High school track athletes all over the state must be patient, but they will get a chance to compete.

The UIL announced a new track schedule Thursday that reinstates the regional meets that has been suspended because of the swine flu outbreak.

The Class 5A Region I and Region II meets are scheduled for May 22-23 at their original locations. The Class 4A Region I meet is May 15-16 in Odessa. Dates for the Class 4A-Region II meet are still being ironed out, but the event will be held at North Texas.

The state track meet was rescheduled for June 5-6 in Austin.

"When our staff had the time, opportunity and information, they were able to make this happen," UIL executive director Charles Breithaupt said in a statement. "We also know that additional conflicts may occur because of these changes. However, we believe this schedule represents the best opportunity for the most students."

On Wednesday, the UIL suspended all athletic competitions until May 11 because of swine flu concerns. The UIL office was blitzed with phone calls from people wanting to know why the regional meets were cancelled.

The UIL initially announced that state qualifiers would be generated from the top four performances in each event at the district meets.

Some area coaches said that posed problems because top athletes may not have tried their best because they knew they were advancing to the regional meet anyway. Dallas ISD athletic director Jeff Johnson said the UIL ultimately made the right decision.

"A couple of weeks isn't going to affect anything, and kids are going to get an opportunity to compete," Johnson said. "I'm very relieved."