“Frustrating development” as McMaster makes indoor track team changes
McMaster University, based out of Hamilton, has made changes to its funding structure for the indoor track team.
McMaster no longer funds its indoor track program in the same way the university used to, Canadian Running has learned.
According to current assistant coach Pete Self, “there is no funding coming from university operating funds,” meaning that the Marauders’ indoor track team will be self-sufficient in areas where it was previously funded. The Hamilton-based institution will continue to support the indoor track team through other avenues.
“Two years ago we performed an internal review of our competitive sports programming and reallocated resources based upon various criteria,” says Glen Grunwald, McMaster’s athletic director and former general manager of the Toronto Raptors. “As a result, it was our decision to focus our resources on certain sports. One of those sports we prioritized was cross-country, where we continue to provide substantial resources and seek to be excellent. As part of that commitment to cross-country, we also wanted to support our cross-country runners as middle- and long-distance runners in track competitions and relays.”
There is no change to the university’s cross-country team. Post-secondary distance runners typically compete in cross-country in the fall and indoor track in the winter before racing outdoors, though outside of the traditional academic year, in the spring and summer.
“It was our decision to focus our resources on certain sports,” says athletic director Glen Grunwald.
McMaster cross-country and track and field members were made aware of the decision last year, according to Self. The university’s indoor track team, which will remain in place, will focus on middle- and long-distance events in order to remain attractive for potential cross-country recruits. “It is a very frustrating development,” Self says. It’s believed that 2017 is year one in which the indoor track funding changes are reflected.
“McMaster continues to field and support a track team through the provision of training facilities, strength and conditioning services, medical and physiotherapy care and educational support services,” says Grunwald. “In addition to these resources (which involve significant cash expenditures for facilities, supplies and human resources), the department continues to provides cash payments directly in support of the track program; for example, salary for the head coach of the cross-country and track program, OUA [provincial] and U Sports [national] fees and registrations.”
McMaster, which has an endowment of $631 million according to 2015/2016 financial statements, boasts both an indoor 200m facility as well as an all-weather outdoor 400m surface.
Self believes that the indoor track team can remain self-funded “indefinitely.” The indoor program will remain in place in part because of support from alumni, fundraising events and an endowment. The Marauders will travel to a number of top-tier university meets this winter including in Boston and Geneva, Ohio as well as compete at both the provincial championships and national championships. Paula Schnurr, a two-time Olympian, heads the running program.
“It is a very frustrating development,” assistant coach Pete Self says.
The University of Victoria too has a indoor track team focused on middle- and long-distance. The Vikes won the national university men’s cross-country championships in 2015. A full track and field team may include athletes in sprints, hurdles, middle- and long-distance events as well as field – jumps and throws – events.
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“It’s certainly disappointing that the university has made that choice, but I’m confident that McMaster track will continue to operate a great program for mid-distance and distance athletes,” says former McMaster athlete Victoria Coates. “Pete [Self] and Paula [Schnurr] remain dedicated coaches and I know they have been creative in coming up with funding opportunities for the track team, including hosting some great twilight meets this past summer.”
Another past Marauder, Lionel Sanders, a professional triathlete and Ironman 140.6 world record holder, says “I find this to be rooted in a lack of foresight by the administrative body. Basically it appears the direction they are headed is that if a sport doesn’t generate money, then it doesn’t have a place at McMaster. This is a real shame because I think a lot of student-athletes look for schools with a good academic and sporting record.”
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