Why do we have a Track and field team?

[bladerunnr]

I'm going to plead ignorance about how big a ride track athletes get. I'm guessing the females get a lot more than the men, due to Title 9. The MW championships just wrapped up yesterday. If you read twitter or the UW website, you'd think we just did wonderful. The women finished last out of 11 teams and the men were 6th out of 8 teams. The women's team has been absolutely awful for several years, usually finishing last or very close to last. One female, a freshmen from Cheyenne, scored about 1/2 of the teams total points. Taliah Morris is a genuine talent. She was 4th in the 100 and the 200 and scored in the long jump as well.
In most of the track events, not a single female was even close to qualifying for a final. Not one Wyoming runner was in the 400, 800, or 1500 final. One female scored 1 point in the 400h (8th place). No one scored in the steeple or 5k. If this was a one off, I'd let it go. But why have a track team when it is an embarrassment to the school year after year?

The men are better. We went 1-2 in the shot put and had podium finishes in the steeple and 5k. The problem for the men is a school like New Mexico. New Mexico gets most of it's team from Kenya or even Europe. Josh Kerr, the current world Champion at 1500 meters, went to New Mexico via Scotland, where he was NCAA champion as a freshman.

Sorry. That's my rant. I'm tired of reading it's all sunshine and roses, when in reality, the women's track team is an absolute embarrassment to the school and the men's is somewhat better. But if we have track to fulfill title 9 requirements, then maybe just get rid of the whole program and try tiddlywinks or something we might not stink up the joint at.

 

[LanderPoke]

Yeah we suck at track. It seems like a sport we should be good at.

Does not having a decent indoor facility hurt us? What do other MWC schools have facilities wise for track.

I like track. Did it in HS and my kids participate in the local kids track club

 

[bladerunnr]

Yeah we suck at track. It seems like a sport we should be good at.

Does not having a decent indoor facility hurt us? What do other MWC schools have facilities wise for track.

I like track. Did it in HS and my kids participate in the local kids track club

I don't believe its facilities. New Mexico has a fantastic indoor track. In fact, the NCAA championships have been held there. But most schools don't have good indoor facilities. Frankly, it's recruiting. The coaching is upper tier. Berryhill and Dahlberg know what they are doing. Last year, they brought in a freshman from Morocco, Salma Elbadra. She won multiple MW titles and made it to the NCAA finals. But she transferred to South Carolina. And look at Morris, a Cheyenne kid who looks like a future MW champion and maybe a national class runner. It can be done here.

The men got to the NCAA championship in cross country last year. And if it weren't for a few Kenyans from New Mexico, Wyoming would have the Steeplechase and 5K champion. We've had champions in throws and All Americans in cross country. Reynolds was NCAA champ in the indoor weight throw this year. The men's program is acceptable. Good at distance and probably never competitive at sprints-typical for a school at altitude with a cold climate.

I'm guessing the recruiting budget is very small. Most of our athletes are from Wyoming and Colorado. So I shouldn't expect much. But the women's team, in particular, has been nothing short of horrendous for several years now. Even at distance, the 5k and 10k, not single Wyoming female can run a competitive time. Frankly, there are high school runners in Colorado who could wipe the floor with our distance team. I hate to see scholarships wasted on runners who don't the faintest hope of competing within the conference. Either get rid of the entire program or up the recruiting budget so that we won't be the conference doormat every year. I realize track is not highly visible and very few care. But we've had some great runners in the past (Shauna Smith, Jessica Fox) and the program shouldn't be forced into recruiting a very narrow geographical area when it's apparent there isn't much talent here.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

I don't believe its facilities. New Mexico has a fantastic indoor track. In fact, the NCAA championships have been held there. But most schools don't have good indoor facilities. Frankly, it's recruiting. The coaching is upper tier. Berryhill and Dahlberg know what they are doing. Last year, they brought in a freshman from Morocco, Salma Elbadra. She won multiple MW titles and made it to the NCAA finals. But she transferred to South Carolina. And look at Morris, a Cheyenne kid who looks like a future MW champion and maybe a national class runner. It can be done here.

The men got to the NCAA championship in cross country last year. And if it weren't for a few Kenyans from New Mexico, Wyoming would have the Steeplechase and 5K champion. We've had champions in throws and All Americans in cross country. Reynolds was NCAA champ in the indoor weight throw this year. The men's program is acceptable. Good at distance and probably never competitive at sprints-typical for a school at altitude with a cold climate.

I'm guessing the recruiting budget is very small. Most of our athletes are from Wyoming and Colorado. So I shouldn't expect much. But the women's team, in particular, has been nothing short of horrendous for several years now. Even at distance, the 5k and 10k, not single Wyoming female can run a competitive time. Frankly, there are high school runners in Colorado who could wipe the floor with our distance team. I hate to see scholarships wasted on runners who don't the faintest hope of competing within the conference. Either get rid of the entire program or up the recruiting budget so that we won't be the conference doormat every year. I realize track is not highly visible and very few care. But we've had some great runners in the past (Shauna Smith, Jessica Fox) and the program shouldn't be forced into recruiting a very narrow geographical area when it's apparent there isn't much talent here.

