No track team? San Jose State started a club
Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:17 am
http://www.cstv.com/sports/c-track/uwire/112106aac.html
Track back at San Jose State
By Kelli Downey Spartan Daily
November 21, 2006
San Jose, CA (CSTV U-WIRE) -- With the lack of an official track team at San Jose State University, several students recently created a track club. The track club is a club sport where students, for the most part, run the operation.
"We actually just got approved about two weeks ago," said Rob White, track club president. "It is still a work in progress."
A few members of the track club were surprised to find no track and field team on campus.
"I ran track in high school as a freshman," said Eerin Williams, a sophomore majoring in radio, television and film. "So I kind of expected to see a school that had something related to track."
White mainly had the idea to fill the void on campus and to create the club. He said he was inspired to create the club because of the events going on with Tommie Smith and John Carlos.
"I just felt that it is kind of sad that there is no track team at all," said White, a senior majoring in kinesiology. "I feel like it is important mainly based off our history."
Club Sports coordinator Rachelle Berglund said club sports differ from athletics and intramural sports. The club sport teams compete against other universities and not individuals at SJSU.
"They do all the things they need to do, but the students are doing all the work themselves," Berglund said.
When White initially began to seek out potential members to form the club, he said there was a positive response from other students.
"I heard nothing but good news from people," White said.
Creating a club sport team and being approved can be a lengthy process. Berglund said there has to be a desire for the potential team because it takes a lot of work.
"It takes a very motivated, passionate and dedicated student," Berglund said.
The track club currently has eight members, White said. Once all the necessary forms are filled out and completed, there will be between 25 to 35 members.
The club will not limit the types of events that the members will compete in.
"We are going to have all the events that any track team would have," White said.
The track club will not start practicing until next semester. Berglund said there are no on-campus facilities for the track club and they have to seek an off-campus site.
The club is looking outside of the campus for volunteer coaches. The first competition will be held in January 2007 in Southern California.
White said students are encouraged to join the track club to participate in various events, despite their level of experience. There are no tryouts or restrictions that prevent potential members from joining the club, he said.
"All it takes is an interest in track," White said. "We will take anybody. Do your best, that is all we expect."
To inform students and make them aware about the opportunity to join, the track club has had a few open tables around campus.
"It is basically word of mouth from myself and other members," White said. "In the future, we are going to have a Web site. Hopefully, we can get more members to sign up."
The club sports teams are able to help and benefit from each other. Berglund said the teams can assist one another by providing suggestions from their own experiences.
"One of the goals of this program is to have the teams to network together," Berglund said. "(They are) much stronger as a unit than as individual teams."
With a fairly new club, and as members continue to join, it is difficult to predict what the future holds in terms of the members, Williams said.
"I am just kind of excited to see what kind of talent we might have and possibly get," said Williams, the safety officer.
Williams said he is excited to be part of something new on campus, and he wants to make sure everybody has fun. After White graduates, he said he would like to see the club still going strong.
Track back at San Jose State
By Kelli Downey Spartan Daily
November 21, 2006
San Jose, CA (CSTV U-WIRE) -- With the lack of an official track team at San Jose State University, several students recently created a track club. The track club is a club sport where students, for the most part, run the operation.
"We actually just got approved about two weeks ago," said Rob White, track club president. "It is still a work in progress."
A few members of the track club were surprised to find no track and field team on campus.
"I ran track in high school as a freshman," said Eerin Williams, a sophomore majoring in radio, television and film. "So I kind of expected to see a school that had something related to track."
White mainly had the idea to fill the void on campus and to create the club. He said he was inspired to create the club because of the events going on with Tommie Smith and John Carlos.
"I just felt that it is kind of sad that there is no track team at all," said White, a senior majoring in kinesiology. "I feel like it is important mainly based off our history."
Club Sports coordinator Rachelle Berglund said club sports differ from athletics and intramural sports. The club sport teams compete against other universities and not individuals at SJSU.
"They do all the things they need to do, but the students are doing all the work themselves," Berglund said.
When White initially began to seek out potential members to form the club, he said there was a positive response from other students.
"I heard nothing but good news from people," White said.
Creating a club sport team and being approved can be a lengthy process. Berglund said there has to be a desire for the potential team because it takes a lot of work.
"It takes a very motivated, passionate and dedicated student," Berglund said.
The track club currently has eight members, White said. Once all the necessary forms are filled out and completed, there will be between 25 to 35 members.
The club will not limit the types of events that the members will compete in.
"We are going to have all the events that any track team would have," White said.
The track club will not start practicing until next semester. Berglund said there are no on-campus facilities for the track club and they have to seek an off-campus site.
The club is looking outside of the campus for volunteer coaches. The first competition will be held in January 2007 in Southern California.
White said students are encouraged to join the track club to participate in various events, despite their level of experience. There are no tryouts or restrictions that prevent potential members from joining the club, he said.
"All it takes is an interest in track," White said. "We will take anybody. Do your best, that is all we expect."
To inform students and make them aware about the opportunity to join, the track club has had a few open tables around campus.
"It is basically word of mouth from myself and other members," White said. "In the future, we are going to have a Web site. Hopefully, we can get more members to sign up."
The club sports teams are able to help and benefit from each other. Berglund said the teams can assist one another by providing suggestions from their own experiences.
"One of the goals of this program is to have the teams to network together," Berglund said. "(They are) much stronger as a unit than as individual teams."
With a fairly new club, and as members continue to join, it is difficult to predict what the future holds in terms of the members, Williams said.
"I am just kind of excited to see what kind of talent we might have and possibly get," said Williams, the safety officer.
Williams said he is excited to be part of something new on campus, and he wants to make sure everybody has fun. After White graduates, he said he would like to see the club still going strong.