UMKC reinstates men’s and women’s track and field programs two years after budget cuts
Track and field is on the way back at UMKC.
The school announced that it is reinstating the men’s and women’s programs after suspending them in October 2020 because of budgetary concerns.
The sports officially will return on July 1.
Benaud Shirley, the head coach when track was suspended, is back to lead the program.
In 2020, the school announced that track and field, along with men’s and women’s cross country and men’s golf, would be suspended because of a financial crunch created at least in part by the pandemic.
Athletes in those sports had the choice of remaining on scholarship or transferring out. About 70 athletes were affected by elimination of those sports. The cross country and golf programs returned to UMKC last year.
While the UMKC track program was inactive, a former team member provided a highlight moment. Courtney Frerichs, who ran cross country and track for the Roos from 2011-15, won the silver medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo last year.