Carleton College became the first MIAC school to cancel in-person athletic competition for the winter sports season after Carleton’s athletics department released a statement Friday.

Carleton’s affected winter sports include men’s and women’s basketball, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, and tennis.

“The door remains open for potential virtual competitions in swimming and diving and indoor track and field,” the statement wrote, “but those events would still need to adhere to Carleton, MIAC, NCAA and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines.”

A number of factors influenced Carleton’s decision, including the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, which “has not significantly improved at the local, state or national level,” the statement said.

The Northfield school also wanted to give athletes “appropriate time” to determine class schedules and make decisions about being on campus during the winter months.

The Minnesota Department of Health’s most recent report revealed an increase in total positive cases from 117,106 on Oct. 15 to 128,152 on Oct. 22, although Carleton’s COVID-19 dashboard has reported only 16 total positive tests this year for the college.

“The College desires to continue providing a residential learning experience,” the statement said. “The efforts and sacrifices made by Carleton students, faculty, staff and administrators leading up to and during the fall 2020 term have so far been successful in limiting the direct impact COVID-19 has had on campus.”

Carleton was also the first MIAC school to cancel its fall sports season on July 10. The MIAC postponed all competition until the new year on August 31.

No final call has been made on spring sports, which include baseball, golf, softball, tennis, and outdoor track and field; additionally, no decision has been made regarding the rescheduling of fall and winter sports to the spring season.

“While Carleton is the first MIAC school to cancel in-person competition for this upcoming season, the College joins many of its academic peer institutions from across the country in deciding to avoid in-person athletic competition during the winter season,” the statement said.

The statement also mentioned that Carleton winter sports teams are permitted by NCAA, MIAC and school guidelines to continue “practices, skill development, and strength and conditioning activities during the winter months.”

The MIAC has yet to decide the status of winter sports for the entire conference.

Justin Amaker, Mia Laube and Joey Swanson contributed to this report.