Ohio Approves Wheelchair Track and Field Events
Ohio high school wheelchair athletes now have eight championship finals of in track and field.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) board of directors recently approved a recommendation to add eight wheelchair championship final events—four for boys and four for girls—to the OHSAA State Track and Field Tournament beginning in 2013.
Events include the 100 meter, 400 meter, 800 meter and shot put. Participants will compete in school uniform and win awards for individual honors, but will not score points for their teams. Track and field is the first sport to include wheelchair athletes as part of a state tournament in Ohio.
“The impact on the young athletes with physical disabilities participating in this championship will be incredible,” said Charlie Huebner, U.S. Olympic Committee Chief of Paralympics. “They will be representing their schools and communities in ways that have never been seen in Ohio.”
During the regular season, all FAT-qualifying wheelchair times will be collected, and the top eight male and top eight female times or distances in each event will earn spots in the championship final events at the state tournament.