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Music City Distance Carnival Is Track & Field’s Chance To Get This Right
US Track & Field has been in a holding pattern since March, meets have been cancelled while athletes and race directors have been left in limbo. This sport as a profession feels like it is hanging on by a thread at times and talking to meet directors about any sort of “return to racing” protocol really highlights those concerns.
Enter Music City Distance Carnival, usually the host of USA bests and Olympic qualifiers, MCDC will now be the test subject for T&F viability during the US’s botched Pandemic response. The times will definitely be there on Saturday— of which I’ll preview below — but the important take aways will be in how this meet is presented and how the athletes are protected.
Track & Field’s Bubble Protocol
Here’s what the athletes and personnel will be subjected to if they want to race tomorrow.
- Athletes will have to have had 2 negative COVID tests the week before competing — tests can not be rapid tests
- Athletes will have a window of when they can be in the stadium before and after their races
- Athletes will have a separate entrance blocked off from the other stadium personnel
- There will be no one allowed on the infield during races
