Marc and Joan Hunter are in fact stepping away from the Loudoun Valley High School indoor track and field team, MileSplit learned from Vikings athletic director Kristopher Kelican on Monday.
However, the Loudoun Valley administrator also confirmed that the move is just in the interim, as the indoor track and field season has not been sanctioned by the Virginiah High School League.
He said the Hunters, who led the Vikings to two Team Nationals wins in 2017 and 2018 and multiple state individual championships over their tenure, will be back for the outdoor track and field campaign.
Kelican added that strict regulations on high school practices in Virginia, including regulations on when and where to wear masks, was a big denominator in the Hunter's decision.
MileSplit reached out to Joan in October to check on the status of practice. She said the restrictions were so severe that "I don't know if we will even coach for the high school team in the winter." The Vikings were never allowed to leave campus to train over the fall, she said.
As of October, requirements for athletes included two temperature checks a day and each athlete had to answer a 12 question questionaire after each practice, which then had to be scanned and sent directly to Kelican. Athletes were not allowed to be within 10 feet of one another at any point.
While technically athletes for Loudoun Valley can compete as a club or unattached, the school will not allow athletes to run under the school's name this winter, Kelican said.