ASC, Albuquerque to host next two NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships
by Chris Day, Adams State Sports Information Director
ALAMOSA, Colo. -- May 7, 2009 -- Adams State College has been selected as the host of the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Division II National Indoor Track & Field Championships, it was announced by the Division II Track & Field Committee this week. The meets will be held Mar. 12-13, 2010 and Mar. 11-12, 2011 in the Albuquerque (N.M.) Convention Center.
The Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau and New Mexico Sports Authority will serve as co-hosts.
The championships will be the first ever national championships of any sport that ASC has hosted at the NCAA Division II level and will mark the first time in over 40 years that ASC has hosted a national championship event, the last being the 1968 NAIA National Wrestling Tournament.
In that same year, the Olympic Trials for the marathon and race-walking events were held on the streets of Alamosa, located at 7,544 feet above sea level, comparable to the elevation of 1968 Olympic host Mexico City.
ASC's Plachy Hall was also the home to the U.S. Olympic Basketball team in its preparations for that year's Olympic Tournament.
This is a huge coup for Adams State College, the athletic department and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference," ASC Director of Athletics Larry Mortensen said.
"Obviously any time we can get NCAA events in Albuquerque, it's a great situation," said Dan Ballou, the ACVB's Director of Sports Marketing
"Albuquerque has long been a priority destination for the NCAA with our many rounds of hosting the men's and women's basketball tournaments and NCAA golf championships. The Division II meet is another outstanding event for our city and we appreciate our new partnership with the staff at Adams State College."
The Convention Center, which features a 200-meter banked Mondo surface track, regarded as one of the best in the nation, has also played host to several indoor track and field meets hosted by the University of New Mexico, including the Mountain West Conference Championships in 2006 and 2007. The venue will also play host to the 2010 MWC Championships two weeks prior to the Division II Championships and is in negotiations with USA Track & Field for hosting that organization's championships from 2010 through 2012.
Located in the heart of downtown Albuquerque, the convention center is easily accessible from Interstates 25 and 40 and is just minutes from the Albuquerque International Sunport, the city's airport that currently is serviced by 11 different airline companies. The arena is also within walking distance of more than 900 hotel rooms and over 70 restaurants, which will make for an ideal setting for the 400 athletes, plus coaches, parents and fans expected to descend on the city for the extended weekend.
Although the Grizzlies have not previously played host to the national championships, they are no stranger to being at or near the top of the competition.
The Grizzly women have won eight straight RMAC indoor and six straight outdoor titles, both of which are conference records. They also won the 2008 National Indoor title and have 10 top-5 finishes over the last six years.
The Grizzly men have won a combined nine RMAC indoor and outdoor titles over the last six years and have finished in the top 5 at the NCAA Championships at each of the last 11 national competitions placing second three times.
ASC's cross country programs are also without a doubt the most successful in the nation winning 35 total national titles at the NAIA and NCAA Division II level, the most of any college or university in the country. The Grizzly women have won six straight and 14 total titles in just 17 seasons at the Division II level.
The men won the 2008 title, their sixth at the Division II level and the 18th overall.
"This is a tremendous honor," said ASC Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Damon Martin.
"Although we have had a tremendous history of success with our track and field program, we have never had the opportunity to host a national championship event in our sport," Martin said.
"With our partnership with the city of Albuquerque, we look forward to being able to showcase the great Southwest and Adams State College over the next two years. The track and field and tourism communities of both Alamosa and Albuquerque look forward to providing a unique and captivating experience to all of the participants and fans," he continued.
