4A track coaches’ proposal could alter state playoff picture

RENO — A proposal by Southern Nevada’s Class 4A track and cross country coaches could change the landscape of the state’s other high school playoffs.

No official request has been filed with the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association, but NIAA assistant director Donnie Nelson told the organization’s Board of Control on Thursday that track and cross country coaches would like to have their state meet in Southern Nevada twice in every three-year cycle.

Currently, most sports’ state championships are held in Southern Nevada every other year.

“It’s been brought up by different coaching groups at various times over the years,” Nelson said. “If we were to change it here, it would set a precendent for all other sports. It will set the tone for all 4A sports.”

There are more than twice as many Southern Nevada 4A schools than Northern 4A schools.

The smaller-school levels are more balanced, except for Class 3A in which the north has three times the number of schools as the south.

“At the 4A level, there are two regions in Southern Nevada and in one in Northern Nevada,” Nelson said. “It’s natural that coaches would want that to happen.”

Allowing the switch to happen in cross country and track could cause problems, though.

“If something like this were to be approved, the 4A (state) meet would be separated from the other classes in some years,” Nelson said.

“From a meet management standpoint, it’s easier to run it at one place, and sometimes it’s the only chance the classes get to see each other.”

If the proposal, which will likely come to a vote in June, were to be approved, it’s likely other sports would want to follow.

“Southern Nevada golf coaches want to recommend the same thing,” said Boulder City boys golf coach Bob Northridge, who is a liaison to the Board of Control. “If you do it for one…”