Dec. 4, 2006

NEWARK, NJ - Track and Field joins the ranks of intercollegiate varsity sports at New Jersey Institute of Technology, with indoor competition for men's and women's teams starting in December 2006.

The move, which broadens the base of varsity intercollegiate competition for NJIT, technically adds four sports to the mix of varsity offerings. The NCAA considers indoor track and field and outdoor track and field to be separate sports and the Highlanders will sponsor men's and women's teams in both seasons.

Coach Al Alonso, who has successfully guided the NJIT men's and women's cross country programs since 2003, also has coordinated track and field clubs at NJIT and will lead the Highlander programs as they elevate to varsity status.

In addition to his cross country coaching career, Alonso previous coached the outdoor track and field teams at Stevens Institute of Technology from 1984 to 2003 and the Stevens indoor teams from 1996 to 2003.

Coach Alonso will be aided with the NJIT track and field teams by his longtime assistant coach David Czeizinger and by King Perry, a former high school and college hurdler, who has experience coaching at four different New Jersey high schools.

Many of the same student-athletes who compete on the NJIT cross country teams will participate as runners in indoor and outdoor track.