North Carolina-Greensboro will add men’s and women’s indoor track beginning with the 2009-10 academic year. The expansion brings the school’s sport-sponsorship total to 18.

The school has sponsored cross country and track programs since 1991-92 but counted the indoor and outdoor track seasons as one because of NCAA requirements that call for a set number of meets with a minimum number of participants in each meet.

Through the 2008-09 indoor season, the Spartans were not eligible for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships because the school did not meet the requirements for the indoor season. The Spartans did compete in the Southern Conference indoor championship, and Spartan student-athletes have been eligible for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the past.

“The addition of indoor track is a big step forward for the track program,” said Linh Nguyen, head coach for cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. “Any program with high goals such as ours needs the ability to run a complete schedule from cross country through indoor and outdoor track.

“This is going to allow our student-athletes to compete at a higher level throughout the entire school year and should help our program reach new heights. Establishing it as its own program should also help with recruiting as it shows prospective student-athletes that we have a commitment to the running program and its enhancement.”