DAVIS, Calif. - In alignment with current Yolo County health orders, UC Davis women's indoor track & field will not compete in 2021, as announced by interim director of athletics Rocko DeLuca on Wednesday.

"This was a difficult decision to make, but one that is consistent with our commitment to safeguarding student-athletes' health, safety and well-being." said DeLuca. "Head coach Ngoni Makusha and I feel this was necessary since the team would have limited opportunity to adequately prepare for the upcoming season," 

"In this current climate, we are being responsible for ourselves, our society, neighbors and everybody in our community. I think it is a good decision that protects everybody. Our student-athletes are very resilient, I am confident that we will find a way to manage this unprecedented situation together as a family," said Makusha.

Citing high grade point averages earned last quarter, the second-year head coach also encouraged student-athletes to take advantage of this opportunity to double their focus on academics and continue preparing for their post-UC Davis careers.

Intercollegiate Athletics will honor all existing scholarships and provide necessary support services to help student-athletes cope with this unfortunate situation. The team will continue to receive support from Student-Athlete Outcomes staff to maintain academic progress.




ABOUT UC DAVIS
Over 700 student-athletes across 25 intercollegiate athletics teams, following the addition of equestrian and women's beach volleyball in 2018, are enrolled in 71 of more than 100 academic programs at the fifth-ranked public school in the nation.
 
Centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and the Napa Valley, UC Davis is known nationwide as a leader in Title IX gender equity and leadership, ranks annually in the top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility and offers an unrivaled student-athlete experience that features the ideal combination of elite academics, Division I athletics and personal growth.
 
UC Davis is uncommonly committed to preparing student-athletes for life after graduation with Aggie EVO — an innovative student-athlete outcomes program that helps young women and men develop passions, gain real-world experience, and enjoy a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school. Through Aggie EVO, Intercollegiate Athletics provides unmatched resources and a vast network of working professionals to ensure post-graduation success for its student-athletes.