Hood College director of athletic Gib Romaine announced the addition of men's and women's indoor track and field to the College's intercollegiate athletic offerings, effective for the 2010-11 academic year.

The addition of these two programs increases Hood's number of varsity sports to 20. The College has sponsored men's and women's varsity outdoor track and field since 2006.

Head coach Brent Ayer, the department's head cross country and track and field coach since the inception of both sports, feels that these additions will help his programs to continue to advance in a positive direction.

"One of the many advantageous aspects of this endeavor is that our student-athletes will have the opportunity to begin training much earlier," said Ayer. "In particular, this addition will benefit our student-athletes who specialize in the skill events."

In 2006, Hood's first year of varsity outdoor track and field, the Blazer roster consisted of a total of 24 participants. Due to Ayer's diligent recruiting efforts and effective training regiments, that roster has more than doubled with the hope to grow to as many as 70 student-athletes in the near future.

Two Hood track and field stars have combined to bring home seven Capital Athletic Conference titles over the past two years. Jessica Parrish '10 won four individual events at the 2009 meet and repeated as the 100 meter champion in 2010, while junior Chris DiGangi claimed consecutive pole vault crowns at the 2009 and 2010 championship meets.

"The addition of indoor track and field is also instrumental in helping boost the College's enrollment numbers," noted Romaine. "We will continue to attract the top-caliber student-athletes and offer them more opportunities to hone their skills."

Hood's first indoor track and field competition is slated for Dec. 8, 2010 at Dickinson College.