OIA Blue Book Section IX
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Section IX. Cross Country (Revised 06/2015)
1. Games Rules:
Current National Federation edition of the Track and Field Rules, unless modified by the Oahu
Interscholastic Association.
A. Eligibility
All participants must have participated in an organized cross-country program for at least
four weeks prior to the Oahu Interscholastic Association Championships. All contestants
must have participated in the current school year in an organized cross-country meet
prior to the OIA Championships.
B. Eligibility
Participation will be limited to one run. Each school will be allowed the maximum entry of
seven runners with three alternates on the entry form for each division. Schools with less
than five runners are ineligible for the team championships.
C. Scoring
Follow National Federation edition of the Track and Field Rules. The first five runners
scoring for a school shall determine the OIA Championships. The team that scores the
lowest total points is the champion of the respective division. If less than five runners of a
team finish, the places of all members of that team shall be disregarded in determining
team score.
D. Identifying Numbers
The host school will issue pull tag numbers for the championship meets. All school
runners will be identified by the school name printed on the front of their jerseys.
E. Starting Positions
A lot shall determine a school starting positions on the day of the meet. Division
champions will have the first choice of lanes followed by schools with full teams. Drawing
for lane priority should be done at the coaches meeting, while selection of lanes should
take place at the starting line. Incomplete teams will then draw for the remaining lanes.
F. Course
The course will be three miles for the both boys and girls. The course shall be officially
measured and recorded prior to the meet. The course should include varied terrain. The
meet committee should give a map of the course to the participating schools at least
week prior to the meet. If possible, the host school should mark the course in total and
provides guides one hour prior to meet time. Teams may walk the course whenever
possible. Runners must remain within six feet of the line and the course must be clear of
obstacles.
G. Entry Form
An official entry form shall be used. Featured on the entry form should include: (1) entry
deadline, (2) space for the regular team members and alternates, (3) spaces for
identifying numbers of team members. Deadline for entries set by the committee should
be respected. There will be no post entries for championship meets.
H. For the State Meet, when a school has a qualified runner that cannot compete, the
replacement for that slot will come from the list of alternates. (To be used for participants
that do not qualified as a team).
I. For the State Meet, when a school has a qualified runner that cannot compete, and the
school has the minimum number of qualified runners to qualify for a team entry, then the
alternate for that slot will come from the qualifying school. This policy does not apply
when school are not competing as a team.
For the State Meet, the championship team at the OIA Championships will qualify their
top five (5) runners to the HHSAA State Meet. The top two placing Boys and Girls teams
at the OIA Championship should automatically qualify six runners for the HHSAA meet.
League Format
A. Divisions: Junior varsity and Varsity for boys and girls. There will be no mixed gender in
any championship race (Eastern, Western, JV, and OIA Championship). Boys will run in
boys races and girls will run in girls races.
B. Junior Varsity Division: All participants must meet the eligibility requirements of the
League. (By-Laws – Article I, Eligibility, Section 3: Participation, Item C: Upon entry into
Grade 9, a student shall be limited to two consecutive years of eligibility in Junior Varsity
sports).
C. Running Order:
1. Girls Junior Varsity
2. Boys Junior Varsity
3. Girls Varsity
4. Boys Varsity
D. The sites for OIA championships, must be approved by the Executive Director, Sports
Advisory Chairperson, and the host school Athletic Director.
Starting Times for OIA meets shall be at 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays. Exceptions must be
approved by sport coordinator and executive secretary. Meets that fall on national
collegiate testing dates will begin no earlier than 2:00pm.
E. OIA JV Championship to be held one (1) week prior to the OIA Championship. (This will
enable JV runners to compete in the Varsity Championship the following week.
F. At the OIA JV and Varsity championships, lanes will be numbered. Teams will pick lanes
at the coaches meeting.
3. Equipment
A. All contestants are required to wear cross country uniforms designating their respective
schools
B. Shoes are mandatory
4. Awards: In case of a tie in the OIA Championship meets, co-champions will be declared.
5. Budget: refer to section on Sport Budget.
6. HHSAA Representation: Each school’s (OIA) allotment of runners will be determined by the
number of runners placing in the HHSAA allotment to the OIA in the OIA Championship.
Note: When non-qualifying alternates are used as a substitute for the team due to a substitution
by the school:
A. The exiting team member will not be participating in the HHSAA State championship
meet.
B. The alternate runner will not receive a travel stipend.
C. The open slot for the state travel stipend will be given to the individual who qualified in
the 35 position.
D. Per HHSAA rules, when the OIA has co-champions, a team’s 6th place finisher will be
used as the tie breaker to determine which school will represent the OIA in HHSAA