May 27, 2004

Bring Back Track was on 92.3 FM and on the Dave Jackenett Show (590 AM) yesterday talking about the "Pause for Thought Coalition" and the June 27 Golf Outing. Sign-up soon as 22 of the 35 slots are already full!!

Pause for Thought Ad in Kalamazoo Gazette! You may have seen our full-page ad in the Sunday May 23rd Gazette. (last page of the Sports section.) 75 businesses and 40 churches let us publish their names in support of an effort to relook at creative options for reinstating Track and Sychronized Skating.

May 20, 2004

BBT on the Radio AGAIN! President Peter Livingstone-McNelis was interviewed on May 8 again on the Boomer and the Bear Show (92.3 FM). We continue to be in the press.

Track programs restored at Tulane and Vermont! Here is the link to the news release on Tulane. Other schools which cut then reinstated track include Ferris State (MI) and Middle Tennessee State (which has now recently dropped football).

WMU no longer eligible for Reese Cup! After this year WMU will not have number of mens sports required to count toward Reese Cup or combined trophy.

Coach Parks recaps the MAC Championship Meet! We went to the MAC championships in Oxford, OH on Thurs-Fri-Sat. and, as always, it was a great meet. Unfortunately, it is probably the last-ever of this quality on the mens' side, as WMU and BSU made their final appearances at the meet, unless President Bailey comes to her senses and reverses her decision (or the Board of Regents does it for her).

Rain threatened on Thurs. and Fri. but finally came on Saturday and basically rained the whole meet, except maybe the last half hour. Central had a disastrous first two days, which took them out of the title hunt, but Eastern ran very well. Unfortunately, for them, on Saturday, their sprinter, who posted the best prelim time in both the 100 and 200, pulled up in the 4x1 and was out of the meet. Without his 20 plus points, they fell short and Kent won the meet.

Western was steady and solid and took 5th with 91 points, behind Kent (156), EMU (145), Central (118), and Miami (102). Buffalo (66), Ball St (66), Akron (62), and Ohio (11). I honestly believe that, had not this whole sordid affair transpired, that the Broncos would have been in the title hunt. They had one very good athlete (and probably more) leave in December, and the atmosphere couldn't have been ideal all year.

The coaches did a great job keeping the morale up and keeping things going. They won the CCC meet in Ypsilanti two weeks ago in a big upset, as they caught CMU and EMU napping.

Here are their places: 100: (3)Darius Johnson-10.72; 200: (3)Johnson-21.57; (7)Nelson DeFord-21.93; 400: (6)DeFord-48.61; 800: (3)Kris Seats-1:49.91 (NCAA Reg.qual); 1500: (8)Matt Sackrider-3:55.82; 5000: (8)Chris Stine-14:36.99; 3000mSC: (6)Stine-9:13.69; 4x1: (3)41.31 (Alfred Woods, Matt Leffler, Deford, Johnson); 4x4: (6)3:15.61 (DeFord, Brian Jackson, Seats, Leffler); (5)Jackson-53.59; (8)Adam Lyon-54.90; PV: (2)Dustin Anderson-16-4.75; LJ: (8)Elvin Frempong-23-2; TJ: (2)Jason Evelyn-50-6.75; SP: (3)Clark Wilson-56-3.75; Discus- (2)Wilson-165-10; Hammer: (8)Soloman Radcliff-177-4; Jav: (2)Tom Torchia-200-5; Decathlon: (3)Jacob Friess-6843; (6)Kyle Shaw-6651.

Really sad to think that all the great moments in WMU track history are gone down the drain. I remember them beating us by a half point (you sure can't do that in FB or BKB) in Kalamazoo in 1995 and then coming back to beat us more soundly at Miami the next year. They go out with 18 outdoor team titles, 2nd most in conference history and the administration didn't care about it (or didn't even know).

In a classy act, the Kent State team invited Ball State and Western's athletes to join them in the traditional victory lap. Phil McMullen, the great decathlete (currently leading the world in his Olympic quest--he was 4th in the Olym. Trials in 2000), showed up and was asked to hand out medals. The announcer played him up pretty good, and my comment was, within ear shot of a guy I perceived to be a WMU administrator, was "He is a great athlete. It is too bad he no longer has a track alma-mater to belong to." I said it in a very loud voice and the guy couldn't get out of there fast enough.

The WMU women took 7th with 58 points. The top 6 teams were all within 23 points and 3-6 were within 10. Central won the meet with Miami 2nd, Akron 3rd, Eastern 4th, and Kent 5th. Victoria Bassett hit the NCAA reg.qual.standard, placing 6th in 2:09.95 in the 800m.

The highlight of their day was when their 4x4 team of Shayna Sangster, Janaule Bennett, Sheriese Lucas, and Krisy Mahome, came in first in 3:40.52, which is another NCAA reg. mark. Kristy Ford was 3rd in the HJ and 2nd in the hammer, an unusual double. Katie Pickette was 3rd in the heptathlon with 4808 pts. It was a great meet.

I am sure that the womens' side of things will continue to be super in the future, but the mens' side will never be the same. The Presidents and Athletics Directors at Northern Illinois (1982--I am sure those guys are long gone by now, but their damage is done), Bowling Green-2002; Toledo, Marshall, Ball State, and Western Michigan-all in 2003, have effectively ruined the Mid-American Conference in mens' track and field.

