Coaches Take: Does the Regional Format Need Adjusting?

Chris Hawboldt


Brian Crumbo, the head coach at North Oldham High School, shared his evaluation of the current set up for advancement to the state meet through the regional meet format. His observations say something about the current situation. There are obvious geographic restrictions in play. My simple observation was that I received results for a region with two teams participating and both teams advancing. So, there are some very valid points in Coach Crumbo's evaluation.


Thoughts while watching my fourth regional race of the day with less than 50 runners...

-         If we only have this many runners in a regional, aren't there too many regions?  Too many classes?  The average size of a regional race this year was 51 girls and 62 boys.  If regions are going to be this small, why make everybody choose 7 of their 10?  Why not let all 10 run at the regional?  Heck, why not let them run their entire roster?  They'd all fit on the course.

-          In the four region races we hosted, over 70% of those that ran qualified for state.  What's the point, really, of having a regional when you don't narrow the field very much?  Overall, 64% of full girls teams and 66% of all girls runners who ran in a regional qualified for the state meet.  For boys, it was 57% of teams and 61% of all runners.  Will the Horse Park course hold 462 runners, which would be the largest total runners (AAA boys) if we just did away with regionals and let everybody go to state?  I feel like this is the direction we're going.  Or should qualifying for state be a little tougher than being in the top 2/3 of the teams in the state?

-          The new qualifying procedure is good in that teams know before race day what they have to do to qualify.  But it's easily manipulated to get more teams from a region in.  Why wouldn't coaches in a region get together and agree that everybody enters a full team, even if they don't plan to run one, just to maximize qualifying teams?


Coach Crumbo has compiled the data from the last three years as it relates to the advancement of teams from the regional meet to the state meet. Below you will find that information.

2017 Girls

Schools Full Teams Partial Teams Total Teams % Teams Participating Teams Qualifying % Full Teams Qualifying Total Runners Runners Qualifying % Runners Qualifying
1A 15 4 5 8 53.3% 3 75.0% 33 22 66.7%
2A 18 5 5 10 55.6% 4 80.0% 46 32 69.6%
3A 14 5 3 8 57.1% 3 60.0% 38 26 68.4%
4A 17 9 3 12 70.6% 5 55.6% 64 40 62.5%
5A 19 7 7 14 73.7% 5 71.4% 57 37 64.9%
6A 22 4 8 12 54.5% 3 75.0% 45 24 53.3%
7A 19 5 6 11 57.9% 4 80.0% 48 33 68.8%
Total 124 39 37 75 60.5% 27 69.2% 331 214 64.7%
1AA 8 5 2 7 87.5% 3 60.0% 37 26 70.3%
2AA 17 10 6 16 94.1% 6 60.0% 79 45 57.0%
3AA 11 5 3 8 72.7% 4 80.0% 41 31 75.6%
4AA 9 6 1 7 77.8% 4 66.7% 43 33 76.7%
5AA 14 7 5 12 85.7% 4 57.1% 54 32 59.3%
6AA 9 6 2 8 88.9% 4 66.7% 47 33 70.2%
7AA 10 2 3 5 50.0% 2 100.0% 17 17 100.0%
Total 78 41 22 63 80.8% 27 65.9% 318 217 68.2%
1AAA 11 9 1 10 90.9% 5 55.6% 61 40 65.6%
2AAA 10 9 1 10 100.0% 5 55.6% 64 39 60.9%
3AAA 13 7 3 10 76.9% 5 71.4% 57 39 68.4%
4AAA 12 9 0 9 75.0% 5 55.6% 60 40 66.7%
5AAA 10 8 1 9 90.0% 5 62.5% 58 40 69.0%
6AAA 11 10 1 11 100.0% 5 50.0% 69 40 58.0%
7AAA 10 8 2 10 100.0% 5 62.5% 56 40 71.4%
Total 77 60 9 69 89.6% 35 58.3% 425 278 65.4%
Total 279 140 68 207 74.2% 89 63.6% 1074 709 66.0%


