Competition Rules

USATF Rules Apply

This is an invitational style meet that is sanctioned by USATF and USATF rules will apply to all events. The meet is not sanctioned by any high school federation since it is contested after the official high school season. Any protests must be filed in writing within 30 minutes of the results being posted online and must include a $40 cash deposit which will be returned if the protest is upheld. To file a protest, please visit the clerking area where you can inform security or clerk officials of your intention. 

Athletes may wear a uniform of their choosing however relay team members must have matching colored tops and bottoms (style can vary i.e. one member may wear shorts while another wears tights as long as the color is the same).

Competition Age Restrictions

“Freshman” is limited to athletes aged 16 years and younger who are currently in 9th grade. An athlete cannot turn 17 years old in the year 2025.

“Middle School” is limited to athletes aged 15 years and younger who are currently in grades 6th-8th. An athlete cannot turn 16 years old in the year 2025.

Number of Events

As per USATF youth rules, an athlete may not compete in more than 4 events. A 100m prelim, semi and final counts as one event.

Schedule

While our hope is to stay on schedule throughout the duration of the meet, we reserve the right to go up to 10 minutes ahead of schedule. 

Spikes

Only ¼” pyramid spikes are allowed on the track. We will check spikes at the entrance to the clerking area.

For Javelin and HJ, we will permit 9mm (close to ⅜) such that they are pyramids.

Track Events

Track Events (800m, Mile, 2 Mile, Relay Finals on Time) Sections assigned by performance list with best section running last unless otherwise specified. All athletes in track events must report to the clerking area at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the event. 

Running Events

Check-in Procedure

Athletes must arrive in the clerking area race ready 20 minutes before the event’s scheduled start time:

• Dressed ready to compete meaning wearing only their uniform (no sweats, no hoodies, no tshirts).
• Athletes will pass through Spike Check on their way into Clerking. Athletes do not need to be wearing their spikes but cannot be wearing any other footwear.
• No backpacks, reusable water bottles, or any item that requires an athlete to come back into clerking to retrieve. Disposable water bottles are permissible.
• NO electronics!! Phones, headphones, etc. are all not allowed in competition areas.

Call times of each event’s heats/ sections will be posted outside of spike check during each day’s competition. For example, if the 100m Dash is 12 heats, a call time for heats 1-3 will be posted, another call time for heats 4-6, etc.

No announcements for check in will be made.  Athletes and coaches are responsible for knowing the current event schedule which will be updated the final week before the meet.

Track Event Heat/Section Preferences

400m, 800m, Mile, 2 Mile, 5000m, 1 Mile Racewalk, 400m Hurdles, 2000m Steeplechase, 4x200m Relay, 4x400m Relay, Sprint Medley Relay, 4x800m Relay, 4xMile Relay, Distance Medley Relay, and Shuttle Hurdle Relay will all be contested as a Final on Time.

100m Dash and 100m/ 110m High Hurdles

Championship: Top 24 fastest times from the Preliminary heats will advance to the Semifinal.  The Semifinals will consist of three heats where the top two in each heat and the next two fastest times qualify for the Final.

Freshman and Middle School: Top eight fastest times from the Preliminary heats will advance to the Final.

200m Dash

Championship, Freshman, and Middle School: Top eight fastest times from the Preliminary heats will advance to the final.

4x100m Relay

Championship: Top eight fastest times from the Preliminary heats will advance to the final.

Relay Cards

All coaches must fill out relay cards and have the athletes turn it in to the clerking area when they check in for their event.  Relay cards are available at the clerking area and packet pick up.

Starting Blocks

Starting blocks are required in the following Championship and Freshman events:

• 100 Meter Dash (trials, semifinals and finals)
• 100/110 Meter Hurdles (trials, semifinals and finals)
• 200 Meter Dash (trials and finals)
• 400 Meter Dash
• 400 Meter Hurdles
• 4x200m Relay
• 4x400m Relay
• Sprint Medley Relay
• Shuttle Hurdle Relay – only the leadoff leg is required to use blocks

Starting blocks will be permitted – but not required – in the following Middle School events:

• 100 Meter Dash
• 100 Meter Hurdles
• 200 Meter Dash
• 400 Meter Dash

False Start

Championship and Freshman: One false start disqualifies the athlete who committed the offense. 

Middle School: A first false start is indicated with a warning to the athlete who committed the offense. The second false start by that same athlete results in a disqualification.

Hurdles

Heights:

• Championship and Freshman Hurdle heights are 39 inches for boys and 33 inches for girls.
• Middle School Hurdle heights are 36 inches for boys (USATF Rule 302.4(a) increased the height from 33” effective Jan 1, 2025) and 30 inches for girls.

Spacing:

• Championship and Freshman boys is 13.72m to the first hurdle, 9.14m between hurdles and 14.02m after the tenth hurdle to the finish line
• Championship and Freshman girls, Middle School boys and girls is 13m to the first hurdle, 8.5m between hurdles and 10.5m after the tenth hurdle to the finish line

Preferred Lanes

• Curved races: 6-7-5-8-9-4-3-2-1 
• Straightaway races: 5-6-4-7-3-8-2-9-1

Relay Staggers

4x100m and 4x200m = Lanes throughout the entire race

4x400m and 1600m Sprint Medley Relay (200-200-400-800), 800 SMR = 3-turn Stagger

4x800m and Distance Medley Relay (1200-400-800-1600) = 1-turn alley start

4×1 mile = Merge on straightaway

Exchange Zones: In the 4x100m and 4x200m, each takeover zone shall be 30m long. For the 4x400m and longer relays, each exchange zone shall be 20m long.

Relay Batons

Meet management will provide batons at the start of the race. Please do not bring personal batons to the check in area and batons will be collected upon completion of the race.

Field Events

Performances

This is a USATF sanctioned meet thus all marks and progressions will be measured metrically. Entries can be submitted imperially (feet and inches).

Check-in Procedure

Field event check in will take place at the venue (pit, runway, throwing circle). Check in for all field events will begin 60 minutes (90 minutes for Pole Vault) before scheduled start time. All athletes must check in before the first flight, regardless of flight. Athletes who do not check in before the first flight of competition begins – regardless of their competing flight – will not be allowed to compete in the event. NO exceptions!

Field Event Coaches will be allowed on the infield in designated coaching boxes.  You must have a coaching credential wristband to enter the infield.  One coach per athlete only.

General Rules

Warm-up: Each flight will have 15 minutes to warm up. Athletes qualifying for the finals will have an additional 10 minutes between the trials and the finals.

Flight Seedings: Flights assigned by performance list, random within the flight per USATF rules, with athletes with the best seed marks competing in the final trial flight.

The eight competitors with the best valid and measured performances will be allowed three additional attempts in the Final round. The order of competition for the Finals will be in reverse order of the best performance in the first three attempts. 

Throwing Implements 

Implement inspection will be conducted in the Mondschein Throwing Complex. Javelins will be inspected at the throwing location while Shot Put, Discus and Hammer will be inspected at the Field Hockey dugout located adjacent to the Shot Put area. beginning 1.5 hours prior to the scheduled start of each event. 

Implement weights will be as follows:

Any impounded implements will be held until the end of the competition day.

Per USATF rules, all implements are available for use by any athlete in the competition.

Throws Awards

Throws Awards will be held in Franklin Field.  The top 6 athletes in each event will receive wristbands for their family to enter Franklin Field at the conclusion of the competition.

Transgender Athlete Policy

Eligibility rules for transgender athletes are in line with current USATF and World Athletics rules.