Letter to the Editor;
Good morning,
I coach Track and Field and have been investigating a team that I believe has been classified incorrectly by CHSAA (Colorado High School
Activities Association) which has led to a large disparity in the Track and Field Leaderboards. I have talked to several small schools and they are equally as concerned. I was wondering if you could help get the word out regarding this issue.
I am asking for your help in addressing an injustice. Earlier this year, our small school of 105 students was denied admittance into 6-man football due to having “too many kids.” No consideration was given to our roster size or record (4-28 over the last four years). Yet, Timnath High School is allowed to compete in 2A Track and Field with over 800 students! They were admitted into the 2A classification last year with 500 students– which is an astronomical number considering the cut off was supposed to be 293 students. Their current enrollment has 808 students which puts them in 4A for the next two year cycle. How is it justifiable to allow their athletes to compete in 2A for the remainder of this year? Not only is Timnath competing in 2A, they are dominating the leaderboards. They hold the number one seed in 9 out of 19 events in girls 2A with some events having 3 or more in the top 18. This is unheard of and unacceptable, since by CHSAA’s own standards, Timnath is NOT a 2A school. Don’t believe me?– Check out the stat leaders on Maxpreps (just select Colorado and 2A under “division”) https://www.maxpreps.com/list/leaderboard_list.aspx?
gendersport=girls,trackfield
This is not equality and allows only certain schools to have a competitive advantage.
Please reach out to the CHSAA Commissioners on the behalf of small schools everywhere!
Track and Field Associate Commissioners:
jrobertsuhlig@chsaa.org; apetersoncathy@chsaa.org;
CHSAA Commissioner: Mike Krueger (303) 344-5050 Ext. 8
They do not just represent the “big city” schools. Our voices need to be heard!
Thank you for your help and attention in this matter!
Joy Parrish,
Custer County