New Regulations for 2024

NOTE: this is informational only it is part of the state meet information and is not a regulation per se. It has been placed here for the time being to help ensure the information is accessible.  

The use of a pole vault verification form will now be utilized for the postseason.  The form can be found on the main track and field pages.   The form is also required to be presented to the meet manager during regional and state competitions.  This will replace the pole vault weigh-ins at postseason competitions.  

The 2023 State Combined Class A and B Girls’ and Boys’ Track & Field Meets will be held at the Bismarck Community Bowl with Dave Zittleman as manager. The meet will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 25 - 27.

Schools competing in the girls’ and/or boys’ track and field events must observe the following regulations:

1. The Class B Regionals are organized as follows (Region Meet sites and Managers):

Southeast Region – Kindred - Bradley Ambrosius Mgr.

Barnes County North, Central Cass, Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier, Ellendale, Enderlin/Maple Valley, Hankinson, Kindred, LaMoure/Litchville-Marion, Lisbon, Milnor, Northern Cass, Oak Grove, Oakes, Richland, Sargent County (North Sargent/Sargent Central), Wyndmere/Lidgerwood,

Northeast Region – Hillsboro - Dave Nelson, Mgr.

Drayton/Valley-Edinburg, Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page, Grafton (Grafton/St. Thomas), Griggs County Central/Midkota, Hatton/Northwood, Hillsboro/Central Valley, Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich, Larimore, May-Port CG, Midway/Minto, Nelson County (Dakota Prairie/Lakota), Park River/Fordville-Lankin, Pembina County North (North Border/Cavalier), Thompson

North Central Region–Rugby - Scott Grochow, Mgr.

Benson County (Leeds/Maddock), Bottineau, Dunseith, Four Winds, Glenburn, Harvey/Wells County, New Rockford-Sheyenne, North Star (North Star/Starkweather), Northern Lights (St. John/Rolla), Rolette/Wolford, Rugby/TGU-Towner, Velva/Drake-Anamoose, Westhope/Newburg, Warwick

South Central Region – Shiloh - Dana Jacobson, Mgr

Carrington, Center-Stanton, Central McLean (Underwood/Turtle Lake-Mercer/McClusky), Hazen, Kidder County/Napoleon/Gackle-Streeter, Linton/H-M-B, New Salem Almont, Medina/Pingree-Buchanan, Shiloh Christian, South Border (Ashley/Wishek), Southern McLean (Washburn/Wilton/Wing), Standing Rock/Selfridge/Solen, Strasburg, Zeeland

Southwest Region – Bowman - Kate Cristaldi,  Mgr.

Beach, Beulah, Bowman County, Dickinson Trinity, Glen Ullin/Hebron, Grant County/Flasher, Heart River (Belfield/South Heart/Billings County), Hettinger/Scranton, Killdeer, Mott-Regent/New England, Richardton-Taylor.

Northwest Region – Minot, Lyall Kruger, Mgr.

Bishop Ryan, Burke Central, Des Lacs-Burlington/Lewis & Clark (Berthold/North Shore), Divide County, Garrison, Kenmare/Bowbells, Mandaree, Max, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood, Nedrose, New Town, Parshall, Powers Lake, Sawyer, South Prairie, Stanley, Surrey (Surrey/TGU Granville), Trenton,  White Shield, Williams County (Tioga/Ray), Williston Trinity Christian.

2. Class A school region sites:

East Region – Fargo South - Mike Beaton, Mgr.

West Region – Dickinson  - Guy Fridley, Mgr.

3. For approval to host a regional meet, all events must be held at that site.
4. Schools hosting a qualifying meet no longer need to submit sanction forms. Although sanctioning is no longer required, a meet must have no less than 2 teams competing to be a qualifying meet, there is no longer a minimum number of competitors per event to be a qualifying event.
5. Team and Individual limitations:

1. Any team or individual may participate in a maximum of 14 regular season outdoor meets.
2. No contestant in an invitational, regional, or State Meet may enter more than four events.
3. Boys and girls individual distance limits for a one-day meet: Any boy or girl may enter and compete in a total of no more than 5600 Meters on the track in one day of competition.
4. In a two-day meet a boy or girl may compete in any four events. At the state meet, an athlete may compete in a maximum of four events of which he or she is qualified to participate.

