November 3, 2010
“We have been conducting a feasibility study on adding track and field as an intercollegiate sport since we began the transition to NCAA Division II back in 2007,” Caridi said. “What we found was that track and field has a very rich and long history here in Ohio, especially at the high school level. Additionally, track and field is among the few sports in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference that we do not currently offer.
“Moreover, the profile of a track and field student is one who performs at a very high level both on the track and in the classroom. For these reasons, and more, it made great sense to move forward with adding this as an intercollegiate sport.”
“I am very thrilled and excited to have the opportunity to build a winning program at ODU,” Benedict said. “The addition of track and field will benefit all aspects of ODU. We have a lot to offer student-athletes as the only Division II program in central Ohio.”
The cross country teams, which were added in 2006, boast 18 student-athletes, and the goal is to have at least 38 student-athletes in the cross country and track programs next season. The teams will practice and train at nearby Bishop Hartley High School, which recently renovated its track and football stadium. Long-term plans include the building of a full-size track on campus as well as a fieldhouse to train.
Ohio Dominican becomes the 12th school in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to compete in men’s track and field and the 13th to compete in women’s track and field.
“Over time, cross country and track and field will become the second largest intercollegiate program here at Ohio Dominican, next to football,” Caridi said. “As such, it will very quickly become a window through which many prospective students and their families come to know about Ohio Dominican.
“Our vision and goals for adding track and field is consistent and no different than our vision and goals for our other intercollegiate sports, namely to provide an opportunity for student athletes to use their gifts and succeed both as a student and as an athlete, to graduate in a timely manner, and become virtuous, productive leaders in society. Intercollegiate sports provide a spirit and energy on campus and serves as an additional vehicle through which the University can inculcate the Dominican mission into the lives of our students. We look for track and field to do the same.”
Benedict, who will begin his duties full-time on Dec. 1, said he is looking forward to the challenges of competing in the GLIAC and developing the program.
“The GLIAC is a very good conference for track and field as well as cross country,” Benedict said. “Our long-term goal would be to compete for the conference championship on a regular basis. I want to build a quality program with the type of student-athletes who will make us proud both on the field of competition and in the classroom.”
Benedict joined the ODU coaching staff in 2008 and has built the foundation for the cross country teams’ success. In 2009, he led the women's team to their first meet championship, coached their first National Qualifier (Meghan Willeke) and was named the Midlands/Independent Conference Coach of the Year. A local product who attended Westerville South High School, Benedict ran track and cross country for four seasons at Muskingum College.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to hire Coach Benedict as our fulltime head coach for men’s and women’s cross country and track and field,” Caridi said. “He is beloved by his current athletes, has great depth in understanding the nuances and skills for the sport, and has the heart of a teacher. Additionally, he is well known within central Ohio and among the track and field community, so we look forward to him hitting the ground running.”
“I feel very humbled and grateful to be named the head coach of both programs,” Benedict said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I hope to grow this program into something very special. Coaching ODU cross country the last three years has been a very fulfilling experience – we have had a chance to meet some of the finest young people at this university. Their efforts over the past seasons have laid a wonderful groundwork for the future.”
For those interested in joining the track and field programs, please contact Benedict at benedicp@ohiodominican.edu.
---30---
Ohio Dominican to Launch Varsity Track and Field Programs in 2011
Release courtesy of Scott Miles, ODU Sports Information Director
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Dominican will add men’s and women’s track and field as intercollegiate varsity sports for the 2011-12 school year, and current cross country coach Paul Benedict has been named the head coach of both programs, Jamie Caridi, ODU’s Vice President of Student Development, announced Wednesday.
This is the first time that the school has offered track and
field, and the indoor and outdoor teams will bring the number of
varsity athletic programs at ODU to 18. Current cross country
athletes will be able to compete in meets this upcoming spring as
the program will be labeled as an “emerging”
sport.
“We have been conducting a feasibility study on adding track and field as an intercollegiate sport since we began the transition to NCAA Division II back in 2007,” Caridi said. “What we found was that track and field has a very rich and long history here in Ohio, especially at the high school level. Additionally, track and field is among the few sports in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference that we do not currently offer.
“Moreover, the profile of a track and field student is one who performs at a very high level both on the track and in the classroom. For these reasons, and more, it made great sense to move forward with adding this as an intercollegiate sport.”
“I am very thrilled and excited to have the opportunity to build a winning program at ODU,” Benedict said. “The addition of track and field will benefit all aspects of ODU. We have a lot to offer student-athletes as the only Division II program in central Ohio.”
The cross country teams, which were added in 2006, boast 18 student-athletes, and the goal is to have at least 38 student-athletes in the cross country and track programs next season. The teams will practice and train at nearby Bishop Hartley High School, which recently renovated its track and football stadium. Long-term plans include the building of a full-size track on campus as well as a fieldhouse to train.
Ohio Dominican becomes the 12th school in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to compete in men’s track and field and the 13th to compete in women’s track and field.
“Over time, cross country and track and field will become the second largest intercollegiate program here at Ohio Dominican, next to football,” Caridi said. “As such, it will very quickly become a window through which many prospective students and their families come to know about Ohio Dominican.
“Our vision and goals for adding track and field is consistent and no different than our vision and goals for our other intercollegiate sports, namely to provide an opportunity for student athletes to use their gifts and succeed both as a student and as an athlete, to graduate in a timely manner, and become virtuous, productive leaders in society. Intercollegiate sports provide a spirit and energy on campus and serves as an additional vehicle through which the University can inculcate the Dominican mission into the lives of our students. We look for track and field to do the same.”
Benedict, who will begin his duties full-time on Dec. 1, said he is looking forward to the challenges of competing in the GLIAC and developing the program.
“The GLIAC is a very good conference for track and field as well as cross country,” Benedict said. “Our long-term goal would be to compete for the conference championship on a regular basis. I want to build a quality program with the type of student-athletes who will make us proud both on the field of competition and in the classroom.”
Benedict joined the ODU coaching staff in 2008 and has built the foundation for the cross country teams’ success. In 2009, he led the women's team to their first meet championship, coached their first National Qualifier (Meghan Willeke) and was named the Midlands/Independent Conference Coach of the Year. A local product who attended Westerville South High School, Benedict ran track and cross country for four seasons at Muskingum College.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to hire Coach Benedict as our fulltime head coach for men’s and women’s cross country and track and field,” Caridi said. “He is beloved by his current athletes, has great depth in understanding the nuances and skills for the sport, and has the heart of a teacher. Additionally, he is well known within central Ohio and among the track and field community, so we look forward to him hitting the ground running.”
“I feel very humbled and grateful to be named the head coach of both programs,” Benedict said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I hope to grow this program into something very special. Coaching ODU cross country the last three years has been a very fulfilling experience – we have had a chance to meet some of the finest young people at this university. Their efforts over the past seasons have laid a wonderful groundwork for the future.”
For those interested in joining the track and field programs, please contact Benedict at benedicp@ohiodominican.edu.
---30---
