One of top annual postseason track and field meets for prep athletes won't be showcased again in Albuquerque as a result of ongoing challenges presented by pandemic, both Great Southwest indoor and outdoor meets scheduled for 2022 

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Fred Polich, director of the Great Southwest Classic traditionally held at University of New Mexico Stadium in Albuquerque, confirmed Tuesday the meet would not be held again this June as a result of challenges related to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The meet held its 44th edition in 2019, highlighted by Justin Robinson of Hazelwood West High and Gateway City United Athletics in Missouri running 44.84 seconds in the 400 meters.

Anna Hall, a sophomore All-American at Georgia, set the national high school record in the heptathlon with 5,798 points at the 2018 event, representing Valor Christian High in Colorado and FK Elite.

In a letter to Great Southwest committee members, Polich wrote:

The Great Southwest Classic has been one of America's most inspiring annual events, bringing together young athletes from all over our country for three days of spirited competition. Over the past 45 years, it has also become a family, and in 2021, our Board has decided that the safety and security of family is more important than the opportunity to set personal bests.

This diabolical pandemic has divided our country as it has broken our hearts, all of us losing loved ones as we also lost many precious community connections to one another. Some of your states stuck close to the standard high school sports seasons, while New Mexico is among the many who pushed back sports as it continued online classes.  In our state, high school sports were deferred: our football season began in March, and track does not begin until late May, with the state championships the last week of June. We could not even schedule GSWC until July Fourth weekend, which is a dead-on conflict for many families who would, otherwise, participate. Precautions for participants, officials, and fans are essential, from cleaning implements after each throw, to bringing together a few thousand people that might, unfortunately, spread the virus.  GSWC is not March Madness or the Superbowl or Olympics, each of whom has guaranteed television revenue. Our caring sponsors share all these above concerns, including another COVID spike, which, much as we would like, cannot truthfully be dismissed.

GSWC has confirmed its high standard for success, thanks to you, the athletes, coaches and parents, to whom we owe gratitude and also obligation. For that reason, we shall not hold our 2021 event. While disappointed, we are not beaten. We are already planning on our best-ever indoor meet, which will be conducted in February on the spanking new Mondo track, one of only two in the world and only one in the USA. We are committed to June, 2022, when the next generation of young athletes will bring their talent and motivation to Albuquerque for another event to remember. Stay safe all until our "Great Southwest Classic family" is together again.