The reality is that Men’s track and field probably doesn’t have a long shelf life in the new revenue sharing and NIL era. Give it 7 years and it will probably be gone or will become more of a club sport. The fate of women’s track and field likely rides on the future of title ix decisions.

The professional sports college model is the death to historically American dominated Olympic sports such as swimming, track, etc.

 

[bladerunnr]

The reality is that Men’s track and field probably doesn’t have a long shelf life in the new revenue sharing and NIL era. Give it 7 years and it will probably be gone or will become more of a club sport. The fate of women’s track and field likely rides on the future of title ix decisions.

The professional sports college model is the death to historically American dominated Olympic sports such as swimming, track, etc.

Could not disagree more. The NIL model is perfect for track. The really good athletes get NIL directly from the shoe companies. And since professional track isn't popular or viable in the U.S., college track actually gets a lot more views streaming and in person than the few professional meets in the U.S.. And for females, NIL has been really lucrative. If you're fast and good looking, Nike or Adidas, or ON or any of the other shoe brands are going to pay you.

 

[LanderPoke]

I don't believe its facilities. New Mexico has a fantastic indoor track. In fact, the NCAA championships have been held there. But most schools don't have good indoor facilities. Frankly, it's recruiting. The coaching is upper tier. Berryhill and Dahlberg know what they are doing. Last year, they brought in a freshman from Morocco, Salma Elbadra. She won multiple MW titles and made it to the NCAA finals. But she transferred to South Carolina. And look at Morris, a Cheyenne kid who looks like a future MW champion and maybe a national class runner. It can be done here.

The men got to the NCAA championship in cross country last year. And if it weren't for a few Kenyans from New Mexico, Wyoming would have the Steeplechase and 5K champion. We've had champions in throws and All Americans in cross country. Reynolds was NCAA champ in the indoor weight throw this year. The men's program is acceptable. Good at distance and probably never competitive at sprints-typical for a school at altitude with a cold climate.

I'm guessing the recruiting budget is very small. Most of our athletes are from Wyoming and Colorado. So I shouldn't expect much. But the women's team, in particular, has been nothing short of horrendous for several years now. Even at distance, the 5k and 10k, not single Wyoming female can run a competitive time. Frankly, there are high school runners in Colorado who could wipe the floor with our distance team. I hate to see scholarships wasted on runners who don't the faintest hope of competing within the conference. Either get rid of the entire program or up the recruiting budget so that we won't be the conference doormat every year. I realize track is not highly visible and very few care. But we've had some great runners in the past (Shauna Smith, Jessica Fox) and the program shouldn't be forced into recruiting a very narrow geographical area when it's apparent there isn't much talent here.

We can’t even keep most of the top talent from our state. Kids go D-1 all the time from Wyoming, but few choose UW. Super annoying

 

[OrediggerPoke]

Could not disagree more. The NIL model is perfect for track. The really good athletes get NIL directly from the shoe companies. And since professional track isn't popular or viable in the U.S., college track actually gets a lot more views streaming and in person than the few professional meets in the U.S.. And for females, NIL has been really lucrative. If you're fast and good looking, Nike or Adidas, or ON or any of the other shoe brands are going to pay you.

Sorry to break this news but Wyoming isn't attracting track athletes with any serious deals with Nike and Adidas. Track costs the athletic department a bunch of money and brings in basically no revenue. Along with swimming, those will be some of the first sports to go (or become club sports) at most Universities in this new era IMO. I'm not saying this is a good thing, I am just pointing out reality.

 

[bladerunnr]

Sorry to break this news but Wyoming isn't attracting track athletes with any serious deals with Nike and Adidas. Track costs the athletic department a bunch of money and brings in basically no revenue. Along with swimming, those will be some of the first sports to go (or become club sports) at most Universities in this new era IMO. I'm not saying this is a good thing, I am just pointing out reality.

You meant regarding Wyo? I agree. But T and F at the D1 level will do very well - just not here.

 

[bladerunnr]

We can’t even keep most of the top talent from our state. Kids go D-1 all the time from Wyoming, but few choose UW. Super annoying

It's true. But in fairness, a superstar runner like Addie Pendergast is not coming to Wyoming. She went to Stanford and I don't blame her. The weather is far better for sprinters. They've had many national champions, and she will have runners who can push her in training. Northern schools will never be attractive to sprinters. But we should have a much better distance team.

 

[LanderPoke]

It's true. But in fairness, a superstar runner like Addie Pendergast is not coming to Wyoming. She went to Stanford and I don't blame her. The weather is far better for sprinters. They've had many national champions, and she will have runners who can push her in training. Northern schools will never be attractive to sprinters. But we should have a much better distance team.

We lost out on the one from Rawlins

 

[Bear Claw]

We lost out on the one from Rawlins

Sydney Thorvaldson​

 

[bladerunnr]

We lost out on the one from Rawlins

She's a senior at Arkansas now. I watched her on one of the ESPN channels this past weekend. In high school, she was the national CC runner of the year. It would have been nice to see her at UW, but she was recruited by every school in the country. I saw an interview with her some months ago. She spent last summer on a ranch in Jackson. I think she's going to Vet school to be a large animal vet. Let's face it, if you grow up in Rawlins and have to look at that state Penn. every day, attending school in another state is a no brainer. She's had a really nice career - multiple event SEC champion and All-American in cross country and track.