Post Pioneer

C.W. Post administrators stunned track and field runners June 29 by announcing it would be discontinuing the team as a varsity sport for the upcoming 2007-2008 academic year.

The decision has drawn outrage from former track runners and coaches, denunciation from a former Student Government president and allegations that the University ended the team without consulting any of the track runners or coaches who would be impacted.

Forty students are without the track team following its dissolution. Any athletes who were to receive scholarships for their participation in the varsity track program would continue to receive "those equal levels for the remainder of the eligibility period," according to a press release issued on the Athletics website June 29.

Cross-country remains as a varsity sport for the college, and the school said it is "looking into providing its student-athletes with an opportunity to participate in a club-level track and field program."

"The decision to discontinue varsity track and field was a difficult one, Bryan Collins, C.W. Post director of athletics, said in a statement June 29. "However, the cost of maintaining a competitive track and field program has become prohibitive. Additionally, there are few Division II schools in our area to compete against in track and field. Because of this, a large amount of financial resources were devoted to having our student-athletes travel to meets and compete against larger Division I programs."

Editor's note: Dr. Sherri Coe-Perkins, the associate provost for Student Affairs and Collins' superior in the division, as well as Provost Dr. Joseph Shenker, were on vacation as of Friday and will be responding to Pioneer inquiries into the matter come the middle of next week, Public Relations director Rita Langdon said. Further questions addressed to Collins will also be addressed at that time.

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