The Bismarck State College (BSC) Mystics Athletic Department is excited to announce the addition of three National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) programs for the 2022-2023 academic year:

• Men's and Women's Cross-Country (D-II)
• Men's and Women's Half-Marathon (D-I)  
• Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field (D-I) 
• Men's and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field (D-I)

“Western North Dakota has a tremendously strong track and field culture. We are excited to reinstate the track and field and cross-country programs and launch a half-marathon program to provide more opportunities for student athletes to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. The addition of these programs will also help create an even more vibrant culture within the athletic department and on the BSC campus,” says BSC Athletic Director Myron Schulz.

The goal is to add a minimum of 60 men and women student athletes to compete starting in Fall 2022. BSC is part of the Mon-Dak Conference in the NJCAA but will compete at various collegiate meets, including against four-year universities. The athletes’ recorded results are used to qualify for the NJCAA national championships.

While BSC has the MDU Resources Community Bowl – home of one of the best outdoor track facilities in the state – on its campus, the college hasn’t had a track and field or cross-country program since 1985. The half-marathon program will be an entirely new program for BSC.

BSC has numerous prominent track alumni in the BSC Athletics Hall of Fame including Frank Bavendick, Richard Kaarlgard, Ed Hasche, Darrell Anderson, Nancy Hardy Fischer, Pamela Carlen Ihmels and Becky Clairmont Ziegler.

The seasons for the three athletic programs will run both fall and spring. BSC is in the process of hiring coaching staff. Athletes interested in exploring opportunities in these programs should contact Schulz at 701-224-5512 or Myron.schulz@bismarckstate.edu.