Originating in 1921, Modesto JC's Track and Field was one of the first Community College programs in the state. Over it's proud eigthy-nine year history Modesto Junior College can boast 3 Gold and 1 Bronze Olympic Medallists, 1 World Champion, 11 National Champions, 25 State Champions, 68 Nor-Cal Champions, and 35 inductees into the MJC Hall-of-Fame.

In 2002, both the men's and women's track and field teams won the Central Valley Conference, with the men winning their first Nor-Cal title since 1954. Since 1970, the men's teams have amassed a dual meet record of 244 wins with 53 losses, while the perennially strong women's squads have a 272-16 record since team competition began in 1978. The men can also add nine Central Valley Conference championships to it's credit since 1970, while the women have chalked up eleven titles. Both teams have been ranked number one or two in Northern California for four years in a row.

The men's Cross Country program, which was formed in 1960 with the women's being initiated in 1979, has three state individual champions to its credit with 12 Nor-Cal individual titles and four conference championship titles plus one Nor-Cal team title. The men's team has accumulated a dual meet record of 162 wins and 120 losses with nine teams qualifying for the state championships. The women's team has dual meet record of 117 wins and 67 losses with eleven visits to the state championships. The 2000 teams were the second most successful teams in college history, second only to last year's banner teams.