The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I collegiate athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois.
The MAC Conference consists of 12 Great Universities, all with solid traditions and typically a wonderful balance of value, academics, and athletic programs.
The 12 Universities are:
| Akron* |
| Central Michigan (Eliminated Men’s Track&Field) |
| Eastern Michigan |
| Kent State |
| Northern Illinois (Eliminated Men’s Track&Field) |
| Miami (Ohio)** |
| Bowling Green (Eliminated Men’s Track&Field) |
| Western Michigan (Eliminated Men’s Track&Field) |
| Ball State (Eliminated Men’s Track&Field) |
| Toledo (Eliminated Men’s Track&Field) |
| Ohio (Eliminated Men’s Track&Field) |
| Buffalo |
**Eliminated Men’s Indoor Track
However, as you can see only 5 (if we include CMU) still support Men’s Track & Field. The elimination of the program at CMU is about to impact Track & Field for the conference at large. Potentially fully removing an olympic sport with rich traditions and history from the conference.
The MAC has produced countless Olympians, and even more importantly Track & Field supports diversity and provides opportunities for students and the university. All of that may now be at risk.
Partial list of Olympians:
- 2016 Clayton Murphy (Bronze medal 800 meters), Shawn Barber (Pole Vault), Eric Alejandro (400m Hurdles), Alex Rose (Discus)
- 2012 Eric Alejandro (400m Hurdles) and Jamie Nieto (High Jump)
- 2008 Sasha Springer-Jones
- 2004 Athens Games: USA- Jamie Nieto (High Jump, 4th)
- 2000 Sydney Games: Liberia – Paul Sehzue (110 High Hurdles), Jud Logan (Hammer Throw)
- 2000 Sydney Games: Nigeria- Nduka Awazie (4 × 400 meter relay, Silver), Nigeria – Clement Chukwu (200 & 400 meters)
- 1996 Atlanta Games: USA- Paul McMullen (1500 meters, 9th), Suriname – Tommy Asinga (800 meters), British West Indies – Greg Rhymer (1500 meters), Nigeria – Clement Chukwu (200 & 400 meters), Bahamas – Savatheda Fynes (100 & 200 meters, 400M Relay)
- 1992 Barcelona Games: Suriname – Tommy Asinga (800 meters), Jud Logan (Hammer Throw)
- 1988 Seoul Games: Suriname – Tommy Asinga (800 meters), Jud Logan (Hammer Throw)
- 1984 Los Angeles Games: USA- Earl Jones (800 meters, Bronze), Trinidad and Tobago- Hasely Crawford (100 meters)
- 1980 Moscow Games: Trinidad and Tobago- Hasely Crawford (100 meters)
- 1976 Montreal Games: Trinidad and Tobago- Hasely Crawford (100 meters, Gold, 200 meters)
- 1972 Munich Games: Trinidad and Tobago- Hasely Crawford (100 meters)
- 1972 David Wottle 800M Olympic Gold
- 1968 Mexico City Games: Canada – Dave Ellis (10,000 meters)
- 1964 Tokyo Games: USA- Hayes Jones (110 High Hurdles, Gold), USA – Dean Rockwell, Manager of the Greco Roman Wrestling Squad
- 1960 Rome Games: USA- Hayes Jones (110 High Hurdles, Bronze)
- 1948 London Games: USA – George Marshall, Manager, Men’s Track and Field
- 1932 Los Angeles Games: USA – Lloyd Olds, Assistant Coach, Track and Field