Wingate announced it will add men’s and women’s track and field as varsity sports beginning in the spring of 2011.

The additions bring Wingate’s athletics offerings to 19 teams (10 men’s, nine women’s). Athletics Director Steve Poston said the university is planning to hire a coach by January 1.

“There are a growing number of high school students who participate in track and field in the United States,” Poston said. “We are pleased to offer two new sports that are very popular among these student-athletes. With the addition of track and field, Wingate becomes more appealing to a broader base of potential students.”

Poston also noted the appeal of a track program that complements the school’s cross country teams and adds to the academic profile of the university. “Each year, our cross country teams record some of the highest grade-point averages in our department,” he said. “We look for the track and field student-athletes to have similar success in the classroom.”

Wingate will join Carson-Newman, Lenoir-Rhyne, Mars Hill and South Atlantic Conference newcomer Anderson (South Carolina) as league schools with track and field programs. Anderson joins the conference for the 2010-11 academic year.