UNCW to continue Track & Field for ‘long term’

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — After a year of uncertainty, UNCW’s Track & Field program has new life.

New Chancellor Zito Sartarelli announced today the program, which his predecessor interim Chancellor Bill Sederberg, had slated to be cut, will continue “for the long term.”

“For the past several months, UNCW has engaged in extensive dialogue both internally and with the community regarding potential options for solidifying the future of track and field,” Sartarelli said in a statement. “In examining what a continued program might look like, the goal remained steady: to provide the best possible student-athlete experience within our current portfolio and with the resources available.”

Supporters had raised enough money to keep the program going for the 2015-16 season, but they had more financial goals for facilities to ensure long-term viability. Now, it seems like a broader approached will be used to reach those goals.

“By continuing to be strategic and playing on the strengths of the program, we believe the university’s existing resources will go further in supporting our student-athletes’ academic goals, athletic performance, and overall health and well-being,” Sartarelli said. “The need for renovation of our facilities is very real but we are confident that, alongside the community and with continued support from our private donors, current and new, we will find the funds to address that need.

UNCW senior Ryan Ward said he watched his track friends struggle through an upsetting year trying to raise the money and now he hopes it was all worth it.

“I’m glad that he’s not cutting it,” Ward said. “It has been kind of a big thing here, because we don’t have many things other things. We don’t have football, so we need other auxillary sports like this to promote our university I feel like and I hope their contribution made a significant difference in that.”

“This university’s top priority will always be the education and stewardship of our students, which of course includes our student-athletes. We can¹t do that alone. It is more critical than ever for the Seahawk community, locally and beyond, to step up and support our students, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with all of you toward a successful, sustainable Athletics program at UNCW.”