There is a rumor that the 2002 US Classic Champs will be in eastern North Carolina, with the Finish area situated strategically on an industrial hog farm. If any of you have ever spent a summer working on an industrial hog farm, you will understand this is a bad idea. First of all, it really, really, really stinks. Second, you can't wash off you O-clothes in the waste lagoons. Thirdly, hogs squeal all the time!

Admittedly this is just a rumor, but on the other hand, have you heard anything more concrete about where our classic champs will be in 2002? My advice is you better be ready for pigs!

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 17, 2001

Answers

It'll never happen. If FMD hasn't wiped out the hog farm by then, I'll betcha we'll be banned for fear that we'll introduce it. Already there are concerns that the APOC 2002 organizers in Alberta may lose permission for their venues due to fear of FMD (and no, I'm not kidding!).

-- J-J (jjcote@juno.com), April 17, 2001.

I did a little digging around. As far as I can tell there are 2 USOF clubs in NC.

The easternmost is BOK, whose web page talks of hosting the intercollegiate championship meet in March 2002. If they are going to hold 2 A-meets in 2002, they aren't talking. They do talk about an A-meet possibly in 2003, but it isn't being planned much at all. I suppose it is possible for a club to hold the US classic champs alongside the intercollegiates, but there is no mention of the plans to do so.

There is another club in southern NC called COK. Their web page doesn't mention anything about long-term plans. The other closest clubs are FUMA and QOC in Virginia. I doubt they would hold a meet in NC, but you never know. BSK has been known to "get around a lot", but they are already going to hold the 1000-Day, so why bother with a meet in NC?

Either one of these (or another) club is holding their cards close to the chest (BOK looks most suspicious at this point), or the rumor is just hogwash.... still this is an area to keep an eye on.

I would be a bit more interested in hearing about the relay champs. Does anyone have any leads on that so far? Have we heard an "official" on LA for this year? When has/is the sanctioning committee to meet? Will there be an announcement soon?

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 19, 2001.

The 2001 US Relay Champs are official now, and LAOC will be hosting them, just as was presumed. This was approved by the BOD at their past meeting.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 19, 2001.