After scrapping the regional track meets, the UIL had second thoughts.

It took much collaboration between the UIL, the University of Texas and all 20 of the regional meet hosts but, in the end, the meets were put back on the calendar.

"At that time, we were simply trying to save the state track meet," UIL executive director Dr. Charles Breithaupt said in a press release last Thursday. "We believe this schedule represents the best opportunity for the most students."

For the Badgers, the move might have saved the seasons of six athletes.

Under the original format created in reaction to the recent outbreak of swine flu, cancellation of regional meets meant the athletes with the top four showings from each region in each event automatically would advance to the state meet. State qualifiers would be based on district meet results.

An official list of state competitors was never released under the proposal, but there was a very strong possibility all six Lampasas athletes would not qualify.

Now, all have a second chance at state.

"That wasn't a fair way to do it," Lampasas High School Athletic Coordinator Joey McQueen said. "I think they re-evaluated, and that showed that they do care.

"They could have stuck to their guns and said, 'No, we're not doing it.' "

Lampasas' Region IV-4A meet, originally scheduled for May 1-2, will now take place May 15-16 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio.

The state meet was pushed back from May 15-16 to June 5-6. It will be held at Myers Stadium on the University of Texas campus as originally intended.

"The decision to suspend competition was not a decision we took lightly," Breithaupt said in the release. "Much effort and consideration was given to resurrect the regional track meets and change the dates for the state meet.

"With the cooperation of our regional sites and the University of Texas, we are now able to hold the regional and state track meets as we had originally intended."

For Lampasas, late is better than never.

Brode DuBose (shot put), Kooper Liverman (110 and 300 hurdles), Kelby Jones (pole vault), Aaron Reyna (long jump), Jessica Sterling (pole vault) and Andrea White (shot put and discus) have an opportunity to earn a spot at state.

For any athlete, that is all they can ask for.

"I'm satisfied with what they did because it gives our kids a chance to compete," McQueen said.