Minnesota First Power Five School To Cut Track and Field Program; Alum Ben Blankenship 'Disappointed' School Couldn't Find Solution

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The Coronavirus purge of collegiate athletics continued Thursday when the University of Minnesota announced that it will eliminate the men's indoor and outdoor track and field programs at the end of 2020-21. 

The alums of the Minnesota men's program include Olympians Ben Blankenship and Hassan Mead, both of whom train with the Nike Oregon Track Club Elite. Fellow distance pros Harun Abda and Obsa Ali are also former Gophers. 

Blankenship, who has been home in Eugene this week as Oregon deals with unprecedented wildfires and smoke, said the news took him by surprise.

"It makes no sense to me," Blankenship said. "I would say I'm disappointed. I think it's too early to say why it's track and field versus other sports. Everyone will say 'Why us?' 

"It's disappointing and disheartening when you think of the college sports complex system that has been hit with something they couldn't foresee. And it's only been a little while. It hasn't even been a whole year."

Director of Athletics Mark Coyle laid out the rationale for trimming not only men's track and field but also men's gymnastics and men's tennis. In a letter to the university community he said that Minnesota had the fourth-most athletics programs (25) in the Big Ten and yet had the eighth-biggest budget. 

"Our goal for the last few years was to create a nimble athletic department, one that was self-sufficient, competed at the highest level and provided a first-class experience for our student-athletes. We experienced record-level fundraising during the last several years and reduced our operating budgets during both FY19 and FY20. When COVID-19 struck, we adjusted and members of our executive team and several head coaches volunteered for two separate pay reductions. We previously reduced $5 million from our FY21 budget and implemented hiring and spending freezes. Despite these financial efforts, we can still no longer sustain 25 programs," Coyle wrote.

The rationale for choosing men's track and field among the sports to be cut included gender equity issues and additional evaluation. The athletic department anticipates a $75 million loss this fiscal year.

"Due to recent shifts in our female and male undergraduate demographics, we also needed to take steps to ensure compliance with our commitment to provide gender-equitable participation opportunities for our students consistent with federal law requirements. We also considered community impact, local and national interest, competitiveness, and sport sponsorship at the Big Ten and NCAA Division 1 level," the university's statement said.

NCAA Division 1 Sports Cut Since Coronavirus Pandemic Began

Minnesota won the 1948 NCAA men's track and field championship when it also served as the host school. 

Blankenship, who became the first sub-4 miler for Minnesota when he broke the barrier indoors in 2010, said he wished the university had made an effort to reach out and try garner community support to save the program.

"Cutting sports doesn't make sense to me," he said. "That they can't reach out to the community and ask for help seems stupid. I'm disappointed for the kids that were part of the program. Those kids signed on and came back for the abilty to represent the program and community."