McQuaid Indoor Track Team Races Against Covid-19

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It is questionable whether the 2020-2021 McQuaid track season will happen due to COVID-19 restrictions on high school sports. 

The McQuaid Indoor Track and Field Knights have won 15 sectional titles, including winning another just last season. The upcoming season for the track and field season is all dependent on if it will happen or not. 

Covid-19 has severely affected many peoples’ lives at McQuaid, including athletics.  There are many concerns whether the season will happen due to Covid. “I don’t know if the season will happen it probably won’t but if it does it is going to be something small and different, maybe delayed,” says Connor Kerr, ‘21.

McQuaid Jesuit has an incredible coaching staff and are pushed in and out of season to be the best they can be. Runner Connor Kerr is a long distance runner who has trained through the off-season and is excited to be able to run this winter. McQuaid will be the team to beat this season, with over 20 sectional important scorers from last year returning to run, but the season has to begin in order for this to even be a possibility.  

The NYSPHSAA has sent out many different updates regarding winter sports seasons as a whole, which has caused quite a bit of uproar within the community. The sports that are allowed to be played versus the sports that are not has sparked flames in some people. 

“After consultation with state officials today, NYSPHSAA has confirmed low and moderate risk winter sports (bowling, gymnastics, indoor track & field, skiing, and swimming & diving) are permitted to be played”, says Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director.

Indoor Track & Field was supposed to start on November 30th, but was pushed back indefinitely to January 4th, due to Covid and Section V track wanting to plan more. 

The off-season has been brutal for some, trying to stay in shape and struggling without being able to compete. Throughout the off-season and the pandemic, there has been scheduled clinics and camps that are open to runners and throwers. For the long distance runners, cross country was outstanding preparation for the track season. 

For normal meets such as Rochester Institute of Technology, Roberts Wesleyan College, and Nazareth College, they do not seem to be holding these meets this year. Houghton College is offering one or two races for the season at most and is leaving runners distraught and nervous if there will be a season. 

McQuaid hopes to see its track and field knights, along with other winter sports teams be able to compete this season.