In the chess match that is getting athletes to flock to your indoor meet, the Great Southwest Classic has made the latest move.
It was a calendar move. After a year that saw Great Southwest go head-to-head on the calendar with the Simplot Games and the Air Force High School Indoor Open, Great Southwest has moved to a less contested date. This year's edition of the meet falls on January 18th.
But it wasn't just the issue of being up against Simplot and Air Force. As meet chairman John Haaland explains, "The other major reason for wanting the meet before February 10 would be that New Mexico athletes would not be penalized for running in the meet." New Mexico high school athletes who participated in the meet in previous years were having that participation charged against their allowable meet limit due to the fact that the meet came after the start of official practice (which for this school year would have been February 10). So, participation in the Great Southwest Indoor no longer means fewer competitions during the scholastic season.
Despite last year's calendar collision with Air Force and Simplot, the meet still drew competitors from New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Colorado. With the scheduling conflicts resolved, this year's meet figures to cast a still wider net.
The meet will still be a Saturday evening affair and will still be held on the 200-meter banked Mondo oval at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Competition may be extended to open and age group divisions if sufficient interest is indicated.
More extensive meet information will be available on the meet's own website starting sometime in December.