Chaffey College to bring back cross country but track goes on hold

Chaffey College Athletics

Three is good news and bad news on the athletic front at Chaffey College.

The school is bringing back mens and women’s cross country which last competed in 1993. But it will be putting the track program on hiatus. Those announcements came earlier his week.

The cross country team will compete next fall. Athletic director Jeff Klein said no decision has been made on a coach as of yet, although it could be coming later this month.

Blackman Ihem has coached the track team the last few years and would be a logical choice to handle the cross country team. Klein said he would be considered but has not talked to him yet to see if that position would interest him.

Chaffey last won conference titles in cross country in 1989 and 1990. In Chaffey’s absence, local rival San Bernardino Valley College has dominated the conference and become a major player on the state level.

The spring track season is finishing up now with eight athletes having qualified for the Southern California finals. Once those athletes are done competing the track program will be put on indefinite hiatus. The problem is the condition of the existing facility which is in need of repair that could cost up to $2 million.

Money to fund that would likely have to come from a private donor or a bond measure. There is no time table for its return.

 

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