IGHSAU returns to old state track qualifying method

FORT DODGE -- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union's board of directors voted unanimously Friday to return to the traditional way for determining qualifiers for state track and field.

In a 7-0 vote, the Board decided to go back to this method:

The top two finishers from each regional meet automatically qualify, with the rest of the field of 24 determined by an at-large method -- the top times/distances advance.

Last year, in a joint venture, the IGHSAU and the Iowa High School Athletic Association had an identical qualifying method for the 2011 season.

The top four placewinners in each event at each meet in 4A, top three in 3A and 2A and top two in 1A were placed on a preliminary qualifying list of 24. Then the 12th-place performance will become the standard for other qualifiers. Any regional placewinner whose performance was better or equal to that 12th-place performance went on the list and others were eliminated accordingly.

In other action Friday, the Board rejected a proposal to institute a 35-point "mercy rule" for girls' basketball. The proposal would have meant a continuous clock once the margin reached 35 points.