McGill University’s varsity track and field team may return next year. An Athletics and Recreation Strategic Plan Task Force report includes a five-year plan that will be sent to McGill’s Senate for approval next week. Part of the report includes the suggestion to reinstate the men’s and women’s track and field teams, which was one of the 25 teams at the university eliminated due to budget cuts. The team was set to enter its 126th season before it was cut. A spokesperson for the university said that the task force was set up before the programs were cut, but that an advisory committee was set up after they were discontinued to determine how and if teams could be reinstated. The committee determined that the track and field program was a viable varsity program. It was competitive, with a strong and growing feeder program that included 86 athletes. It is the only team being reinstated. Badminton, baseball, field hockey, figure skating and other sports that were cut will not return. The committee also recommended developing a framework to “support regular and consistent reviews across varsity sports,” the spokesperson said. “The recommended varsity sport framework is intended to allow McGill to assess developments such as league recognition, sustainable competition, participation, operating requirements, infrastructure and available resources using consistent criteria.” The Senate will meet on Nov. 11 and vote on whether or not to approve the plan.
