Washington State University to Cut Field Events from Track and Field Team

Washington State University track and field meets will only be track meets from now on, as the university announced it would be cutting all field events, effective immediately. These field events include sports like high jump, shot put and long jump.

According to KXLY, the decision to cut the field events will affect 12 Cougar athletes. These athletes will have their scholarships honored if they choose to finish their education at Washington State University. If the students choose to leave the university, he athletics department said, “Transition support and services will be provided to those student-athletes who choose to seek to continue their academic and athletic careers at other institutions.”

The athletics department also announced that while sprint and hurdle events will not be cut from the team, those opportunities will be diminished as the team shifts to a distance focus.

Related: University of Missouri-St. Louis Cuts Men’s and Women’s Track and Field 

“This change gives the WSU Track & Field program the best opportunity to remain competitive at the conference and national levels in distance events in cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field,” said the statement released by the athletics department.

Prior to this announcement, the Cougars’ track and field team boasted more than 90 members. While the athletics department did not specifically say that the decision to cut field events was related to revenue sharing or impending roster limits, it could have been a contributing factor. 

“For cross-country, schools will be capped at 17 roster spots, and track and field will be limited to 45,” reported Runner’s World. Which also confirmed that several schools in the power conferences currently carry rosters larger than these limits.

Washington State University’s press release did not address how much money the program would be saving by cutting field events or the status of those assistant coaches.