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