Oct. 2, 2008

BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University cross country and track & field head coach Alex Smolka was recently named coach of the United States Women's Track & Field Maccabiah Games Team.

The Maccabiah Games will be held in Israel July 9-23, 2009. The Games takes place every four years and is one of the five largest sporting events in the world. The track and field team will be one of 26 United States sports teams that will compete at the world's fourth largest international, Olympic-style event.

This will be Smolka's third appearance at the Games. He made the team as an alternate for the triathlon in 1993. In 2001, Smolka made the team as a triathlete, but the event was canceled.

The quadrennial World Maccabiah Games, sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, brings Jewish athletes from around the world together for competition in three categories, juniors, masters and open. Next summer's games will be the 18th edition and is expected to host more than 9,000 athletes from 60 countries. Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel (MUSA) is the official sponsor of the United States team and has an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs.