September 11, 2020
Greetings! The 2020-2021 academic and athletic year is currently in full swing. This looks and feels much different than ever before due to the pandemic in which we are experiencing. We feel very fortunate that fall sports at the high school level are still occurring here in Iowa. With that said, the IATC has experienced many challenges in the last five months. We realize we are not alone in that boat. We were unable to host the Middle School State Track & Field Meets, the MS/HS Pentathlon, or the Senior Spotlight Track & Field Meet. These challenges have set our organization back on a few levels but we will strive to do our very best to give the coaches and athletes the opportunities they deserve on behalf of our organization while following proper guidelines moving forward.
In 2019-2020 we had very strong membership numbers with over 285 high schools, 7 college/universities, 3 lifetime individual members, and 2 other individual memberships. We hope to surpass these numbers for 2020-2021 and we are off to a solid start already. All high school AD’s in Iowa should have received a membership invoice back in July. We have several ways in which we accept membership. Membership can be paid online for high schools HERE. Membership for colleges and universities can be paid HERE. If paying by check, please go HERE to complete the form and mail with check to Peggy McGuire (IATC Secretary/Treasurer) at the address listed on the form. If you are unsure if your school has joined or not, please check out our updated list HERE. We appreciate your membership!
The IATC is excited to announce its new partnership with Varsity Bound to create a state-wide results webpage. Similar to track & field, cross country will not have a presence on Varsity Bound (Quik Stats Iowa). These meet results will be linked to the Quik Stats website and available in the Varsity Bound app. Emails went out to all cross country head coaches from both the IATC and another email from Varsity Bound to complete the following:
– Enter your Varsity Runners (roster import available)
– Enter the meets that you’re hosting
– Throughout the season enter your Varsity runner and marks at each meet
Result Entry Expectation: Our preference is that Individual marks get entered the evening of the meet, but they need to be entered within 24 hours. Marks can be entered from a computer or your phone. You are only responsible for your 7 Varsity runners but may enter more at your discretion.
Despite the challenges related to COVID-19, the IATC took some other major steps forward as an organization in the last several months. Our bylaws were severely outdated and were in major need of modernizing. With the help of several committee members, an IATC attorney, and an IATC accountant consultant; the bylaw modifications were updated this winter, presented in May at our annual Spring meeting, and passed by large majority. With the passing of the updated bylaws; the IATC also formed a new seven member IATC Board of Directors. This includes the four current officers (President, 1st VP, 2nd VP, and Secretary/Treasurer) as well as three other members who are non-officers. All decisions that affect the IATC will go through the Board of Directors to be voted on for approval. Another change through this process was the development of an IATC Budget Committee. This has been a work in progress but will provide a financial oversight and coordinated effort within our organization. A final major change through this process was for the IATC to become a registered 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation. All of these changes will help improve our association in operational, legal, and financial ways.
It is the goal of the IATC Board of Directors to continue to provide our student-athletes with supplemental competitions. As of now, the IATC will do everything we can to host the Dick Washburn Middle School State Cross Country Meet on Saturday, October 17th at a location(s) that is/are to be determined. The Senior Spotlight Cross Country Meet will be tentatively held at DMACC in Ankeny on Saturday, November 7th.
2020 IATC Important Dates
Washburn Classic State MS XC Meet @ TBD October 17th
IGHSAU/IHSAA HS State XC Meet @ Ft. Dodge October 31st
Senior Spotlight XC Meet @ DMACC, Ankeny November 7th
Fall IATC Meeting @ Waukee High School November 8th
Championship Productions TnF/XC Clinic @ Ames December 6th-7th
Fall Social/IATC Meeting at TnF/XC Clinic @ Ames (TBD) December 6th
Please continue to check the IATC website for more information and updates as they become available at www.iowarunjumpthrow.com
Jared Fletcher
IATC President
