Track team needs school support

By Jennifer Hinds

When I tell people that I am a member of the track team, the first questions I hear are, "There's a track team here?" and "Where's the track?"

Great. After repeatedly hearing these questions, I've resigned myself to the fact that nobody knows about our track team and nobody really cares. With big sports like basketball and soccer constantly in the limelight, who is honestly going to pay attention to a relatively new, inconsequential sport lacking the proper facilities? The answer to this is nobody. And to be honest, after we take the following into consideration, I don't blame them.

When the track program at Santa Clara first received its NCAA certification in 2005, it was an entirely distance-oriented program. It wasn't until the following year that the program widened its focus to not only include distance, but sprints, jumps and hurdles. "Track has come a long way since its first season," says hurdler Joanna Gistand. "Sprints are always exciting."

When speaking with new track and field sprints coach Greg Marshall about the lack of awareness for track at Santa Clara, he said, "In fairness, (track) has not yet attained the levels of success that (basketball and soccer) have achieved. I feel that excellence brings influence, and as we work to be excellent in our approach to training and success on the track, then our program will achieve the appropriate level of awareness."

With that being said, Marshall has great plans in store for his track team, which is aiming for the NCAA championship and expects to shatter many, if not all, of the school's records this year. Marshall has impressive credentials, including being a 1988 Olympian and coaching high-level athletes from many sports.

Even so, the West Coast Conference has yet to recognize track as an official sport, although almost all of the schools in the WCC have track teams. As a result, there is no conference meet, and unless we qualify for the at-large standards during the season, the season's over. WCC recognition would also go a long way toward raising awareness not just on campus, but also around the western region and eventually nationwide.

Now, how do we raise awareness? The obvious answer is this: Build a track!

Until we have a track and are able to have meets on campus, there is no way that we can possibly become well-known. A track would not only help the track team, but would also benefit the fitness-oriented student community as a whole. As of now, the track team has to drive in order to practice at other schools. The fact that we don't have a track for home events is another reason for the lack of student awareness and participation, because all of the events are relatively far for those without access to transportation.

Marshall suggests that the team "continues to challenge itself to perform at a level equal to or above the WCC programs." He added, "from there, awareness tends to take care of itself."

As we start approaching track season, we should keep in mind that track, especially, deserves student and faculty recognition and support. So come out, Broncos, throw on that Ruff Rider T-shirt and support your track team this year.

Jennifer Hinds is a sophomore English major and a copy editor for The Santa Clara.