IHSAA approves addition of sprint medley to state track meet

The Iowa High School Athletic Association has approved adding a 19th event to boys' track and field competition, effective next spring.

Boys will run an 800-meter sprint medley relay (100-100-200-400).

'The track and field advisory committee advised the addition in June,' IHSAA assistant director Jared Chizek said Thursday. 'We approved it at the August meeting, but held off announcing it until the (IGHSAU board of directors) meeting (Wednesday).'

The boys and girls both will run a 19-event program next year. The sprint medley relay has been part of the girls' itinerary for decades.

Chizek said work has begun in determining an order of events for a 19-event meet.

In other track and field news, the IHSAA and IGHSAU have approved changing the number of Class 1A state-qualifying meets from 12 to 10, due to the decrease in schools. So, in each event, each SQM champion is an automatic qualifier, and the remainder of the 1A field will be determined by 14 at-large berths.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com