6. The penalty for exceeding the individual limitation is loss of all points and awards for that individual. This would include all points and awards for any relay team of which he/she was a member, plus ineligibility of the head coach for the next scheduled meet. However, if the violation occurs at the regional meet, the contestant could not qualify for the State Meet (this would include all members of a relay team if one member was ineligible), but could participate in the State Meet if previously qualified by minimum standards. Points and places, which are affected when a competitor is disqualified for either unsportsmanlike or unacceptable conduct, will be determined by following the National Federation Track and Field Rule Book.
7. The 200 meter dash must be run on a full curve in order to meet the minimum qualifying standard.

1. If the 200 is not run in this manner, contestants cannot qualify for the State Meet. Lane assignments on a nine-lane track for races around one or more curves:

9 participants – Lanes 4-5-6-3-7-2-8-1-9

8 participants – Lanes 4-5-6-3-7-2-8-9

7 participants – Lanes 4-5-6-3-7-8-9

6 participants – Lanes 4-5-6-7-8-9

2. For regular season and postseason, lane assignments for all races that are run around one or more curves on an 8 lane track shall be:

8 participants- Lanes 3-4-5-2-6-1-7-8

7 participants- Lanes 3-4-5-2-6-7-8

6 participants- Lanes 3-4-5-6-7-8

8. The Track Qualifying Reporting Policy is as follows:

1. Individual meet managers will need to upload their meet results to athletic.net within five days of the meet.  However, if not done, coaches will have the assignment of reporting their own qualifiers via athletic.net.  Each school will need to set up a free account on the athletic.net website.  Coaches are asked to report any qualifying performances within 5 days of their regular season meet in which this qualification took place.

9. Distance race heating procedure:

1. If more than 16 are competing in the 800 Meter Run, there shall be a maximum of 12 runners in the fast section and a minimum of 5 runners in the remaining section.
2. If more than 20 are competing in the 1600 Meter Run, there shall be a maximum of 16 runners in the fast section and a minimum of 5 runners in the remaining section.
3. In the 3200 Meter Relay, the number of teams in the fast section shall be 12 and a minimum of 4 teams in the remaining section. If less than 4 remain, they will be added to the fast section. If more than 16 remain, they shall be split equally into two sections.

10. The addition of a wheelchair division has been added for regular season meets.  See the files tab for implementation rules for wheelchair athletes.
11. NOTE: Clarification of regional and state entry procedure:

1. As per National Federation Rule 4, Section 2, Art. 1, a contestant shall not be entered in more than four individual events. If a contestant is entered in more than the allowable number of events, meet management shall scratch the contestant from the excess event(s) by following the listed order of events.  This is for athletes that have been entered in five individual events for the region meet or an athlete that has qualified in more than 4 individual events for the state meet.  
2. Entries as well as participation shall follow the distance limitation rule (see # 10 of this article). An athlete shall not enter events in which the total distance exceeds 5600 meters. If an athlete is entered in events that exceed the 5600-meter maximum, the meet manager shall scratch the contestant from the excess event by following the listed order of events. Note: regular season and region meets only.  This does not apply to the state meet.
3. c. Event entries are to be in the meet manager’s hands no later than noon on the day before the regional meet and entered into athletic.net by 10:00 am CDT on the Monday prior to the state meet
4. d. After these deadlines, no additions or substitutions are allowed. Scratches are allowed but must count as one of their four events if done after the scratch meeting the morning of the regional meet or after 11:59 pm CDT on the Monday prior to the state meet. All scratches must be handed in writing to the person running the meeting for regional meets  These must be kept confidential prior to any scratches announced.

1. Scenario: An athlete is entered in the 100, 200 and 400 Meter Dashes and the Long Jump. Coach scratches this athlete from the 400 Meter Dash (a) at the scratch meeting (b) after the scratch meeting to run in a relay. (a) Legal (b) NOT legal as the scratched 400 Meter Dash will count as one of this athlete’s four events and competing in the relay would exceed the four event limitation. The result in (b) would be a loss of all places and points accumulated, from events in which this athlete was involved, including the relay(s) as well as disqualification from the meet. (NFHS rule 4-2 PENALTY.)

