ARCATA, Calif. -- Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics is excited to announce the addition of Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field as a championship sport, starting this winter for the 2023-24 season. This expansion underscores the university's commitment to providing diverse athletic opportunities for its student-athletes while fostering a culture of excellence in both academics and athletics. Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field will bring the department's total to 14 programs offered at the NCAA Division II level.

The introduction of Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field represents a significant milestone for Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics. It offers an additional platform for talented athletes to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level. The decision to add Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field was based on several factors, including the growing interest in the sport among both students and the broader community. 

"I want to thank Dr. Nick Pettit and our administration for supporting us to take advantage of this opportunity for the 2023-24 season, and all the high performing student-athletes throughout the years who have excelled in Outdoor Track & Field at the conference and national level and paved the way for this new era," said Head Coach Sarah Ingram. "We are thrilled for this advancement of our program to offer a more robust student-athlete experience, to compete with the rest of the top performing teams in the country in the indoor season, and offer additional championship opportunities for our student-athletes."

Cal Poly Humboldt's new indoor track and field teams will be composed of existing members of the Outdoor Track & Field team. The inclusion of Indoor Track & Field allows athletes to dedicate more time during the fall and winter to refine their skills and participate in competitive races that surpass the benefits of regular practice sessions in the winter months. This preparation positions them to achieve better performance marks early in the outdoor season, thereby enhancing their chances of qualifying for postseason outdoor championships.

The expansion to include Indoor Track is also appealing to potential recruits for the Lumberjacks, as Humboldt becomes just the second university in the CCAA conference to offer Men's Indoor Track, alongside Cal State LA. Additionally, Humboldt is joining the ranks of Cal State LA, Cal Poly Pomona, San Francisco State, Stanislaus State, Cal State San Marcos, and Cal State Dominguez Hills in offering Indoor Women's Track and Field.

The potential benefits of adding Indoor Track extend beyond the possibility of competing in an additional NCAA DII National Championship. With the required minimum number of teams now sponsoring Indoor Track, the CCAA conference is potentially positioned to host its own Indoor Track championship for women in the future. The prospect of the CCAA hosting an indoor conference championship in the coming years represents a significant advancement for our program and offers a substantial opportunity for female track and field athletes across the conference.

Cal Poly Humboldt Executive Director of Athletics Nick Pettit stated, "We are thrilled with the additional sponsorship of Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field. This addition reflects our commitment to offering a diverse array of sports, promoting development, and enhancing the overall student-athlete experience. We look forward to supporting our new indoor track and field teams and watching them excel both on and off the track."

The Lumberjacks will kick off their inaugural indoor season in Spokane, Washington on December 9th at the Spokane Invitational. Humboldt will pick back up in the new year, again in Spokane, Washington for the Inland Northwest Invitational hosted by Whitworth University on January 27th. Multi-athletes will hit the road to Spokane for the WSU Combined Events from February 1st through the 3rd. Rounding out their regular season meets, the Jacks will head to Allendale, Michigan for the Grand Valley State Big Meet #1 and #2 on February 9th and 10th. The Lumberjacks hope to finish their season in Pittsburg, Kansas for the NCAA DII Indoor Championships on March 8th and 9th.