The wait is finally over as the men’s track and field team has returned to Moorpark after a four year absence.

The men’s track and field team was previously cut in 2012 due to budget cuts. The men’s team has seen immense success in the past as they had won 10 straight Western State Conference titles from 2001 to 2010. With 12 to 13 teams in the conference competing for at same title the Raiders stayed on top. This year’s team is determined to get right back on track.

Head Coach Traycie Kephart is stoked to have the men’s team back again and has high expectations for this year’s team.

“My goal is that they finish in the top half and my dream goal is top three,” said Kephart. “Hoping we have a couple conference champions on this squad and possibly a state champion in there would be nice.”

The support the men’s team has received in such a short amount of time is quite remarkable.

“Within one months’ notice we got 30 guys,” said Kephart. “The men wanna come out and run track.”

Sophmore Drew Weisenberger stated how much it means to have men’s track and field back at Moorpark.

“It means a lot to have it back, I feel like it’s a big part of college athletics,” said Weisenberger. “For us to not have it we were really missing out on the athletic experience here.”

Not only does having the men’s team back mean a lot to the athletes, but it also benefits some of them like sophomore Zachary Taylor in terms of getting a scholarship.

“I have a better chance at getting into college now because hopefully I can get a little bit of scholarship money instead of trying to pay full price,” said Taylor.

The Raiders have been working hard to get ready for this upcoming season and they are determined to come back strong.