12. Criteria to participation for exhibition/transfer athletes in track and field:

1. In track and field unattached/exhibition/transfer student athletes may compete at varsity meet, but must meet the following criteria:

1. Athletes must be declared as an exhibition competitor to the meet manager prior to competition.
2. The athlete may not score points nor can they qualify for the state meet.
3. The athlete must adhere to the following requirements for said events

1. In individual running events of 400 meter or less, exhibition athletes may compete under the following conditions:

1. In a heat declared junior varsity or
2. In a heat not designated to consist of the top 16 athletes or a heat not designated as one of the two heats of competitors with fastest seed times.
3. Entered with a seed time of “no time” so as to be last in the performance list.

2. In individual running events of 800 meters or greater, exhibition athletes may compete under the following conditions

1. In a heat declared junior varsity or
2. In a varsity heat as long as the athlete has been entered in the timing system as an exhibition, therefore the athlete will not score nor count in the results.
3. Entered with a seed time of “no time” so as to be last in the performance list.

3. In relays, exhibition athletes may only compete on relay teams declared junior varsity and non-scoring.
4. In long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, and javelin; exhibition athletes may compete under the following conditions:

1. In a flight declared junior varsity or
2. In a varsity competition with any entry performance of no height or distance, the athlete is placed last in the performance list, and the athlete may not advance to finals or qualify for additional trials.

5. In high jump and pole vault, exhibition athletes may compete under the following conditions:

1. In a flight declared as junior varsity
2. In a varsity competition, competitors would be able to complete the entire competition but no placing nor team points awarded.

13. A school may also qualify entrants for the State Meet by equaling or exceeding minimum standards in an approved invitational outdoor meet, which has a minimum of two teams competing with at least one entrant in a given event.

1. NOTE: At all meets for qualifying purposes, if hand held times are used, the time must be rounded to the upper 10ths and .24 added to the time. This converted time will be left in 100ths. This must be done and noted prior to reporting these hand held results. If automatic timing is used in qualifying meets during the year, there will be no conversion and the F.A.T. time stands and will be left in 100ths.

14. The following are the minimum standards for qualification for the State Meet.

15. Relay races shall count toward team points in the same manner as other track and field events. The personnel of a relay team qualified for the State Meet are to be determined by their school. At the State Meet, up to six individuals in relays that hold prelims may be listed as entrants. Any four may compete. The members need not be the same four who ran when the team qualified.
16. Region meet deadlines are the Saturday prior to the state meet.
17. In addition to regular season qualifying standards, Class B schools may qualify entrants for the State Meet at one of the six regional sites. Class A may qualify entrants for the state meet at one of two region sites. If a school is participating in track for the first year, contact the NDHSAA for regional assignment.

Post Season

18. All Class A and Class B regional entry forms must be sent to your regional manager and must be in his/her hands no later than Noon on the day prior to the regional meet. Registration forms and the process of submitting the entries will be determined by the individual region managers. The region manager may adjust the registration deadline if the date of the meet is changed due to an act of God. THOSE ENTRY DEADLINES SHALL BE FINAL FOR BOTH CLASS A AND B ALLOWING NO ADDITIONS OR SUBSTITUTIONS, ONLY SCRATCHES.
19. The top six finishers (Class A) and the top three finishers (Class B) in each event at the region meet, including the relays, with the possible exception of the high jump and pole vault events as outlined in item 23, qualify for the state meet from each region.
20. Teams may enter a maximum of five contestants in each individual event at the regional meet. In the event a team has more than 5 athletes qualified by minimum standard during the regular season, the team may exceed the 5-individual limitation, using only previously qualified athletes.  Each school may enter one team in each relay event. Class B coaches will be required to verify qualifying times if so requested by the regional manager.
21. The individual and team uniform rule as outlined in the National Federation Track and Field Rule Book will be enforced by Region and State Meet managers.
22. Teams must be prepared to assume their own expenses at the regional meet. Schools qualifying contestants for the State Meet will be reimbursed following the completion of the year according to the team payment schedule.
23. The starting height for the high jump and the pole vault at regionals will be set by the Games Committee with input from the participating coaches. Final starting height will be determined by the Games Committee. In regional meets for the high jump and pole vault, if 1st, 2nd and 3rd place involves more than three contestants (Class B) or 1st through 6th place involves more than six contestants (Class A) and the tie is at a height less than state qualifying, there shall be a “jump off” between the tied individuals to determine who will advance to the State Meet. If during the jump-off, an athlete meets state qualifying height, the original height shall stand and shall not be state qualifying unless by place in the jump-off. The jump-off height is not considered state qualifying because it was not reached during the original competition.