2017 Boys

Schools Full Teams Partial Teams Total Teams % Teams Participating Teams Qualifying % Full Teams Qualifying Total Runners Runners Qualifying % Runners Qualifying
1A 15 6 4 10 66.7% 4 66.7% 51 33 64.7%
2A 18 8 4 12 66.7% 5 62.5% 62 35 56.5%
3A 14 4 3 7 50.0% 3 75.0% 38 26 68.4%
4A 17 13 0 13 76.5% 6 46.2% 87 47 54.0%
5A 19 9 7 16 84.2% 6 66.7% 68 44 64.7%
6A 22 9 7 16 72.7% 6 66.7% 81 45 55.6%
7A 19 7 5 12 63.2% 4 57.1% 59 32 54.2%
Total 124 56 30 86 69.4% 34 60.7% 446 262 58.7%
1AA 8 6 1 7 87.5% 4 66.7% 45 33 73.3%
2AA 17 13 3 16 94.1% 6 46.2% 96 46 47.9%
3AA 11 7 2 9 81.8% 5 71.4% 49 36 73.5%
4AA 9 8 1 9 100.0% 5 62.5% 58 40 69.0%
5AA 14 12 1 13 92.9% 6 50.0% 80 46 57.5%
6AA 9 7 0 7 77.8% 4 57.1% 45 32 71.1%
7AA 10 2 3 5 50.0% 2 100.0% 22 18 81.8%
Total 78 55 11 66 84.6% 32 58.2% 395 251 63.5%
1AAA 11 10 1 11 100.0% 5 50.0% 72 40 55.6%
2AAA 10 10 0 10 100.0% 5 50.0% 69 40 58.0%
3AAA 13 10 2 12 92.3% 5 50.0% 65 40 61.5%
4AAA 12 8 0 8 66.7% 5 62.5% 54 38 70.4%
5AAA 10 9 0 9 90.0% 5 55.6% 61 40 65.6%
6AAA 11 11 0 11 100.0% 6 54.5% 75 45 60.0%
7AAA 10 9 1 10 100.0% 5 55.6% 66 40 60.6%
Total 77 67 4 71 92.2% 36 53.7% 462 283 61.3%
Total 279 178 45 223 79.9% 102 57.3% 1303 796 61.1%


2016 Girls

Schools Full Teams Partial Teams Total Teams % Teams Participating Teams Qualifying % Full Teams Qualifying Total Runners Runners Qualifying % Runners Qualifying
1A 15 3 3 6 40.0% 2 66.7% 24 18 75.0%
2A 14 6 2 8 57.1% 3 50.0% 39 25 64.1%
3A 19 7 6 13 68.4% 4 57.1% 56 32 57.1%
4A 17 9 3 12 70.6% 4 44.4% 64 33 51.6%
5A 17 6 6 12 70.6% 3 50.0% 51 26 51.0%
6A 12 4 5 9 75.0% 3 75.0% 30 21 70.0%
7A 30 7 8 15 50.0% 4 57.1% 58 32 55.2%
Total 124 42 33 75 60.5% 23 54.8% 322 187 58.1%
1AA 8 6 1 7 87.5% 3 50.0% 37 23 62.2%
2AA 16 10 5 15 93.8% 4 40.0% 78 39 50.0%
3AA 13 7 4 11 84.6% 4 57.1% 50 33 66.0%
4AA 9 6 3 9 100.0% 3 50.0% 49 25 51.0%
5AA 12 7 4 11 91.7% 4 57.1% 52 30 57.7%
6AA 11 7 2 9 81.8% 4 57.1% 51 33 64.7%
7AA 11 4 5 9 81.8% 3 75.0% 40 25 62.5%
Total 80 47 24 71 88.8% 25 53.2% 357 208 58.3%
1AAA 11 7 4 11 100.0% 4 57.1% 56 33 58.9%
2AAA 9 8 1 9 100.0% 4 50.0% 54 33 61.1%
3AAA 11 5 4 9 81.8% 3 60.0% 49 26 53.1%
4AAA 13 8 3 11 84.6% 4 50.0% 61 33 54.1%
5AAA 10 9 0 9 90.0% 4 44.4% 59 32 54.2%
6AAA 10 9 1 10 100.0% 4 44.4% 63 32 50.8%
7AAA 10 8 1 9 90.0% 4 50.0% 56 33 58.9%
Total 74 54 14 68 91.9% 27 50.0% 398 222 55.8%
Total 278 143 71 214 77.0% 75 52.4% 1077 617 57.3%


2016 Boys

Schools Full Teams Partial Teams Total Teams % Teams Participating Teams Qualifying % Full Teams Qualifying Total Runners Runners Qualifying % Runners Qualifying
1A 15 5 3 8 53.3% 3 60.0% 39 25 64.1%
2A 14 6 2 8 57.1% 3 50.0% 44 26 59.1%
3A 19 7 4 11 57.9% 4 57.1% 57 33 57.9%
4A 17 11 2 13 76.5% 5 45.5% 79 40 50.6%
5A 17 8 4 12 70.6% 4 50.0% 61 33 54.1%
6A 12 6 5 11 91.7% 3 50.0% 49 26 53.1%
7A 30 9 8 17 56.7% 4 44.4% 83 33 39.8%
Total 124 52 28 80 64.5% 26 50.0% 412 216 52.4%
1AA 8 6 2 8 100.0% 3 50.0% 44 27 61.4%
2AA 16 12 3 15 93.8% 5 41.7% 90 40 44.4%
3AA 13 9 3 12 92.3% 4 44.4% 69 32 46.4%
4AA 9 8 0 8 88.9% 4 50.0% 54 33 61.1%
5AA 12 9 2 11 91.7% 4 44.4% 62 33 53.2%
6AA 11 7 1 8 72.7% 4 57.1% 50 38 76.0%
7AA 11 7 2 9 81.8% 4 57.1% 55 33 60.0%
Total 80 58 13 71 88.8% 28 48.3% 424 236 55.7%
1AAA 11 10 0 10 90.9% 5 50.0% 69 40 58.0%
2AAA 9 8 1 9 100.0% 4 50.0% 59 33 55.9%
3AAA 11 7 4 11 100.0% 4 57.1% 58 39 67.2%
4AAA 13 9 1 10 76.9% 4 44.4% 63 33 52.4%
5AAA 10 9 0 9 90.0% 4 44.4% 62 33 53.2%
6AAA 10 10 0 10 100.0% 5 50.0% 70 40 57.1%
7AAA 10 9 1 10 100.0% 4 44.4% 65 33 50.8%
Total 74 62 7 69 93.2% 30 48.4% 446 251 56.3%
Total 278 172 48 220 79.1% 84 48.8% 1282 703 54.8%


