TWU Spartans to add six new CIS sports in fall 2010

Langley, BC — As early as Fall 2010, Trinity Western University will be offering six new CIS sports consisting of men’s and women’s cross country, track and field, and swimming.

Blair Whitmarsh PhD, TWU’s Dean of the School of Human Kinetics who oversees Athletics says, “We are really excited about the addition of these six new sports. They are sports that really cater to the individual athlete as a part of a team and they provide an opportunity for a larger number of student athletes to compete.

According to Whitmarsh, these types of competitive sports are also cost effective. It takes considerable investment to fund teams but with individual sports, like the ones mentioned, coaches can have more athletes as part of an overall team – something that is attractive to athletes as well as coaches.

Currently TWU has CIS teams in men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and basketball, which have collectively earned 11 national championship medals including four gold medals. With the addition of the six teams, the TWU Spartans will now be competing in 12 of the 19 CIS sports.

While competitive swimming will be new to the university, track and field and cross country have a successful history at TWU. In the 2000/2001 season Laura Wilson was awarded a CIS gold medal for the 60 m sprint; in 2001/2002 Ian Sharp received a silver medal for the 1000 m, and Justin Beanblossom received a bronze in the 600 m. Trinity Western is also discussing synergistic partnerships with high caliber organizations like the Langley Olympians Swim Club and Langley Mustangs Track and Field Club around shared staff and resources.

This will be great news for students that live to run and swim, as they will be able to participate in their chosen sport for the entire academic year. Cross Country will be offered in fall, and those who wish to participate in middle distance running can do so in the spring semester with track and field. Competitive swimming will be offered over the two semesters.

“We are going to be more selective on which track and field events we offer when we launch,” says an enthusiastic Whitmarsh. “But as we grow and the sport develops we are sure to attract proficient athletes in all of the disciplines we will offer.”

For more information on the athletics offered at TWU visit www.gospartans.ca. Specific information on swimming, cross country and track and field can be obtained by visiting https://www1.twu.ca/athletics/spartan/recruitment

Trinity Western University, in Langley, B.C., is a provincially chartered, independent Christian liberal arts and sciences university, enrolling approximately 4000 students. TWU offers 42 undergraduate majors, ranging from biotechnology, education, theatre and music, to psychology, communications and biblical studies. TWU's 16 graduate degree programs include nursing, counseling psychology, business, theology, linguistics, and leadership, and interdisciplinary degrees in English, philosophy and history. TWU holds Canada Research Chairs in Dead Sea Scroll Studies, Developmental Genetics and Disease, and Interpretation, Religion & Culture.

Source:

TWU Sports Info