Loyola Marymount University, a Los Angeles-based university whose athletics reside in the West Coast Conference, announced earlier today that their men's track and field team, women's track and field team and men's cross country team would be "discontinued" at the conclusion of the 2023-24 academic calendar.
Other sports that will be discontinued include men's and women's rowing as well as women's swimming. Women's cross country was not listed as a sport that would be discontinued.
In Wednesday's press release, the university explained that it will, "concentrate its resources on remaining programs, enabling the university to position its sports for greater successes in the future." The cuts will leave Loyola Marymount with six sponsored men's sports and eight sponsored women's sports.
As the financial concerns stemming from the pandemic have (very slowly) begun to dissipate, the NCAA has seen fewer and fewer universities cutting teams from their athletic offerings. However, certain programs such as East Tennessee State (which cut men's indoor track) and Marquette (which is phasing out scholarships for track and field) still fell victim to financial reallocations over the past year.
The Loyola Marymount men and women have produced a small handful of respectable distance talents over the last few years such as Weston Strum, Danielle Shanahan, Sheree Shea and Tara Erdmann.
However, the name that more recently stands out is Estanis Ruiz, a star steeplechaser with a blistering 8:29 PR over the barriers and water pits. During his time with the Lions, he advanced to the finals of the steeplechase at the 2022 outdoor national meet, placing 10th overall. He has since transferred to Portland.