The Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet is expected to reach a decision on a preliminary-round format in track and field that might replace the current regional-qualifying system.

The new cabinet will conduct its inaugural meeting September 16-17 in Indianapolis. It is one of the three larger cabinets (31 members) in the new Division I council/cabinet structure. The Leadership and Legislative Councils also have 31 members (one per conference), while the five cabinets beside the championships group are composed of 20 members.

Since this is the group’s initial meeting in the new Division I governance structure, the body will hear recommendations from each of the former championships cabinet subcommittee chairs. They will be provide background information regarding past work and provide insight on future decisions that the new cabinet will make.

A good example is the recommendation from the Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Committee to replace the current regional-qualifying system with a three-site or a two-site format that would become the first round of the national championship.

The three-site format, which divides the nation into East, Central and West regions, would include the top 32 student-athletes in each individual event at each site. Those competitors would be determined by a national descending-order list from season-best performances.

The top 16 relay teams in each of their respective events would also be determined by a national descending-order list to compete in the first round at one of the three sites.

The two-site concept, which would be divided into an East-West alignment, would have the top 48 student-athletes at each individual event available to compete in the first round.

The top 24 relay teams would also participate in the first round in one of the two regions.

This has been an ongoing issue in recent years, and the cabinet expects to reach a conclusion on this matter during this meeting.

The cabinet will also review 26 legislative proposals, including one that would reduce the maximum number of contests in baseball from 56 to 52.

The cabinet also will comment on the possibility of adding sand volleyball to the NCAA emerging-sports list.