Northwestern University Athletics
NU Adds Women's Cross Country to Athletic Program
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
November 5, 1997
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern University announced today the addition of women's cross country to the Wildcat's athletic program. The move brings the total of varsity sports sponsored by the athletic department to 18, 10 of which are women's sports. Also announced today was a plan to increase all of Northwestern's women's sports to the full number of scholarships allowable by the NCAA.
"We are very pleased to elevate women's cross country from a club sport to varsity status," said University President Henry Bienen. "The move is part of the University's continuing effort to expand the sports program in order to provide greater athletic opportunities for women on our campus."
In 1993, women's golf was added as a varsity sport and, in 1994, women's soccer was moved from club to varsity level. Women's cross country will begin competition in the fall of 1998. All 11 member schools of the Big Ten Conference will now field cross country programs.
"By adding women's cross country and increasing the scholarships of our other women's sports to the NCAA maximum number allowed, Northwestern continues to show its commitment to enhancing all aspects of its women's athletic program," said Rick Taylor, Northwestern's director of athletics. "Our first order of business will be to hire a coach. We hope to have someone on board in early 1998."
