UMSL elimina sus programas de pista y campo en medio de una reestructuración atlética

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2025-10-27

La Universidad de Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) anunció la eliminación de sus programas de pista y campo masculino y femenino, una decisión que entrará en vigor al finalizar el semestre de primavera de 2025. La medida forma parte de un proceso de reestructuración del departamento atlético, con el objetivo —según la institución— de optimizar recursos y fortalecer otros equipos deportivos que compiten en la Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) de la División II de la NCAA.

<h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align: center;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;"><span style="font-size:23pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">UMSL elimina sus programas de pista y campo en medio de una reestructuración atlética</h3><span style="font-size:20pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#0000ff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">UMSL eliminates its track and field programs amid athletic restructuring <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">La <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Universidad de Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL)<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> anunció la eliminación de sus <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">programas de pista y campo masculino y femenino<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, una decisión que entrará en vigor al finalizar el semestre de primavera de 2025. La medida forma parte de un proceso de <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">reestructuración del departamento atlético<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, con el objetivo —según la institución— de optimizar recursos y fortalecer otros equipos deportivos que compiten en la <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> de la <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">División II de la NCAA<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">. El anuncio, realizado el <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">4 de marzo de 2025<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, sorprendió a la comunidad universitaria. En su comunicado oficial, la administración de UMSL explicó que la decisión fue tomada después de una “revisión exhaustiva de la oferta atlética y la asignación de recursos”. La universidad argumentó que busca concentrar esfuerzos en brindar una experiencia académica y deportiva más sólida a sus estudiantes-atletas, especialmente en disciplinas con mayor sostenibilidad, como <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">campo traviesa (cross country)<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">.<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#0000ff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) announced the elimination of its men's and women's track and field programs, a decision that will take effect at the end of the spring 2025 semester. The move is part of a restructuring process within the athletic department, with the goal—according to the institution—of optimizing resources and strengthening other athletic teams that compete in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) of NCAA Division II. The announcement, made on March 4, 2025, surprised the university community. In its official statement, the UMSL administration explained that the decision was made after a "thorough review of athletic offerings and resource allocation." The university argued that it seeks to focus its efforts on providing a more robust academic and athletic experience for its student-athletes, especially in more sustainable disciplines, such as cross country.<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Entre los motivos más destacados, la universidad mencionó la <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">falta de instalaciones adecuadas<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">. UMSL no cuenta con una pista propia dentro del campus, lo que obligaba a los equipos a desplazarse constantemente para entrenar y competir, generando altos costos logísticos. También influyeron las <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">limitaciones presupuestales<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> y la <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">baja proyección de crecimiento<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> en el número de atletas inscritos en la disciplina. De acuerdo con el comunicado, mantener un programa sin infraestructura ni estabilidad financiera comprometía los recursos disponibles para otros deportes.<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#0000ff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Among the most notable reasons, the university cited the lack of adequate facilities. UMSL doesn't have its own track on campus, forcing teams to travel constantly to train and compete, generating high logistical costs. Budget constraints and low projected growth in the number of athletes enrolled in the sport also played a role. According to the statement, maintaining a program without infrastructure or financial stability compromised the resources available for other sports.

<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">La noticia generó <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">reacciones inmediatas<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> entre los estudiantes y entrenadores, quienes aseguraron sentirse “sorprendidos y decepcionados”. Muchos deportistas afirmaron que el programa estaba en proceso de expansión y que contaba con un ambiente de equipo sólido. Uno de los atletas, Benjamin Vandenbrink, expresó: “Todos estábamos en shock. Pensamos que estábamos construyendo algo que iba a durar”. Ante la decisión, los estudiantes organizaron <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">marchas de protesta<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, lanzaron la campaña digital <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">

save_umsl_track<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> e impulsaron una <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">petición en línea<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> que reunió más de <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">2 400 firmas<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, buscando que la universidad reconsiderara su postura.<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#0000ff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The news generated immediate reactions among students and coaches, who said they felt "surprised and disappointed." Many athletes stated that the program was in the process of expansion and had a strong team environment. One of the athletes, Benjamin Vandenbrink, said: "We were all in shock. We thought we were building something that would last." In response to the decision, students organized protest marches, launched the digital campaign

save_umsl_track, and launched an online petition that gathered more than 2,400 signatures, seeking to compel the university to reconsider its position.<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">La institución, sin embargo, se comprometió a <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">mantener las becas deportivas<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> de los atletas afectados mientras cumplan con los requisitos académicos y de elegibilidad. Aquellos que también formen parte del equipo de campo traviesa podrán conservar sus ayudas si deciden continuar compitiendo en esa disciplina. A pesar de ello, varios estudiantes evalúan <span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">transferirse a otras universidades<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> para poder seguir compitiendo en pista y campo.<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#0000ff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The institution, however, pledged to maintain the athletic scholarships of the affected athletes as long as they meet academic and eligibility requirements. Those who are also part of the cross country team will be able to keep their aid if they decide to continue competing in that discipline. Despite this, several students are considering transferring to other universities in order to continue competing in track and field.

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UMSL elimina sus programas de pista y campo en medio de una reestructuración atlética

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