INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Per release from the NCAA, all 2020 NCAA Winter and Spring Championships have been canceled due to the evolving COVID-19 public health threat through the world.
NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors announced the cancelation late Thursday afternoon, affecting all three levels of the NCAA in the winter and spring seasons.
The Oklahoma Baptist men's basketball and track and field teams were set to compete in their respective NCAA Championships this upcoming weekend.
The NCAA goes on to say:
"Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men's and women's 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities."
A release from the Great American Conference and Oklahoma Baptist is expected later this evening regarding the rest of the 2020 season.
UPDATE (7:00 PM): The Great American Conference Council of Presidents announced an indefinite suspension of the conference's sports activities - practices and competitions - for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year effective immediately.
This decision follows the National Collegiate Athletic Association's cancelation of all championships for the year.
The top priority for the Great American Conference and its membership is the health of student-athletes, staff, and our campus communities. The conference office will work with the Council of Presidents to monitor all information impacting athletic departments during the remainder of the spring semester.
Additionally, the GAC will work with the NCAA to advocate for all affected conference student-athletes.
For the most up-to-date information, follow @OBU_Athletics on Twitter.
