We have compiled information from local news outlets and state associations on all 50 states and have aggregated where each stands in relation to starting cross country this fall. Take a look below for the most up-to-date information on where each state stands, and learn more about their processes and guidelines for competition this fall.
National Cross Country Calendar 2020
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Alabama - The Alabama High School Athletic Association has put no restrictions on the start of fall sports, per WSFA 12. The organization met on July 23 to outline the beginning of the fall season and approved its plan for the fall months. However, some sports, including cross country, will have modifications. In cross country, "the course is to be widened to six feet where feasible and those on the sidelines will need to wear masks." For more information, click here.
Alaska - Working with various school districts, the ASAA has designed recommendations for restarting activities using the Smart Start 2020 format. Currently, these recommendations are for the Summertime (June 1 to July 31) and Fall Activities (Beginning July 29). (Full Information here)
Arizona - There have been three school districts in the Navajo Nation and Fort Apache Indian Reservation who have canceled fall sports, but Arizona Interscholastic Association has announced as of August 6 cross country can begin practice on August 24 with the first competitions to be held on September 9. The state championships will be held on November 12th and 13th. (Updated August 6)
Arkansas - The season will start as planned, according to the Arkansas Activities Association.
California- The season will be postponed until December of 2020. The first contest can be held on Saturday, December 26, 2020. Full information on California MileSplit here.
Connecticut - The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference is currently reviewing plans -- and potential scenarios -- for the fall season. According to the New Haven Register, there are two committee meetings scheduled for the week of July 27-31. The New Day newspaper, of New London, reported that the most likely scenario for the fall sports season would be an abbreviated schedule, "beginning in late September." A source told the newspaper that four different options were presented during a meeting with CIAC officials. The plan also featured "no official state tournaments, but region-based tournaments in November." More information here.
Colorado - No official decisions on the fall season have been made yet by the Colorado High School Athletic Association, per an update by the organization on July 16. "The CHSAA staff will continue to advocate within our submitted proposals to conduct all programs within the Governor's safety guidelines, phases, and requirements." "We will keep our school communities informed and we will provide definitive answers and timelines once they are approved by the Governor's office."
Delaware - According to Delaware State News the DIAA announced Thursday, August 6 that Deleware will not have a fall sports season. The season will instead take place - in an abbreviated version - between the winter and spring sports seasons. See more from Delaware State News here.
Florida - The FHSAA Board of Directors voted on July 23 to delay the fall sports season until Aug. 24. The organization met twice over the period of July 20-24, voting first to continue the season as planned, and, after backlash by member schools and their leaders, met just 72 hours later and voted 11-4 to delay the season until August.
Georgia - The metro Atlanta area school systems are delaying the start of school and some of them are going to begin with virtual learning only.
Hawaii - The Honolulu Star Advertiser reported on July 18 that fall sports could begin in late August or as late as September 14, per the Hawaii High School Athletic Association's latest decision.
Idaho - The first available date for high school sports practice this fall will begin on August 10, per the IHSAA. Any changes to the calendar will be made on a week-to-week basis. More information can be found on page 15 of the Idaho High School Activities Association'sguidance for opening up high school sports page. (Updated July 28th)
Indiana - Per the IHSAA website the return for cross country practice will be August 3 and cross country competitions set to begin August 15. Full information can be found here.
Iowa - No decisions have been made for sports in Iowa outside of football, where practices can begin on Aug. 10 and the first games are tentatively scheduled for Aug. 27. The IHSAA's plan now includes a modified regular-season schedule. You can find more information on the Iowa High School Athletic Association's decision on fall sports here.
Kansas - Fall sports will go on as normal. Traditional fall school practices begin on August 17, 2020. (Updated July, 14th)
Kentucky - KHSAA has approved cross county to start official fall practice on August 24th and competition to start the first date of competition is set for September 7th. (Updated July 29th).
Louisiana- The Louisiana High School Athletic Association issued a communication on July 27 advising member schools that high school activities could begin on August 3, according to the Shreveport Times. Some high school systems without the state could opt to start at later dates.
Maine - Maine has delayed the start of practice until September 8 and the first competition is not to take place before the 17th. No decision has been made on the postseason yet.
Maryland -The MPSSAA has decided to postpone both the fall and winter sports seasons due to concerns with the effects and spread of the coronavirus. More can be found in this article on MileSplit Maryland. (Updated August 3rd)
Massachusetts - The MIAA announced on July 21st that the season will be pushed back until Sept 14 at the earliest. The association will look to have more guidance for officials in early August. For more information from the MIAA click here.
Michigan - The MHSAA announced on July 17 that sports will start as 'traditionally scheduled' barring there are no interruptions due to the spread of COVID-19. The current start date for cross country is August 12. The board will meet again on July 29 to 'further, discuss' Fall sports. More information can be found here.
Mississippi- Mississippi State High School Activities Association has announced that fall sports will proceed. The state's first cross country meet can be held on August 24. More information on guidelines for safety precautions around COVID-19 can be found here.
Missouri- The Missouri State High School Activities Association has announced a new alternative season option for schools who elect not to participate this fall. For more information check out the article on Missouri MileSplit here.
