Chamberlain cross country team cleared to compete in Gainesville meet

Posted Sep 18, 2009 by Bill Ward

Updated Sep 18, 2009 at 06:37 PM

Following a resolution worked out by the Hillsborough County school district to deal with a ban on its sports teams competing during the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashana, the Chamberlain High boys cross country team will be allowed to compete in today’s Mountain Dew Invitational in Gainesville.

Originally, the district ruled that all teams within the county could not compete during Rosh Hashana, commonly called “the Jewish New Year,” which runs from sunset today through nightfall Sunday.

The ruling forced Wharton High to withdraw from a major invitational Saturday in Jacksonville but Chamberlain parents and coaches appealed to the school board for permission to compete at the Gainesville race. Armwood, also slated to compete in the Gainesville meet, opted to withdraw.

The holiday also caused all of Hillsborough County’s public schools to play its football games on Thursday night instead of Friday.

Late Thursday, Chamberlain cross country coach coach Bill Strack learned Deputy Superintendent Ken Otero had drawn up a release form Chamberlain parents could sign that would waive liability issues and permit their children to run in today’s meet.

For the full story, follow this link: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/18/chamberlain-runners-can-go-gainesville-meet-despit/sports-prepsports/