SALT LAKE CITY - The Westminster College Athletics Department has announced they will be expanding the men's and women's cross country program to include an indoor and outdoor track season starting in the fall of 2010. The program will be under the direction of current cross country head coach Craig Binkley.

"We are very pleased to be adding men's and women's indoor and outdoor track to our athletic program. The addition of track will further enhance our cross country program by increasing competitive opportunities and events for our student-athletes and be attractive to prospective student-athletes", said Shay Wyatt, Westminster College Director of Athletics.

The team's will compete in just track events as an NAIA program and join the University of Great Falls, Lewis-Clark State College, and Rocky Mountain College as members of the Frontier Conference with track programs.

"The addition of track is a huge step in the right direction for the program," Binkley commented. "I believe that this will certainly allow us to grow and add greater talent and depth to our squads for the future and will provide our current athletes the opportunity they want by allowing them to compete during the cross country and track season. I'm truly excited about this development and look forward to the getting kicking of our first track season next year."

The NAIA sponsors an Indoor Track and Field Championship during the winter sports season, and then hosts an Outdoor Track and Field Championship during the spring sports season. In 2010 there are 135 institutions that sponsor indoor track and field and another 153 that sponsor outdoor track and field.

Prospective student-athletes interested in joining the Westminster cross country/track program should contact head coach Binkley at 801-832-2334. You can also send him an email at cbinkley@westminstercollege.edu or fill out the prospect questionnaire on either cross country page at westminstergriffins.com.