Montana- From the Montana High School Sports Association Website (MHSA)... All fall sports practices will begin on the scheduled dates (Tier 1)
Cross Country dual meets are recommended and encouraged. Cross Country can have multiple teams participate if the following restrictions are followed:
1) No more than 200 participants (or by the current Governor's phase)
2) Teams must remain in their own team staging area.
3) No more than 25 on the start line.
4) The next runners up will be placed in a corral before they start.
5) All runners must wear masks in the team staging area, corral and until they are called by the starter to the starting line.
6) Once the race is completed individuals must immediately exit the finish line area and return to their team bus.
There can be no gathering of teams after each race. More rules and guidelines here. (Update July 28th)
Nebraska -The NSAA is preparing to begin the 2020 fall sports season as currently scheduled on August 10. Link to NSAA tweet. (Updated July 28th)
Nevada - The "Fall" sports season will begin on practice on Saturday, February 20, 2021, and will have six competitive weeks. The first contest may be held Friday, March 5, 2021, and last contest Saturday, April 10, 2021. This also impacts track for the 2020-2021 school year. Practice begins Saturday, April 3, 2021, the first contest can be held Friday, April 16, 2021
and the last contest on Saturday, May 22, 2021. Full information on the NIAA website.
New Hampshire - NHIAA Reopening Sports/Activities Summer Guidance
New Jersey - No Group Or Meet of Champions competitions this Fall, only Sectional competition. For the most up to date information, by region, county, specific meet etc.. click here. (Update as of Jul 10, 2020)
New Mexico - Cross Country Meets are limited to 100 people per event. This includes athletes, coaches and event workers. No spectators will be allowed into competitions. The season will now run from October 5th and end the weekend of December 4th-5th with the state meet. See more on the New Mexico Athletic Association (NMAA) website here.
New York - Schools have three possible options for reopening, based on specific data available on Aug 1, with a 7-day checkup that can alter plans. Based on which of those three options schools go with, the NYPSHSAA has put forward six possible scenarios, with more possible. All of them mean little until the governor puts out specific guidelines for which the state association should abide by, and no specific date was given for those guidelines. More information will come after the New York State Public High School Athletic Association meets on July 29th. (Update July 14th).
North Carolina- The NCHSAA announced a delay until November 4th for practice to start and a delay until November 16th for the first competitions. More information on NCRunners here.
North Dakota - The season will proceed as scheduled and cross country can start on August 10. Return to competition guidelines here. (Updated July 28th)
Ohio - The current plan is for Ohio's cross country season to start on time. The OHSAA Early Season Invitational has been canceled (scheduled for August 6th).
Oklahoma - Visit the most up-to-date information at the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Guidelines for returning to sports.
Oregon - Oregon School Activities Association has decided to move the fall sports season into 2021. Cross country can start practicing February 22 with the first practice set for March 8. For more information, you can view osaa.org here. (Updated August 6th).
Rhode Island - Monday, Aug 17, 2020, First Day of Practice - Fall Sports Monday, Jul 20, 2020 - RIIL Office Reopens (Update as of July 14th)
South Carolina - The state's fall sports start date has moved from July 31 to August 17 for the first day of practice on all sports. (Updated July 24th); First Contest: August 31 - Cross Country Qualifiers: Week of November 2nd - 7th - Cross Country State Finals: Week of November 9th -14th
For more information from the South Carolina High School League, click here.
South Dakota - The South Dakota High School Athletic Association (SDHSAA) announced that high school sports will start as scheduled on August 13. More information can be found here.
Tennessee - The state association director says cross country is not considered a "high-risk sport" and practices/competitions may continue as scheduled right now. Link to our story on TN Milesplit here.
Texas - The state's first meets can start on August 17, 2020 for 1A-4A schools. Its 5A and 6A schools' first meets can start on September 7.
Utah - Utah's season is beginning on schedule. The state's first XC meet will be held on August 15. For more information click here.
Vermont - Sports will start when students are allowed to go back to school, which is tentatively scheduled for late August or early September. More on the Vermont Principals Association website. (Updated July 28th)
Virginia - The season is postponed until February 15th - May 1st. Read the full update on MileStat.com here.
Washington - Cross country has been determined to consist of WIAA Season 1 and will each begin practices the week of September 7 contests can start as early as September 18. You can find more information on the WIAA website. (Updated July 28th)
West Virginia - The first day of practice is on August 17 and the first day of competition is September 2, with regional meets beginning on October 22-24 and the state meet set for October 31. More information from the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) can be found here. (Updated July 28th)
Wisconsin - From the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA)... "In an 8-3 decision, the Board approved conducting the fall sports season with a delayed start. The sports of girls golf, girls tennis, girls swimming and diving, and boys and girls cross country will be permitted to begin practice with prescribed acclimatization protocol Monday, Aug. 17. The earliest practice date for the sports of football, boys soccer, and boys and girls volleyball is Monday, Sept. 7."
Wyoming - As of now, Wyoming's state athletic association is planning on going forward with its original start to the fall sports season. (Updated July 28th)
We have compiled information from local news outlets and state associations on all 50 states and have aggregated where each stands in relation to starting cross country this fall. Take a look below for the most up-to-date information on where each state stands, and learn more about their processes and guidelines for competition this fall.
National Cross Country Calendar 2020
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