PLNU Athletics

In October of 1983, the undertaking of the most extensive project in the history of Pasadena/Point Loma Nazarene University Athletics broke ground. With the help of very generous PLNU donors and the British Olympic team, the Point Loma all-weather track was constructed over a 10-week period prior to the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. 

Coach Jim Crakes and Athletic Director Carroll B. Land were the driving forces behind the project. They solicited donations and established strong working relationships with the British officials. Upon its construction (for a total of $161,500.00), it was one of the top training facilities in the country. 

The British, and other Olympic teams used it as a training facility prior to the 1984 games, and many of their stadium records are still the top mark in stadium history. In fact, 17 records (men’s and women’s) from that year are still listed as stadium records today. 

The first team to arrive and training at the facility was the British rowing team on July 3, 1984. The track & field teams arrived on July 24 and trained for nearly two weeks before the Olympics. On July 31, 263 athletes representing 28 different countries showed up on Point Loma’s ocean-view, freshly resurfaced track for an 11th-hour Olympic tuneup. Over 1,000 fans and many media members attended the event.

Since hosting the British and other Olympians in 1984, the facility has seen many other changes. The infield was expanded to allow for a soccer field to fit within the stadium, and the jumping events were moved to the West end of the track. In 2014, the Point Loma women’s soccer team captured the first conference title for the school in any sport since moving to NCAA Division II, and they did it on their home field.

The PLNU Soccer Field/Track & Field has also hosted multiple PacWest and GSAC Championships, and the 2017 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Regional.

Back in August of 1984, Britain’s Princess Anne visited the facility following its completion and even had lunch in the school’s cafeteria.