ANNOUNCED: Central Michigan Cuts Men's Track & Field Program

Earlier today, Central Michigan University announced that they will be discontinuing their men's indoor and outdoor track and field program, effective immediately. No other athletic program at Central Michigan was eliminated.

The decision to eliminate CMU's men's track and field program was the direct result of the university's "strategic budget planning amid the COVID-19 pandemic". The press release also states that 36 student-athletes and two full-time assistant coaches are impacted by this decision.

According to an article from the Detroit Free Press, Central Michigan experienced a 10.5% drop in enrollment from 2018 to 2019. Central Michigan's "enrollment challenges" were also mentioned by Central Michigan Athletic Director Michael Alford as a reason behind cutting the track and field program.

Last week, the University of Akron made a similar announcement, stating that they will be cutting their men's cross country program as well as men's golf and women's tennis. Both Central Michigan and Akron are members of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

According to ESPN's Tom VanHaaren, the university is "honoring the scholarships for current men's track and field athletes, as well as new student-athletes set to begin classes in fall 2020."

It should be noted that men's and women's cross country, as well as women's track and field, were not listed as programs that were being cut and are expected to remain.