| Western Michigan Broncos track and field | |
|---|---|
| | |
| University | Western Michigan University |
| Head coach | Andrea Grove-McDonough |
| Conference | MAC |
| Location | Kalamazoo, Michigan |
| Outdoor track | Kanley Track |
| Nickname | Broncos |
| Colors | Brown and gold [1] |
The Western Michigan Broncos track and field team is the track and field program that represents Western Michigan University. The Broncos compete in NCAA Division I as a member of the Mid-American Conference. The team is based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at the Kanley Track. [2]
The program is coached by Andrea Grove-McDonough. [3] The track and field program officially encompasses four teams because the NCAA considers men's and women's indoor track and field and outdoor track and field as separate sports. [4]
Ira Murchison won the school's first individual NCAA title. The sprinter won the 100 yards at the 1958 NCAA Track and Field Championships. [5] The track and field and cross country teams brought the school their only national championships by winning the 1964 NCAA University Division cross country championships and 1965 NCAA University Division cross country championships. [6]
The men's track and field team was founded in 1915. It was eliminated along with the women's skating program in December 2003 by then-University president Judith Bailey, effective for the 2004-05 school year. [7] Cutting the track team was estimated to save US$370,000. [8] [9] There was an effort to revive the men's teams in 2009, but it was not successful. [10]
As of August 2025 [update] , a total of 41 men and 5 women have achieved individual first-team All-American status for the team at the Division I men's outdoor, women's outdoor, men's indoor, or women's indoor national championships (using the modern criteria of top-8 placing regardless of athlete nationality). [11] [12]