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Reebok Boston Indoor Games

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, Boston MA



Chris Derrick Gets Exemption

By Tony Jones, IllinoisPrepTopTimes.com


Hey, chill out, Chris. They're not chasing you! The IHSA said you could go to Boston!
Photo John Dye from NTN

January 20, 2008 - Chris Derrick (Sr.) Naperville (Neuqua Valley) has won a waiver from the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) to compete in the upcoming Reebok Boston Indoor Games Junior Boys Invitational Mile to be held at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, Mass.

Initially, Derrick was denied acceptance to the games because it was not sanctioned by the IHSA. The IHSA is sanctioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The Reebok Boston meet is sanctioned by United States Track and Field (USATF), the governing body for all of track and field in the USA.

IHSA track and field czar Ron McGraw specifically cited IHSA rule 3.101 in his initial ruling (paraphrased): “During the school season for a given sport, in a school which maintains a school team in that sport, a student shall not participate on any non-school team, nor as an individual unattached in non-school competition that involves the skill of the sport in question… an exception may be made by the Executive Director under the guidelines adopted by the board of directors.”

Derrick broke onto the national scene last spring during his junior year, running 8:54.64 (3200m) and placing second to super star runner Evan Jager (Jacobs H.S.) at the Illinois State championships. Derrick continued to have a great 2007 calendar campaign by matching the legendary Craig Virgin’s Detweiller 3-mile course record, running a swift 13:51.8. Derrick’s post-season exploits had him leading his team to the Nike Team Nationals, where he and his team both won, as well as a runner-up finish in the Foot Locker Finals. Even more impressively is Derrick is an outstanding student, maintaining a near perfect academic record, as well as being a model citizen and great role model. He concluded the year by winning the Gatorade National Runner of the Year Award for cross country.




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