Lightning Athletics add Indoor Track

The St. Mary’s University Lightning program continues to expand as the Lightning are pleased to announce that the application to submit an indoor track team into the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) has been accepted.

Slated to start competing in the 2018 season, the Lightning Indoor track team will begin training sessions in December to be ready for the upcoming season.

“The addition of Indoor Track provides a two-season program for student-athletes at St. Mary’s to train and race throughout the school year and continue to improve through consistent training,” said StMU Lightning Indoor Track and Cross Country head coach Donna Dixon. “The opportunity to compete in both cross country and track will hopefully attract more student-athletes to St. Mary’s.”

Year-Round Opportunities

According to Lightning Athletic Sports Manager Nathan Ruff, the addition of indoor track was a natural progression, one that will offer increased training capacity and opportunities for competition.

“Adding indoor track is very fitting for our athletes, it is a natural progression to accommodate our cross country runners,” said Ruff. “With this addition our athletes can train and compete in track year-round.”

Ruff is excited to welcome indoor track into the Lightning fold as he believes it will only help further enhance the growing reputation of Lightning athletics.

“The addition for the Lightning program is exciting for us, as St. Mary’s is one of the fastest growing universities in Alberta, it is only fitting that our athletic department and offerings grow as well. I am excited to add to the compliment of varsity athletic programs we already have.”

Important Step Forward

Ruff believes competing and having success in indoor track will play an important role in increasing St. Mary’s awareness for potential students.

“It is a goal of our athletic department to elevate our status to an elite competitor in the ACAC conference,” explained Ruff. “I believe we have the opportunity with some hard work to meet that goal within the indoor track program.”