Santa Clara University Adds T&F
Wednesday, December 15th, 2004

Santa Clara University Adds Track Program
Bronco athletics looks to strengthen its men's and women's distance
programs.

Dec. 11, 2004

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University has added intercollegiate
outdoor men's and women's track and field effective for the upcoming
2005 spring season, announced Director of Athletics and Recreation Dan
Coonan.

The Santa Clara track program will focus on middle and long distance
events, with a primary emphasis on providing opportunities for Bronco
student-athletes to qualify and compete for NCAA championships and
maximize year-round training opportunities. The addition of track brings
the total number of intercollegiate sports at the institution to 19.

"The addition of track ensures that our student-athletes who compete in
middle and long distance events are provided the opportunity to compete
for NCAA championship competition in the spring as well as the fall,
thereby enhancing the credibility of our distance program," said Coonan.
"In the past, we were often forced to turn away talented prospective
student-athletes due to the fact that they could not compete in
individual NCAA championship competition during the spring. Santa Clara
will now be wonderful place for those student-athletes seeking to
combine a top notch education with the ability to compete and train at
the highest level year-round."

Institutions that sponsor track are required to compete in a minimum of
six official competitions per season with at least 14 student-athletes.
In the past, Santa Clara competed in various local and regional
competitions as part of its non-traditional season and was limited to a
maximum of five events during the spring season. However, because track
was not an official sport at SCU, Bronco distance competitors were not
eligible to qualify for NCAA championship competition, even if they
registered a qualifying time.

"Not only are our current student-athletes excited about the addition
of track to our distance program, we've received a very favorable
response from our former runners and prospective student-athletes," said
Head Men's and Women's Coach Tom Service. "We now have the flexibility
to provide a true year-round training program that can maximize the
potential of our runners. I can envision significant improvement in our
overall distance program in the near future and, in particular, I
believe our cross country program can continue to make strides toward
becoming one of the best in the West region of the country."

Bronco track athletes are expected to compete in the following events:
800-meters, 1,500-meters, 3,000-meter steeplechase, 5,000-meters and
10,000-meters. In addition, Santa Clara could field 4x400-meter and
other relay teams depending on the type of competition the team enters.


Qualifying standards fo rthe 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field
Championships, scheduled for June 8-11 in Sacramento, Calif., are
available online at www.ncaa.org. West Regional championships are
scheduled for May 27-28 in Eugene, Ore.