The first look at the spring athletic calendar for New Mexico reveals cross country sandwiched between just about every other competing sport. The postponement of all fall sports will impact cross country perhaps the most as they will be limited to only five weeks of competition beginning mid-February going to mid-March. While runners that compete in multiple sports like Basketball, swimming and diving will be forced to choose as both those sports compete from January to that mid-march for state championships. The transition from 5k to the track will only be a span of two weeks with an April 5th start date with a season going until late June for 4A -5A State Track and Field Championships. This means 14 months will have gone by since cross country will compete for the majority of the state runners from 2019 meanwhile the track and field athletes returning will see the first competition since May of 2019. It is not yet confirmed if spectators will be able to attend meets for the spring but NMAA Executive Director Sally Marquez is hopeful that they may be able to do so.
We are going to have to look at mass gatherings. I'm not calling cross country a mass gathering, but there's a lot of kids at a typical cross country meet. We're going to have to look at shrinking the size of teams that can go to one location and run. We will also have to look at staggered times. You're on the bus, you're there, you warm up and run, and then you leave. It's not going to be hanging around and watching all the races anymore. We will put those guidelines out to the cross country coaches. I have been in contact with them and they are aware there will be some changes to cross country. All the coaches are willing to do whatever they can to make sure their kids can compete.
- NMAA Executive Director Sally Marquez
New Mexico Activities Association Spring 2021 athletic schedule:
Sport | Start date | State Championships |
Basketball | Jan 4 | March 1- 13 |
Swimming & Diving | Jan 4 | March 13 -20 |
Spirit | Jan 4 | March 26 - 27 |
Soccer | Feb 15 | April 12 - 17 |
Cross Country | Feb 15 | March 19 - 20 |
Football | Feb 22 | April 23-24,30, May 1 & 8 |
Volleyball | March 1 | April 26 - May 1 |
Golf | March 22 | June 21-22 |
Wrestling | April 12 | June 14-16 |
Baseball | April 5 | June 21-26 |
Softball | April 5 | June 21-26 |
Tennis | April 5 | June 14-19 |
Track and Field | April 5 | June 17-19 & June 24-26 |