BYU Announces New Direction for Men's and Women's Track Programs

PROVO, UT -- With the final year of Mountain West Conference competition under way, Brigham Young University today announced a new direction for its powerhouse men’s and women’s track and field programs beginning in 2012. The two programs will compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) during the indoor track season and then compete independently during the outdoor season while earning both team and individual qualification for the NCAA Regional and National Championships.

“We’re very excited about the future of our track and field programs,” said BYU Associate Athletic Director Janie Penfield. “We see many positives in this new frontier, which allows us to continue competing at the best meets and against the best competition, ultimately resulting in increased success at the national level.”

Starting next January, the Cougars will compete in the MPSF for the indoor track season, becoming the third BYU sport to join that league along with long-time member men’s volleyball and swimming and diving, who will also begin competition in 2011.

Current MPSF track members include Arizona, Arizona State, California, CS Northridge, Long Beach State, Oregon, Stanford, UC Irvine (women only), UCLA, Washington and Washington State. BYU hopes to add to the phenomenal tradition of MPSF indoor track success with its inclusion next season. Last year two MPSF teams finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Men’s Indoor Track Championships while Oregon won the title on the women’s side.

Once the indoor track season concludes, BYU will turn its attention to outdoor competition. The Cougars’ schedule will still include top national meets such as the Mt. Sac Relays and New Balance Invitational as well as hosting the Robison Invitational. The only real difference Cougar fans will notice is the absence of an outdoor conference championship meet. Instead, BYU will compete at the Georgia Tech Invitational during that week, which will give the Cougars a prime opportunity to continue qualifying individuals and relay teams for NCAA Regionals.

“This is a very exciting time for our program,” said BYU women’s track head coach Patrick Shane. “The MPSF has very strong track and field programs, and we’re looking forward to the challenge of competing with the nation’s best at that meet. We’re also excited for the chance to compete at the Georgia Tech Invitational, which will be a wonderful opportunity to prepare our athletes for the NCAA Regional Championships. This is definitely a positive move and one that has improved our chances for success at the regional and national levels.”

“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of the MWC, but we’re looking forward to this move,” said BYU men’s track head coach Mark Robison. “As a team, you tend to beat yourself up to be successful at the conference level, but the consequences of that are generally some fatigue and injury going into Nationals. Now everything we do will be what’s best for us at a national level, which will help us in many respects.”

One of the top programs in the nation, the BYU men’s track team has seen 29 individual NCAA Champions and one team title while winning all but one MWC Championship in both indoor and outdoor competition. The Cougar women, also a perennial top-20 team in both indoor and outdoor track, have won 16 individual NCAA titles in the history of the program and 19 team conference crowns while competing in the MWC.

The BYU athletic administration announced on Sept. 1, 2010 that it would be leaving the MWC beginning with the 2011-12 season to compete independently in football, joining Cougar gymnastics in the realm of independent affiliation. Most of BYU’s other sports will compete in the West Coast Conference with the exception of the track and field and swimming and diving programs, who will be joining the MPSF, and the softball program, which will compete in the Western Athletic Conference.