For the past few weeks, the CYO track coaches of Long Island were discussing possibilities of opening the spring track season while adhering to the CDC regulations that are currently in place. Not all parishes will form their track teams. We’ll miss teams from St. Raymond and Sacred Heart among others.

OLL CYO will build several small teams, approximately 10-15 runners. For example, siblings, classmates (regardless of gender), or buddies who hang out together after school will be grouped in small teams. Given the increased number of groups, it also means every parent should consider becoming a coach.

OLL CYO will be practicing at the Malverne HS track, evenings Monday – Friday at 6:30, in order to accommodate numerous small teams. We can’t have 80-100 runners on the track like in the past. Runners will take their temperature at the arrival and answer 3 standard questions. They will line up in every other lane and run with masks.

The CYO of LI will contract two fields for meets—Mitchel and St. Joseph’s. For us, all meets will be conducted at Mitchel Field on MONDAY evenings 5:30–9:30 pm. Tentative dates are as follows: 5/17, 5/24, 6/7, 6/14. There will be 3 parishes at each meet and the number of runners at any given time will not exceed 150. The presence of parents is still a subject of discussion. The other significant difference regarding the meets is that there will be more individual sprints. The number of meets we will participate in will be determined by the number of registered runners. Each meet will cost the OLL CYO $350. Ideally, each runner would participate in 2-3 meets. There is an ongoing discussion on if (and how many) parents should be allowed on the bleachers.

Please, fill out the form if you are interested in participating in the track program under these unusual circumstances (that are changing each month). The purpose of the form is to capture an approximate number of runners. It asks for parent’s/guardian’s name, phone number, email, and runner’s grade. It doesn’t ask for the runner’s name. Once completed, the form will be taken off the site and data deleted. This is not a registration. The actual registration will follow later, eventually.

Update 3/20/2021: The survey has ended.