As FDR once said, after Pearl Harbor, "this day will live in infamy." So will the year 2003, when four programs went down the tube. Keep up the fight. I don't plan to quit, ever. - Bob Parks

Coach Bob Parks Comments on WMU Win at Central Collegiate Championships Western Michigan's mens' track and field team, supposedly headed for extinction by the action of the WMU President, Athletics Director, and Board of Regents, showed that they still have plenty of life in them, by bringing up the ghosts of their illustrious past, and winning the Central Collegiate outdoor title Saturday at Ypsilanti.

The Broncos showed their toughness by reacting favorably to very unfavorable weather conditions and won the team title with 228 points to outdistance Central Michigan (197), defending champion, Eastern Michigan (187), and Detroit-Mercy (42).

To me, it is absolutely incredible that such a performance could come from a team that has been eliminated in a supposed-budget cutting move. It shows great fortitude on the part of their coaches and athletes.

Complete results are available on EMU's athletic web site. 100: (4)Alfred Woods-11.01; 200: (3)Darius Johnson-21.60; (4)Nelson Deford-21.70; (5)Alfred Woods-22.50; 400: 3)Matt Leffler-48.98; (4)Nelson Deford-49.30; (7)Darius Johnson-51.71; 800: (2)Kris Seats-1:51.45; (5)Steve Walke-1:56.21; (6)Matt Sackrider-1:56.57; 1500: (2)Kris Seats-3:51.90; (3)Matt Sackrider-3:53.19; 5000: (5)Chris Stine-14:53.80; 110mHH; (5)Jake Friess-15.03; (6)Kyle Shaw-15.52; (7)Brian Jackson-15.59; 400IH: (2)Brian Jackson-53.85; (4)Eric DuChene-60.09; 3000mSC: (2)Chris Stine-9:11.06; (4)Matt French-9:32.31; (7)Jason Jacques-9:49.62; 400 Relay: (1)42.32; 1600 Relay: (2)3:19.60; HJ: (1)David Springer-6-6; (4)Kyle Shaw-5-6; PV: (1)Dustin Anderson-16-4.75; LJ: (5)Jake Friess-20-9.25; (6)Elvin Frempong-20-7.25; TJ: (1)Jason Evelyn-45-5.75; (2)Elvin Frempong-45-2.5; (4)Dustin Anderson-44-11; SP: (1)Clark Wilson-56-1.25; (7)Rob Voightlander-44-9; Disc: (1)Clark Wilson-168-1; (7)Rob Voightlander-144-2; (8)Joe Hover-139-10; Hammer: (7)Rob Voightlander-159-7; (8)Paul Schmidt-143-7; Jav: (1)Tom Torchia-168-7; (2)Jake Friess-158-2; (3)Kyle Shaw-150-1.

Western's Mike Turk was named 2004 CCC Mens' Outdoor Coach of the Year. This was a great, great, win for the Broncos. One that ought to make every alumnus proud, falling right in the footsteps of the school's long-time illustrious track and cross country heritage.

In my opinion, this should turn the spotlight on the movement to bring back mens' track at the school. Something has to be done. This is ridiculous. To eliminate perhaps the best program in the school's history. Make some concessions, do something, but bring it back. I think now is the time for some meaningful discussions with the school's administration, Board of Regents, whatever it takes, but get the sport back.

The President and AD are unlikely to admit they made a mistake, but they did and if they are the outstanding people they are supposed to be, they will be big enough people to admit they made a mistake and bring it back. In reality they will be viewed as heroines by the vast majority of alumni, staff, students, and community. The economic crunch will pass and WMU needs to have a mens' track and XC program.

Being the former EMU head coach, I was, naturally disappointed to see the Hurons lose in the CCC, but, if they got beat by anyone, I am very glad that it was WMU, our long-time rival through the years and the school which gave me my start in collegiate coaching. I was not able to attend the meet, but I was very surprised by the results as I am sure a lot of people were. The Broncos evidentally came to run and Mike Turk had his troops going for the win, which they got.

Congratulations, WMU, keep up the good work---hopefully for many years to come, if the administration and Regents come to their senses. - Bob Parks.

May 15, 2004

Golf Outing! A Golf Outing is planned for June 27 at The Prairies. This is a 4 person Scramble with a 12:00 Shot gun start. It includes 18 holes w/ cart, Continental Breakfast, On-course beverages, Dinner w/ Live DJ, and Raffles. Open to the first 35 teams. Contact Robert Jude for more information (269) 720-0271.

Pause for Thought! Fifty businesses have signed on to support an initiative to step back and reconsider the decision to eliminate some WMU sports. Stay tuned.

May 13, 2004

Welcome to the redesigned website for Bring Back Track. We hope this is easier to read and navigate. Bring Back track has gained the support of over 50 businesses to foster a campaign to reevaluate the elimination of Track & Field. Pause for Thought (as we are calling it) is an effort to step back from the rhetoric of earlier months and reevaluate what options exist for the university and the community to preserve the Cross Country and Track & Field traditions. Stay tuned!

The MAC T&F Championships are this weekend. Originally planned for Kalamazoo, WMU paid Miami to take over the championships. This robbed the WMU Team of the chance to perform in front of their home crowd for their final collegiate event. It also deprived the community of income from the hundreds of athletes and friends that would come to Kalamazoo for the 3 day meet. The fact is that the MAC reimburses the host for costs to put on the meet, Western didn't need to pay Miami, but that is how desparately WMU wants to be free of the publicity that would be part of the home town meet.