UHH to cut Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Programs

UHH to eliminate men’s & women’s cross country: Inside sources have leaked that the athletic department, under Dexter Irvin, is looking to make 10 percent budget cuts in the 2011 – 2012 season.Irvin and his staff have decided to eliminate, or suspend for two years, the men’s and women’s cross country program.Getting rid of cross country would save the Vulcan athletic department approximately $100,000 per year which would fit into the goal of reducing cost by 10 percent.Cross country is a non revenue producing sport and the UHH athletic department is looking at ways of increasing revenue.Many of our local runners have gone onto run at the collegiate level at UHH under Coach Jaime Guerpo who has recruited heavily within the state.

Keoni and Nick Ucker, along with Justin Pang formerly of Christian Liberty Academy; James Imai from Waiakea, Nick and Nina Hagemann of Keaau, Stefano Barbis and Milia Williams from Hilo, are just a few of the many talented local runners that Guerpo had recruited in recent years.

The athletic department is more concerned with high profile sports that can generate revenue as sports such as cross country, golf and tennis may be on its way out.

Coach Guerpo hasn’t given up and will be presenting a variety of options to the UHH athletic department. If you’d like to help you can write letters to the UHH athletic department and address it to Mr. Dexter Irvine.

I hope the program can somehow be salvaged.

April 14, 2011 - Posted by waynejoseph | Running on the Big Island | Dexter Irvine, Jaime Guerpo, James Imai, Justin Pang, Keoni Ucker, Malia Williams, Nick Hagemann, Nick Ucker, Nina Hagemann, Stefano Barbis, UHH Cross-Country

7 Comments »

HOW SAD!! Just can’t believe it.. It always amazes me that people can not see the good that running has on not only the individual but the entire community!
Cutting cross country saves nothing! There has to be other ways to save the UH money besides cutting athletics!Perhaps some of those professors could use a pay cut? You know…share the sacrifice???

Comment by Fleet Feet | April 14, 2011 | Reply
- its not only athletics but our classses that will be recieving cuts…the upper division Physics and Astronomy me class will be cut if there is no more ten people…there are only 15 physics/astronomy majors at UH Hilo and most of the classes they are plainning to cut are classes students need to graduate…UH Hilo is getting cuts everywhere
  
  Comment by Becks5678 | April 18, 2011 | Reply
What a lot of colleges are doing nowadays is making their non “revenue generators” into a “club” sport. That way the sport will still be there, ready to back to a varsity level at any time, with coaches and athletes.

The main difference will be now they will have to pay their own way, thru fundraisers and donations, for their travel and such. Of course they won’t have any athletic scholarships for the sport either.

Perhaps the four DII Hawaii colleges can all form “club” level sports and have a few races in the state. Then have a “Hawaii” championship and whomever wins will then be sent to compete on the mainland.

Anyway, Just a thought to try to keep the sport alive in the state at the collegiate level.

Comment by Runfastrunlite | April 14, 2011 | Reply
Wow, thats really junk
Now I can’t fly home to race anymore ;(

Comment by SK23 | April 14, 2011 | Reply
it was a sad moment when coach told us. we’re still fighting for it, but i can’t say we’re winning.

Comment by james imai | April 15, 2011 | Reply
Cut cost now pay later..anyone who runs Xcountry has greatly decreased their reliance on the health care system!!
It’s a sad day for UH hilo when it comes down to cutting great programs.

Comment by Tasha | April 15, 2011 | Reply
But it is certainly sad when the students have to suffer. we come to college expecting a great expereince and here we are attending a school, where OUR opportunities are being cut. it just isn’t fair.

Comment by Becks5678 | April 18, 2011 | Reply