Council Approves Section Participation for CIF Cross-Country Championships

The Southern Section Council on Thursday approved section participation in next fall’s CIF state cross-country championships, which are tentatively scheduled for Nov. 28 at Fresno’s Woodward Park. The state meet is expected to be approved by the State Federated Council at its May meeting.

The 52-3 vote was a major victory for section cross-country coaches, who were worried last month that their proposal might not pass.

The proposal was on the council’s Jan. 22 agenda, but it was tabled until March so that leagues could review and discuss the matter further.

The Southern Section Cross-Country Coaches Assn. held a meeting in February to drum up support for the state meet and to discuss ways for coaches to improve lines of communication to their league representatives, who make up the section council.

Their efforts were rewarded Thursday.

“This is exactly what we were hoping for,” said Steve Spraker, Saugus cross-country coach and president of the Southern Section Coaches’ Assn. “I sent letters to 427 principals about the proposal.”