Nevada State men’s track and field team debuts at UNLV Elite Invitational

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Nevada State University’s new men’s track and field team made its debut Saturday at the UNLV Elite Track and Field Invitational, marking the program’s inaugural year.

NSU Head Track and Field Cross Country Coach Roy Session called the launch of the team significant for both his athletes and the state. “This is a special occasion for my group, as well as for the state to have a men’s track and field program represented at a college in Nevada,” he said.

Session said Nevada previously had men’s college track programs, noting UNLV had a track and field team in the 1980s and the University of Nevada, Reno had a team in the 1990s. He said Title IX, which was established to “equalize” sports, later led to those programs being cut at UNLV and UNR.

He said the new program gives athletes a chance to compete in-state. “It’s amazing because what happens in Nevada is most of the guys are pretty good were leaving the state to compete, because there was no place for them to compete, or they chose not to compete at all.”

With the new team, students now have the option to stay in Las Vegas at a four-year university while continuing their track careers.

Athletes can compete in events including the 4 × 1,500 meters relay, shot put, pole vault, and the 4 × 100 m relay.

Session said the team is small but growing and “doing well,” adding that a few athletes finished in the top five on Friday, April 3.

Yvonne Wade, NSU’s director of athletics, said the invitational will be a milestone for the new program. “This is their first time competing at home. This is our inaugural year, and they’re excited, and we have a lot of local talent that’s here to showcase what they can do,” Wade said.

Wade said Southern Nevada has a deep talent pool and that she believes the runners are competing without pressure. She said the program also allows athletes to remain in Nevada and Las Vegas while keeping hometown support.

Wade also emphasized the value of local coaching for local athletes. “NSU is gonna provide it. The coaching staff gonna provide a platform for success,” she said.

Before joining Nevada State University, Session was a champion coach at Centennial High School.