It was initially announced a couple months back that ESPN would be shutting it's HS operations this year. Unfortunately for all Prep HS Track and XC followers, that meant DyeStat would go with it. This is a HUGE loss to all fans of Track and XC at this level, and while it was speculated that DyeStat would return to a self run website as before, it appears that as of now DyeStat is gone.
DyeStat's meet central and TFX listings were by far the most comprehensive and thorough databases out there. There was and will be no peer.
The timing could not be worse for XC fans as we head into another exciting season. I am going to give a few listings of other resources for info as DyeStat hopefully gathers up for a return .
Watchout who contributed National rankings to Dyestat has started his own blog. His list's are often very thorough and at season's end, he is usually right on the money.
http://watchoutxcrankings.blogspot.com/
Dyestat Cal (one of the 2 individual State's that had it's own DyeStat) has moved to a new site. Hopefully all content will be moved over shortly. In the past DyeStat Cal had quite the extensive archives that housed National rankings in Track dating all the way to the 1950's. Here is it's new home for now.
http://prepcaltrack.com/
The other state to have it's own was Illinois. The land of many of the greatest prep XC runners in history. Mike Newman who did Illinois Prep Top Times and Illinois Dyestat has moved here for now.
http://ilprepharrier.wordpress.com/2012/08/25/welcome-to-illinois-prep-harrier/
Mention must also be made of a new site here, Illinois High School Runner which looks very promising.
http://illinoishsrunner.com/
For Texas, it gets a bit more muddied. The TX affiliate of MileSplit, TxRunning.com, is often historically inaccurate and for some reason relies on times when trying to rank XC teams, individuals, etc. This works great on the oval, but I don't even feel the need to explain why this doesn't work in XC.
For Texas fans, I suggest you find all the major city newspapers online and hope to get good info and results from there. Don't forget many of the results that did make their way of TxRunning and it's message board were from DyeStat's meet central.
The Milesplit/FloTrack merger may be interesting but FloTrack is usually only great for up to the minute content before it fades away to obscurity.
I have links to Tracktalk.net on my page and there is talk of new forums sprouting here at National Scholastic Sports Foundation (they out on New Balance Indoor/Outdoor Nat's)
http://www.nationalscholastic.org/forums
I hope first and foremost that DyeStat makes a return, but if not, it is up to all of us to contribute to and make the most of what is available. As more becomes available I will try and update this specific entry. I will also have to force myself to keep up better here as my Eastwood Trooper's make a run for the National rankings!
Godspeed to Lukas Verzbicas as he continues his rehab from his potentially life changing injury.
