Scranton will not host District 2 track and field championships

A search is underway for a new venue for the District 2 Track and Field Championships after Scranton School District backed out of hosting the event at Memorial Stadium because of concerns over COVID-19.

School officials informed District 2 Chairman Frank Majikes of their decision, citing the large number of athletes competing in the event.

This season’s District 2 Championship, scheduled for the week of May 17, is expected to be the first with a two-day format that resembles the PIAA Championship meet held each year at Shippensburg University.

Memorial Stadium, which has an eight-lane, all-weather track, has hosted the district championships since 2005.

The stadium is also host of the Jordan Relays, the Robert Spagna Championship meet and the Phil Tochelli Junior High Championship meet. Those events will also need to relocate this spring. Jordan Relays is scheduled for May 6, the Spagna meet is May 11 and the Tochelli meet is May 7.

North Pocono principal Ron Collins, who is president of the Lackawanna Interscholastic Athletic Association, said his school is interested in hosting the district championships. North Pocono, which has a six-lane track, was the location for the championships in the 1990s.

LIAA athletic directors met Wednesday and the topic of new locations and even the possibility of postponement were discussed if no venue or venues are found.

“Our goal, as always and for all our spring sports student-athletes, will be to get as many events scheduled and held as possible,” Collins said.

The Lackawanna Track Conference schedule starts March 30 with crossover meets.