SMU Drops Successful Men's Track Team

DALLAS - SMU decided to drop its men's track and cross country teams Friday in a move based on gender equity.

The school's board of trustees approved a recommendation from the athletics committee to make the cut.

"The decision to eliminate track was a difficult but necessary one," athletic director Jim Copeland said in a statement. "If we are to compete at the highest level in our remaining sports, we must concentrate our resources ... to those programs deemed most viable."

The move will not affect the women's track and field team.

This is the first time SMU has dropped an athletic program since the baseball team was disbanded after the 1980 season.

SMU added women's equestrian this year. The school has also added women's programs in soccer, cross country, track and field, volleyball and rowing since 1986.

SMU has competed in track and field since 1918, and has won three national championships. The Mustangs swept the NCAA indoor and outdoor titles in 1983, and won the 1986 outdoor title.

While it has been eight years since a national title, SMU finished in the top six at the NCAA indoor championships four of the last six seasons, and in the top 10 at the outdoor championships five of the last seven years.

The program has produced 81 All-Americans and 28 Olympians, including Michael Carter, who won seven NCAA shot put titles before winning a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics.

The team will finish the season and the school will honor its 12 scholarships.