The committee's surprising new strict rules denying access for media to student-athletes and competition areas at this year's Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Southern Illinois, Edwardsville, were unreasonable and impractical. Why limit coverage for a sport that desperately needs as much publicity as it can get?

Upon arrival at the stadium on the opening day of competition, photographers learned that they would have to work from the stands or from a tent at the south end of the track (go ahead and imagine how poorly that system worked). Reporters also were denied access to any interview area, leaving them to search for student-athletes and coaches in the stands and other public areas of the stadium for interviews. It was the first year for such restrictions at this meet, and the first time I've known of a major track and field competition having such restrictions. There was no advance warning to newspaper editors or university editors in case they wanted to save the expense of sending photographers to the meet.

The committee was asked to reconsider and allow a limited number of photographers to work from the infield (but obviously away from the immediate area of competition), but the request was denied. One sports editor out of San Angelo, Texas (site of next year's championships), already has said he will reduce coverage if the policy remains in effect.

The restrictions, of course, weren't in effect the following week at the Division I championships in Eugene, Oregon. Nor are they for the Olympic Games, the IAAF World Championships, NCAA football or basketball games, or any other significant competition. Try asking photographers to shoot from the stands next January at the BCS championship game and see what happens.

Hopefully, member schools, newspaper editors, and Track and Field Writers of America can work together with the NCAA to see that this doesn't happen again.

Garner Roberts
Assistant Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Abilene Christian University