Jewish Athletes to Appeal Scheduling of Track Meet

Students who run cross-country for Yeshiva University High School of Los Angeles are hoping that after a hearing today, they can have the same opportunity as any other team with their winning record: a chance to compete in the November championships.

The problem is that the California Interscholastic Federation has held the preliminary and final meets on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath.

That means that even if Yeshiva qualifies for the events--which is likely because the boys are leading their league--Yeshiva’s Orthodox students would not be able to attend.

When it first looked as if Yeshiva might make it to the Nov. 15 preliminaries, the school appealed to the CIF to change one heat of the event to the Thursday before the meet. CIF’s executive committee refused, saying the large number of schools involved in the meet made changing all or part of the event difficult.

“When you start to move events for any particular group, you have made it possible for other groups to ask or request the same thing,” said Harold Cebrun, an assistant CIF commissioner.

Yeshiva today will appeal that decision to the CIF Council, arguing that 20 other schools have agreed to have their students run on another day.

“We feel that our students deserve it,” said Yeshiva Principal Marion Peterson. “The coaches who have worked so very hard to encourage the boys also deserve this opportunity to see their kids run.”