Healthcare Emergency Forced Cancellation Of Bob Firman Invitational For 2021

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

For the second year in a row, COVID-19 has caused the cancellation of the the Bob Firman Invitational at Eagle Island State Park in Idaho. 

Last Thursday, just eight days out from the start of one of the Northwest's largest cross country meets, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare expanded its Crisis Standards of Care to encompass the entire state. 

Crisis Standards of Care is a term that means health care providers can adjust decision-making on the fly about how to administer care in a crisis. And in Idaho, hospitals are operating overflow areas because most beds are full of COVID-19 patients. 

"The major stakeholders in the event had conversations immediately after the announcement. Given the impact this would have on Eagle Island's ability to host a large event, we were all in agreement it would not be feasible or responsible to move forward this year and the best course of action was to cancel," meet director Ryan Canning said. 

The Bob Firman Invitational was expecting runners from more than 130 high schools and an additional 60 middle school teams. 

One of the next questions becomes can Eagle Island handle the Idaho state championship meet Oct. 30 or the Nike Cross Northwest meet on Nov. 13. 

Nike issued a statement that said race organizers would be evaluating the situation. The surge of patients caused by the Delta variant is projected to subside over the next month. 

"All Nike Cross Regional events will follow the latest CDC and local government COVID-19 guidelines," the statement said. "We will continue to monitor the sensitive, fluid situation and communicate updates or changes ahead of each race, as needed."

In the aftermath of Thursday's cancellation, schools have scrambled to find meets and keep racing opportunities on the calendar for Sept. 25. 

Boise High, one of the top programs in Idaho, found a modest sized meet on Friday at Vallivue High in Caldwell, Idaho. 

Summit High of Bend, which was travelling from Oregon, was sending a small group to Bob Firman but will now send those athletes to Nike Portland XC, which is the same day. Summit had already entered JV athletes into the meet in Portland. 

Fort Steilacoom Invitational Shut Down Over 'Weather'

- In another cancellation that happened over the weekend, the Brooks Fort Steilacoom Invitational, one of the largest September meets in Washington, was stopped two days prior due to "weather warnings."

The Clover Park School District superintendent made the decision to cancel the 86-team meet. 

According to the district, the decision to cancel "was made for safety reasons. A storm front will move through the region this weekend bringing heavy rains, thunderstorms and high winds, which may cause downed trees at the park."

As it turned out, there was less than an inch of rain and no significant wind damage.