UIL Regional Meets may not have FAT timing to qualify for State

[Bert Williams]

AUSTIN, TX— After collaborating with University of Texas officials and the twenty UIL
regional track meet hosts, the UIL has tentatively rescheduled the regional track meets to
take place after interscholastic competition resumes on May 11. Additionally, the state track
meet is scheduled to be held June 5-6 at Myers Stadium at the University of Texas at
Austin.

“The decision to suspend competition was not a decision we took lightly,” said UIL
Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. “Much effort and consideration was given to
resurrect the regional track meets and change the dates for the state meet. With the
cooperation of our regional sites and the University of Texas, we are now able to hold the
regional and state track meets as we had originally intended.”

On April 29, 2009 the UIL announced that the state track meet would be held May 14-16
and that qualifiers would come from the top four participants in each event from each
region.

“At that time, we were simply trying to save the state track meet,” said Breithaupt. “When
our staff had the time, opportunity and information they were able to make this happen. We
had numerous calls in support of the original decision as well as calls to return to the
regional format. We also know that additional conflicts may occur because of these
changes. However, we believe this schedule represents the best opportunity for the most
students.”

The tentative schedule and sites for the regional track meets is below.

Reg-Div Date Site
I-A May 12,13 South Plains College
II-A May 15,16 Abilene Christian University
III-A May 15,16 Palestine ISD (Hand Held times will be used)
IV-A May 18,19 Sam Houston State University

1-2A May 19, 20 Odessa College
II-2A May 15,16 Tarleton State University
III-2A May 15,16 Whitehouse ISD
IV-2A May 15,16 Judson ISD

I-3A May 22,23 Texas Tech University

II-3A May 15,16 Texas A&M Commerce ( Hand Held Times will be used)

III-3A May 15,16 Humble ISD
IV-3A May 19, 20 Flour Bluff ISD

I-4A May 15,16 Odessa College
II-4A May 12,13 University of North Texas
III-4A May 18,19 Sam Houston State University
IV-4A May 15,16 San Antonio ISD

I-5A May 22,23 Texas Tech University
II-5A May 22,23 Baylor University

III-5A May 15,16 Humble ISD ( Not sure likely HandHeld)

IV-5A May 15,16 San Antonio ISD

Here is the message, they over reacted and now that the majority of the Fully Automatic Timing Officials are in the middle of doing NCAA meets the Texas State meet is going to be a step back into the past.

Athletes will be included in the state meet with Hand Held times, but they are going to convert all the times to FAT and than when they compete, the statement will read " The timing system must be broke because at the regional meet that kid was a 10.2 in the 100m dash there is no way that kid ran a 11.3 .

This year Texas HS track has truely gone to the farm! "Pig Farm"