CSU-Pueblo to host national track championships

Posted: Jun 14, 2011 5:10 PM by Andy Koen
Updated: Jun 14, 2011 5:25 PM

Roughly 600 student athletes from across the country will be coming to Pueblo to compete in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Colorado State University-Pueblo has been selected as the host site for the games in both the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

The championships will be held during the final week of May in both seasons at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, CSU-Pueblo athletic director Joe Folda called the announcement a huge honor.

"Our campus as well as the community of Pueblo will be gracious hosts to the track athletes and we're excited to tell the nation about CSU-Pueblo's excellence," Folda.

Head track and field coach Chad Perry said the games will showcase the CSU-Pueblo facilities as being among the best in the country.

"There's nothing like having a national championship event in your hometown, and it will provide a great opportunity for recruiting and get people in our community excited for track."

The chamber of commerce predicts the championships to bring an extra $1.7 - 2 million to the Pueblo economy as local hotels and restaurants cater to visiting athletes, coaches and their families.

"This is a great event for Pueblo and arrives at a great time of year," said chamber president Rod Slyhoff.

The university is the first host school to host back to back track and field championships since Southern Illinois-Edwardsville hosted the games in 1997-1998.