2015 Girls

Schools Full Teams Partial Teams Total Teams % Teams Participating Teams Qualifying % Full Teams Qualifying Total Runners Runners Qualifying % Runners Qualifying
1A 15 2 6 8 53.3% 2 100.0% 24 17 70.8%
2A 14 4 5 9 64.3% 3 75.0% 32 26 81.3%
3A 19 6 5 11 57.9% 3 50.0% 49 26 53.1%
4A 17 11 1 12 70.6% 5 45.5% 72 40 55.6%
5A 17 7 3 10 58.8% 4 57.1% 51 33 64.7%
6A 12 1 6 7 58.3% 1 100.0% 20 12 60.0%
7A 30 7 8 15 50.0% 4 57.1% 65 32 49.2%
Total 124 38 34 72 58.1% 22 57.9% 313 186 59.4%
1AA 8 6 1 7 87.5% 3 50.0% 39 23 59.0%
2AA 16 9 6 15 93.8% 4 44.4% 76 32 42.1%
3AA 13 6 3 9 69.2% 3 50.0% 45 25 55.6%
4AA 9 6 3 9 100.0% 3 50.0% 44 26 59.1%
5AA 12 9 1 10 83.3% 4 44.4% 61 33 54.1%
6AA 11 7 2 9 81.8% 4 57.1% 54 33 61.1%
7AA 11 4 4 8 72.7% 3 75.0% 39 26 66.7%
Total 80 47 20 67 83.8% 24 51.1% 358 198 55.3%
1AAA 11 9 2 11 100.0% 4 44.4% 65 33 50.8%
2AAA 9 8 0 8 88.9% 4 50.0% 54 33 61.1%
3AAA 11 7 2 9 81.8% 4 57.1% 52 33 63.5%
4AAA 13 8 2 10 76.9% 4 50.0% 61 33 54.1%
5AAA 10 9 0 9 90.0% 4 44.4% 62 33 53.2%
6AAA 10 9 1 10 100.0% 4 44.4% 62 33 53.2%
7AAA 10 8 1 9 90.0% 4 50.0% 54 32 59.3%
Total 74 58 8 66 89.2% 28 48.3% 410 230 56.1%
Total 278 143 62 205 73.7% 74 51.7% 1081 614 56.8%


2015 Boys

Schools Full Teams Partial Teams Total Teams % Teams Participating Teams Qualifying % Full Teams Qualifying Total Runners Runners Qualifying % Runners Qualifying
1A 15 6 3 9 60.0% 3 50.0% 45 25 55.6%
2A 14 6 4 10 71.4% 3 50.0% 50 25 50.0%
3A 19 8 5 13 68.4% 4 50.0% 62 33 53.2%
4A 17 12 1 13 76.5% 5 41.7% 82 40 48.8%
5A 17 7 7 14 82.4% 4 57.1% 61 33 54.1%
6A 12 5 6 11 91.7% 3 60.0% 46 26 56.5%
7A 30 11 5 16 53.3% 5 45.5% 81 39 48.1%
Total 124 55 31 86 69.4% 27 49.1% 427 221 51.8%
1AA 8 5 2 7 87.5% 3 60.0% 40 26 65.0%
2AA 16 11 4 15 93.8% 5 45.5% 85 40 47.1%
3AA 13 7 3 10 76.9% 4 57.1% 56 33 58.9%
4AA 9 7 2 9 100.0% 4 57.1% 56 33 58.9%
5AA 12 10 2 12 100.0% 5 50.0% 72 40 55.6%
6AA 11 8 2 10 90.9% 4 50.0% 54 33 61.1%
7AA 11 8 2 10 90.9% 4 50.0% 56 33 58.9%
Total 80 56 17 73 91.3% 29 51.8% 419 238 56.8%
1AAA 11 10 0 10 90.9% 5 50.0% 70 40 57.1%
2AAA 9 9 0 9 100.0% 4 44.4% 62 33 53.2%
3AAA 11 7 3 10 90.9% 4 57.1% 61 33 54.1%
4AAA 13 9 0 9 69.2% 4 44.4% 62 33 53.2%
5AAA 10 9 0 9 90.0% 4 44.4% 63 33 52.4%
6AAA 10 10 0 10 100.0% 5 50.0% 69 40 58.0%
7AAA 10 7 3 10 100.0% 4 57.1% 60 33 55.0%
Total 74 61 6 67 90.5% 30 49.2% 447 245 54.8%
Total 278 172 54 226 81.3% 86 50.0% 1293 704 54.4%


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