AUSTIN, Texas — Texas officials postponed all public high school athletic and academic competitions on Wednesday until May 11 because of the swine flu outbreak.

The move suspends the baseball and softball seasons and eliminates the regional track championships which were to start Friday, said University Interscholastic League Executive Director Charles Breithaupt. He said UIL officials acted on the recommendation of Dr. David Lakey, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services.

With 16 confirmed cases of swine flue in Texas, Gov. Rick Perry announced a disaster declaration Wednesday for the entire state. The declaration will allow officials to begin emergency protective measures and seek reimbursement from the federal government.

"The health and safety of our student activity participants is of the utmost importance," Breithaupt said. "Taking every possible precaution to prevent the further spreading of this disease is an important contribution to the welfare of our great state, and altering the schedule of our events is a way to keep our participants safe."

The state golf and tennis championships are scheduled to begin May 11.

The state track meet, one of the largest high school track and field competitions in the country, has been extended from its normal two days to three and is scheduled for May 12-14.

Breithaupt said the top four athletes in each region, based on the district championships, will be invited to the state meet, which will have about 4,000 athletes, twice the normal size. That still shuts out about 16,000 athletes who compete statewide in the regional meets.

"You never like to do this," Breithaupt said. "I know it inconveniences a lot of people."

All UIL academic competitions, including the state meet that was to begin May 7, are also postponed and will be rescheduled later.

___

The University Interscholastic League: www.uil.utexas.edu