East St. Louis' boys track and field program, a perennial contender at the Illinois High School Association Class Championships, had its season cancelled Thursday, just two days after a scuffle took place in the grandstands on May 8 during the early stages of the Southwestern Conference Championship in East St. Louis.
The meet, which was reportedly just "an hour hold when the fighting began" was suspended after the junior varsity boys 3200m. According to the St. Louis Dispatch, "The league announced Thursday it will not resume the meet, citing a lack of available venues, time constraints and logistics."
The East St. Louis School District of 189 released a statement following the decision:
"While the investigation is still ongoing, it has been confirmed that members of the Flyers track team contributed to the escalation of the altercation at the meet held on May 9, 2018. Therefore, we are ending the boys' track season immediately."
As recently as 2016, East St. Louis' boys team earned its last Class 3A championship. A year ago, it finished second in the state and annually has represented well in the field, earning 11 team state championships.
East St. Louis had been bumped down to Class 2A for the 2018 season.
East St. Louis' boys track and field program, a perennial contender at the Illinois High School Association Class Championships, had its season cancelled Thursday, just two days after a scuffle took place in the grandstands on May 8 during the early stages of the Southwestern Conference Championship in East St. Louis.
The meet, which was reportedly just "an hour hold when the fighting began" was suspended after the junior varsity boys 3200m. According to the St. Louis Dispatch, "The league announced Thursday it will not resume the meet, citing a lack of available venues, time constraints and logistics."
