottom of numbers. As each athlete leaves the finish chute, their pull-tag is taken and their number is recorded; this information is used for the computer scoring. Runners who leave the finish chute before their pull-tag is taken will be disqualified. Pull-tags of distressed or disabled runners who finished the race are taken to the end of the chute by race officials. Ineligible runners who compete in the Championship Races will be disqualified.

10. Team Scoring in Championship Races. Runners from incomplete teams do not count in team scoring. Two columns on the results show race-place, which includes all runners in the race, and team-place, which includes only up to seven runners on teams. Add the team-places of the first five finishers (Divisions I and II) and the first four finishers (Division III) on a team to get the team score. Lowest team score is the winner. Resolving Ties. If both teams have six finishers (five in Division III): best sixth place (fifth in Divisions III) prevails. If one team has five finishers (four in Division III), and the other has six or more (five or more in Division III), the team with six finishers (five in Division III) prevails. Both teams have five finishers (four in Division III): use the scores of the first four (three in Division III) finishers. See Nat'l Federation Rule 9, Sec. 2, Art. 3. There is no team scoring in the Challenge Races.

11. Officials. The VPA Cross-Country Committee is the games committee, and its chair is Referee, unless the Committee provides otherwise. All decisions regarding the meet will be made by the games committee at the site of the meet, and decisions of the games committee will be final.

12. Championship Race Awards. Individuals. Individual medals will be awarded to the top ten individuals in each division, whether the runner is entered as part of a team or as an individual. Teams. A championship plaque and a runner-up plaque will be awarded to the first and second place teams in each division. Members of the winning and runner-up teams in each division will receive an award.