Sept. 27, 2001

Poughkeepsie, NY--The Marist College men's and women's cross country and track and field programs have joined the Metropolitan Collegiate Track Conference, it was announced this week by head men's coach Pete Colaizzo and head women's coach Phil Kelly. The Red Foxes were admitted to the conference, which hosts championships in the sports of cross county, indoor and outdoor track and field, following the September 20th meeting of coaches at Fordham University.

Marist is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), a 10-team Division I conference.

"We are thrilled to have been accepted into the Mets," said Colaizzo, who made the presentation for membership to the Met Coaches. "It is a quality league and will really bolster the strength of our schedule in all three seasons."

The Metropolitan Conference, in its 68th year of operation, consists of 15 other schools that are rich in track and cross country tradition and excellence. The member schools are: Columbia University, C.W. Post College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Fordham University, Iona University, Long Island University, Manhattan College, New York Institute of Technology, New York University, Rutgers University, St. Francis (NY) College, St. John's University, Seton Hall University, Southern Connecticut State University and the University at Stony Brook.

"Our admission to the Metropolitan conference gives us a high quality cross country meet and the opportunity to run at the New York City Armory for the indoor championship," said women's head coach Phil Kelly. "The move also gives us an opportunity to have another competitive meet after outdoor MAAC's as we look o qualify for our ECAC Championships."

Marist will begin competition in the conference at the indoor championships, February 2-3, 2002, at the Armory Track and Field Center on 168th Street in Manhattan.