A Massachusetts high school cross country team will boycott an invitational track meet scheduled on Rosh Hashanah.

Eight female runners on the Newton North team who observe the holiday sparked the decision to withdraw their annual participation, the Boston Globe reported.

The Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association officials were aware of the Jewish New Year’s date when they scheduled the Saturday, Sept. 19 meet, which draws about 130 schools and 3,500 participants each year, according to the Globe.

But Frank Mooney, the association’s executive director, said the group “had no real idea how serious that day was,’’ the Globe reported, until Rabbi Susan Fendrick of Newton e-mailed Mooney last week. Due to scheduling conflicts, the meet could not be rescheduled. — jta