HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS UNIVERSITY TRACK & FIELD PROGRAMS JOIN THE AMERICAN MIDWEST CONFERENCE
August 10, 2023
St. Louis, Mo. - The American Midwest Conference (AMC) announced today that Haskell Indian Nations University (Lawrence, Kan.) will join the Conference for men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field for the 2023-24 academic year.
"I am delighted to welcome Haskell's track programs to the American Midwest Conference," AMC Commissioner Will Wolper said. "They are a growing program that will add strength and numbers to our Conference track championships, and we are excited to offer their track student-athletes the opportunity to compete for medals and a Conference title."
The Indians are led by second-year head coach Greg Keeler and under his guidance, the program has grown from primarily distance runners and throwers to a roster that now competes in all running events and the majority of field events.
"Haskell Indian Nations University is excited to be joining the American Midwest Conference for both Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field," Interim Director of Athletics Dr. Zach Wilkerson said. "We believe this is an important next step for our program and will provide our student-athletes with further opportunities to compete and grow. We look forward to what the future holds for our program within the AMC."
Haskell students are all members of federally recognized Native American tribes. The University, operated by the United States Bureau of Indian Education, is the oldest continually operating federal school for Native American Indians dating back to 1884. Among the University's former student-athletes are Olympic gold medalists Jim Thorpe (classic pentathlon and decathlon in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics) and Billy Mills (10,000 meters in 1964 Tokyo Olympics).
About Haskell Indian Nations University
The mission of Haskell Indian Nations University is to build the leadership capacity of their students by serving as the leading institution of academic excellence, cultural and intellectual prominence, and holistic education that addresses the needs of Indigenous communities. The institution's CIRCLE values (Communication, Integrity, Respect, Collaboration, Leadership, Excellence) reflect traditional North American teachings that place the circle of life at the center of knowledge.
About the American Midwest Conference
The American Midwest Conference (AMC) is an NAIA athletic conference with 10 member institutions in Arkansas and Missouri. The Conference, founded as the Show-Me Conference in 1986 before becoming the American Midwest Conference in 1994, sponsors championships in 16 sports (women: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, indoor & outdoor track & field and volleyball; men: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, indoor & outdoor track & field and wrestling).
"I am delighted to welcome Haskell's track programs to the American Midwest Conference," AMC Commissioner Will Wolper said. "They are a growing program that will add strength and numbers to our Conference track championships, and we are excited to offer their track student-athletes the opportunity to compete for medals and a Conference title."
The Indians are led by second-year head coach Greg Keeler and under his guidance, the program has grown from primarily distance runners and throwers to a roster that now competes in all running events and the majority of field events.
"Haskell Indian Nations University is excited to be joining the American Midwest Conference for both Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field," Interim Director of Athletics Dr. Zach Wilkerson said. "We believe this is an important next step for our program and will provide our student-athletes with further opportunities to compete and grow. We look forward to what the future holds for our program within the AMC."
Haskell students are all members of federally recognized Native American tribes. The University, operated by the United States Bureau of Indian Education, is the oldest continually operating federal school for Native American Indians dating back to 1884. Among the University's former student-athletes are Olympic gold medalists Jim Thorpe (classic pentathlon and decathlon in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics) and Billy Mills (10,000 meters in 1964 Tokyo Olympics).
About Haskell Indian Nations University
The mission of Haskell Indian Nations University is to build the leadership capacity of their students by serving as the leading institution of academic excellence, cultural and intellectual prominence, and holistic education that addresses the needs of Indigenous communities. The institution's CIRCLE values (Communication, Integrity, Respect, Collaboration, Leadership, Excellence) reflect traditional North American teachings that place the circle of life at the center of knowledge.
About the American Midwest Conference
The American Midwest Conference (AMC) is an NAIA athletic conference with 10 member institutions in Arkansas and Missouri. The Conference, founded as the Show-Me Conference in 1986 before becoming the American Midwest Conference in 1994, sponsors championships in 16 sports (women: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, indoor & outdoor track & field and volleyball; men: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, indoor & outdoor track & field and wrestling).