FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History" continues with the 25th moment on the list: Nova Southeastern University starts the outdoor track and field programs.
  
In the fall of 2006, the Sharks decided to bring their total program count to 15 with the addition of men's and women's track and field. The decision displayed the rapid growth for a program that was only beginning its fifth fall since leaving NAIA for NCAA Division II.
 
"I am pleased with the development of our athletic programs," stated NSU President Ray Ferrero, Jr. at the time of the announcement. "I am especially pleased with the competitiveness of our programs while maintaining excellence among our student-athletes in the classroom."
 
The Sharks would be led by Bruce McCrea, who was coaching the cross country teams at the time. McCrea was given the daunting task of coaching four of NSU's 15 teams, but the university and the athletic department were confident in the program's potential.
 
"I am proud to announce that Nova Southeastern will offer outdoor track as a competitive sport next spring," said NSU Director of Athletics Michael Mominey in 2006. "Coach McCrea has resurrected our cross country program to being one of the top in the region and I am fully confident that he will do the same with the Sharks' outdoor track team."
 
Competing in the NCAA's South Region, many programs at NSU face the daunting task of competing in the nation's toughest teams. However, the track and field programs had a different challenge. The programs would compete without a slew of rivals in the state of Florida. NSU's conference, the Sunshine State Conference, does not sponsor track and field, leaving the Sharks to compete against NCAA Division I talent in order to earn national attention.
 
When the Sharks began competition at the Embry-Riddle Outdoor-Indoor Challenge on Feb. 5, 2007, NSU was heavily reliant on its cross country runners to carry the team in the mid-distance events. The Sharks had a solid crop to pull from, including 2007 SSC Cross Country Runner of the Year Eskender Abdalla.
 
The goal for both programs was to build on its mid distance runners and develop a well-rounded program. Today, it is clear that the goal was achieved. The Sharks sent a variety of competitors to the NCAA National Championship in 2014, including a sprinter, a pole vaulter and a javelin thrower. Both programs are expected to be perennial contenders in the Peach Belt Conference (in which NSU joined prior to 2013) in the coming years. 

Moment No. 1: NSU Athletics is Born
Moment No. 2: Knights Chosen as School Mascot
Moment No. 3: Hansley Hired as Director of Athletics
Moment No. 4: Nova Adds Four Sports
Moment No. 5: Nova Joins NAIA
Moment No. 6: Nova Adds Three More Teams
Moment No. 7: Nova Helps Form FIAC
Moment No. 8: Nova Wins First Conference Championship
Moment No. 9: Baseball and Volleyball Win First Conference Titles
Moment No. 10: NSU Adds Softball
Moment No. 11: NSU Adds Women's Soccer and Wins FSC Tournament Championship
Moment No. 12: NSU Names Ray Ferrero Jr. as School's Fifth President
Moment No. 13: NSU Adds Women's Basketball and Wins Conference Title in First Season
Moment No. 14: NSU Jumps to NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference
Moment No. 15: Kyle Ruwe Becomes NSU's First NCAA All-American
Moment No. 16: NSU adds Rowing, Tennis and Men's Cross Country
Moment No. 17: NSU Breaks Ground on University Center
Moment No. 18: Rembe Becomes NSU's First Female NCAA All-American
Moment No. 19: NSU Men's Golf Wins First SSC Championship
Moment No. 20: NSU Unveils Sharks as New Mascot
Moment No. 21: NSU Enshrines Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
Moment No. 22: Women's Golfer Garcia Austt Becomes NSU's First-Ever NCAA Player and Freshman of Year
Moment No. 23: NSU Tennis Goes Program-Best 22-3
Moment No. 24: NSU Volleyball Hosts the Inaugural Sharks Classic

For the latest NSU news and results, be sure to visit www.NSUSharks.com. To have results sent directly to your cell phone via text message, sign up for SMS text message delivery by clicking here. For the latest news, be sure to sign up for the Shark Alert E-newsletter by clicking here.

Tweet #NSU50