Are you a college-bound student-athlete interested in a collegiate track and field career but need help knowing where to begin your search? Then leave your worries to us. Because in this post, we have provided a list of the best track and field colleges just for you.
Best Track And Field Colleges In USA
1. LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers
Louisiana State University’s track and field team competes in NCAA Division I men’s indoor and outdoor track and field. The Tigers and Lady Tigers have a rich history of triumphs in the NCAA. They’ve seen both good and horrible days. Regardless, we can’t deny that LSU is one of the best track and field colleges in USA.
For example, in women’s outdoors, the institution has more than 14 National Titles, with eleven of them coming in succession. The men’s squad, on the other hand, is ferociously combative. While it has only won four titles, it has come close to capturing many more.
The outdoor track and field home stadium for the LSU Tigers and LSU Lady Tigers track and field teams is Bernie Moore Track Stadium, which was established in 1969. With a seating capacity of 5,680, LSU’s stadium is nothing short of a contemporary wonder.
Bernie Moore sets the bar for track stadiums, with space for thousands of supporters and the same Mondo FTX surface used in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. It is the best location for any track competition and is named after great LSU head track coach Bernie Moore.
2. University of Pennsylvania
The track and field squad of the University of Pennsylvania is one of the most historically prominent in the country. Despite the fact that they only have a few National titles, practically all of them are in Cross Country; they commemorate the Penn Relays.
The festival, also known as the Penn Relays Carnival, is the oldest track and field tournament in the United States. It is held once a year, and runners from around the world compete.
In its early days, Penn football made several contributions to the sport. The quarterback kick, a predecessor of the forward pass, the place-kick from scrimmage, and the delayed throw were all introduced by Penn’s legendary coach and alums, George Washington Woodruff, in the 1890s. Penn was widely acknowledged as the national champion of collegiate football in 1894, 1895, 1897, and 1904.
3. University of California, Los Angeles
The home of the Bruins is one of North America’s best public institutions. UCLA is a powerful research school and has the most NCAA team titles (118). The institution participates in Division I of the PAC-12 Conference. This league, which comprises Stanford, Oregon, and the University of Southern California, is one of the world’s most competitive. In addition, UCLA’s track & field team has won more than a dozen national championships.
The Bruins have been in 12 Rose Bowl games, winning five. In addition, the UCLA Bruins have won or split the league championship 17 times. With Gary Beban winning the Heisman Trophy and Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) receiving the US Basketball Writers Association player of the year award in 1968, UCLA became the first school to have a top winner in both basketball and football in the same year.
The College Football Hall of Fame has admitted 15 football players and coaches, with John Sciarra being the most recent inductee in the Class of 2014. Mark Harmon, a current NCIS star, is a prominent UCLA football player and alumni. Harmon won the “all-around excellence” title multiple times as the quarterback for his squad.
4. University of Oregon
The Oregon Ducks track and field team is the intercollegiate track and field team for the University of Oregon, which is situated in the United States state of Oregon. The school is one of the best track and field colleges in USA. The squad is a member of the Pac-12 Conference and competes at the NCAA Division I level.
The team competes in track and field, as well as cross country, both inside and outdoors. Oregon’s first track and field team, the Ducks, was formed in 1895. The team’s home meets are held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Jerry Schumacher is the current head coach, and there have only been eight permanent head coaches since the program’s beginning in 1895. The Ducks have won 32 NCAA National Championships in three sports.
Because of its rich history, the Ducks’ home is affectionately known as Tracktown, USA. Four of Oregon’s head coaches have been inducted into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame. In addition, several program participants have created unique coaching practices and helped reshape amateur athletics. Alums of the program have gone on to compete in the Olympics and professional sports, while others have started athletic firms such as Nike and SPARQ.
5. University of Arkansas
The Arkansas Razorbacks, popularly known as the Hogs, are the University of Arkansas’ intercollegiate sports teams. The University of Arkansas now fields 19 varsity teams (eight men’s and 11 women’s) in 13 sports. It competes as a member of the Southeastern Conference in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision in football) (SEC).
The football team’s home games are held at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville or at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. In 1964, the Razorbacks were the first team to go undefeated through the regular season and a bowl game, earning the Football Writers Association of America National Championship.
6. University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC) Trojans are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the university, which is situated in Los Angeles, California. While the men’s teams are known as the Trojans, the women’s teams are known as either the Trojans or the Women of Troy.
The school is a member of the Pac-12 Conference and has won 131 team national titles, 108 of which have been National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships. In addition, the University of Southern California football team has won the National Championship 11 times.
USC is also well-known for producing Heisman Trophy winners. With seven Heisman Trophy winners, USC ranks second. From 2002 through 2005, three Heisman Trophy winners were Trojans: Carson Palmer in 2002, Matt Leinart in 2004, and Reggie Bush in 2005.
7. University of Florida
In the sport of track and field, the Florida Gators track and field team represents the University of Florida. The University of Florida is another Southeastern Conference member (SEC). However, it is one of the list’s least constantly active teams, with most of its successes occurring in the last several decades.
Despite this, they have emerged as one of the NCAA’s most successful track teams throughout this time span. For the past eight years, the program has been fantastic. The men’s team has two outdoor titles and four runner-up finishes, as well as two indoor titles and two runner-up finishes.
8. Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University sports teams play in the NCAA Division I. Texas A&M was a founding member of the Southwest Conference until its dissolution. With the creation of the Big 12 Conference in 1996, the Aggies became members. However, they departed the Big 12 Conference and joined the Southeastern Conference on July 1, 2012. (SEC).
The Texas A&M Aggies have three national championships and 20 conference championships. They’ve had two Heisman Trophy winners: John David Crow in 1957 and Johnny Manziel, the first redshirt freshman to win the honor in 2012.
9. University of Georgia
The Georgia Lady Bulldogs track and field team competes in NCAA Division I women’s indoor and outdoor track and field for the University of Georgia. In recent years, the Georgia Bulldogs were one of the few teams to meet and defeat Florida and Arkansas institutions.
Joining the Southeastern Conference means facing stiff opposition, and winning isn’t always easy. As a result, the track team is among the best in the country. In the most recent competitions, both the women’s and men’s teams played at a high level, earning two national titles.
10. Stanford University
Stanford University is a top-ranking institution that offers both men’s and women’s track scholarships. It is one of the best track and field colleges in USA. It is, nonetheless, the most competitive institute to get into. It is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference and competes in Division NCCA I. The Stanford Cardinals have won the National Championship eight times since the NCAA established the Track and Field (outdoors) competition in 1921.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does LSU Have An Indoor Track?
The Carl Maddox Field House is an indoor track and field facility on Louisiana State University’s campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Is Stanford A Good Track School?
Stanford has been named one of the nation’s finest overall programs by the U.S. Association of Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches
Does Stanford Give Track Scholarships?
Stanford University does provide track and field athletic scholarships. Student-athletes can apply for need-based and academic scholarships.
References
- https://sportsplanningguide.com/10-top-collegiate-track-and-field-facilities/
- https://mydidactics.com/best-track-and-field-colleges-in-usa/
- https://www.helptostudy.com/best-college-track-teams/