1. The “five alive” method will be used in the high jump and pole vault.

24. The order of events for Class A and B regional meets is listed below. Events will be run in this order, but each region may set their own time schedule.

1. 4x800 Meter Relay

300 Meter Hurdles

100 Meter Dash

4x200 Meter Relay

1600 Meter Run         

4x100 Meter Relay

400 Meter Dash

High Hurdles

800 Meter Run

200 Meter Dash

3200 Meter Run

4x400 Meter Relay

NOTE: Run only timed finals in all running events - fastest heat first.

2. Field Events – The field event schedule shall be set by each regional Games Committee to fit their particular facility. The boys’ long jump and girls’ triple jump will run simultaneously first in 2013. Girls’ long jump and boys’ triple jump will run simultaneously first in 2014.

25. The Region and State Meets will be scored on a 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis and awards will be made for eight places in all events at the State Meet. Awards at the regional meets will be made for three places in all events.
26. The schedule of events for the State Meet is found in the track & field portion of the NDHSAA web site. Regulations on preliminary heats, type of running and approach surface to be used, type of spikes allowed and other pertinent information concerning the meet will be found in the April Bulletin.
27. Flights for Field Events at State Track:

1. For competitions with participants of 10 or less, one flight.
2. For competitions of 11 to 18, two flights. With an even number of participants, two flights of equal numbers. With an odd number of participants, two flights with the second having one more competitor than the first.
3. For competitions of more than 18, make three flights with as equal a number of competitors as possible. When unable to have three equal flights, the last flight will have one more competitor than the other flights. This pattern would continue with  having an extra competitor in the second to last flight, etc. Example: 23 competitors, flight 1 will have 7 competitors, flight 2 will have 8 competitors, flight 3 will have 8 competitors.

28. Class A - Provisional Standard to fill at least two heats in all races 400 meters or less and all flighted field events at the state meet.  The provisional standards are listed in the track regulation page under standards.  Athletes will be added to events if necessary utilizing the fastest times that have met the provisional standard

29. Junior High Track Limitations

1. If separate meets are held for each of the junior high grades, then 9th grade students may follow high school regulations and events. However, if 7th and 8th graders compete against 9th graders, then the 9th graders must conform to limits set for junior high. Combining these grades would make the resulting team a junior high team. For qualifying purposes, 9th grade teams must be composed entirely of 9th grade students.
2. The junior high has a season limit of eight meets.
3. Limit of four events
4. Junior high competitors may run both the 800 and 1600 meter runs in a one day meet, and can enter one other running event.
5. Suggested Events:

100 Meter Dash

200 Meter Dash

400 Meter Dash

800 Meter Run

1600 Meter Run         

High Hurdles

4X100 Meter Relay

4X200 Meter Relay

4X400 Meter Relay

Shot Put Boys’ - (4.0 kg.[8 lb. 13 oz.]) / Girls’ – (2.744 kg[6 lb.])

Discus (2 lb. 3 ½ oz.)

Long Jump

High Jump

Pole Vault

4X800 Meter Relay

6. 7th, 8th and 9th grade students involved in track may compete at either the junior or senior high level the entire season.
7. In the hurdle events, it is mandatory that junior high boys (7th, 8th graders) must run 110 meters and use 33 inch hurdles. Junior high girls (7th, 8th graders) must run 100 meters and use 30 inch hurdles.

Updated 11/27/2023