Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico

The Inter-university Athletic League, often abbreviated LAI, is a college athletics conference in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.[1] The LAI is a non-profit organization whose main purpose is to regulate sports amongst its member institutions. The league was founded in 1929 by Cosme Beitía of the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, Charles Leker for the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, and Luis Izquierdo Galo y José D. Morales from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.[2] The league is best known for its flagship inter-collegiate sports event locally called Las Justas which takes place yearly during the month of April, generally in the city of Ponce.[3]

Inter-university Athletics League
FormerlyIntercollegiate Athletic Association
ConferenceFISU
Founded1929
CommissionerJosé Enrique Arrarás
Sports fielded
  • men's: 16
  • women's: 13
No. of teams17
HeadquartersSan German, Puerto Rico
RegionPuerto Rico

History

The League began celebrating three sports events amongst its member institutions in 1929; Baseball, Basketball, and Athletics. Initially the League's events were open to male athletes only, but the practice was relaxed with time. Today male athletes compete in some 16 events and female athletes compete in thirteen. Women began competing in the league starting in the 1969-1970 academic year. Every year the league hosts the Justas de Atletismo y Festival Deportivo, their flagship sports competition event. For many years the event was held in San Juan, but in 1993 the event was moved to the city of Ponce.[4] In 2010 the event was held in Mayagüez in preparation for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.[5] Games resumed in Ponce in 2011, and continued in Ponce in 2012.[6]

The league is administered by a "Administrative Council" made up of the Deans of Students, Athletic Directors, and a student representative. There is also a "Cuerpo Rectoral" called the "Junta de Gobierno" made up of the Rectors and presidents of the member institutions. The "Junta de Gobierno" chooses an employee called "The Commissioner" who is appointed to act as executive officer of the LAI for a period of two years. The League is a founding member of International University Sports Federation.

Sports

Member schools

Current members
Institution (English) Institution (Spanish) Acronym Colors Nickname Location Joined Affiliation Enrollment[lower-alpha 1] Section
University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras Universidad de Puerto Rico en Río Piedras UPRRP     Gallitos and Jerezanas San Juan 1929 Public 18,653 Beitia
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Universidad de Puerto Rico en Mayagüez RUM     Tarzanes and Juanas Mayagüez 1929 Public 13,148 Mangual
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico UIPR     Tigres San German 1929 Private 50,000 Mangual
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico PUCPR     Pioneros Ponce 1954 Catholic 12,000 Mangual
University of Puerto Rico at Cayey Universidad de Puerto Rico en Cayey UPRC       Toritos and Toritas Cayey 1971 Public 4,128 Mangual
University of Puerto Rico at Humacao Universidad de Puerto Rico en Humacao UPRH     Buhos and Buhas Humacao 1975 Public 4,732 Beitia
University of the Sacred Heart Universidad del Sagrado Corazón USC   Delfines Santurce 1979 Catholic 5,261 Beitia
University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón Universidad de Puerto Rico en Bayamón UPRB       Vaqueros and Vaqueras Bayamón 1980 Public 5,014 Beitia
University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo Universidad de Puerto Rico en Arecibo UPRA     Lobos and Lobas Arecibo 1983 Public 3,693 Mangual
Bayamón Central University Universidad Central de Bayamón UCB     Halcones Bayamón 1991 Catholic 2,133 Beitia
University of Puerto Rico at Ponce Universidad de Puerto Rico en Ponce UPRP     Leones and Leonas Ponce 1992 Public 4,000 Mangual
University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla Universidad de Puerto Rico en Aguadilla UPRAG     Tiburones Aguadilla 1992 Public 3,393 Mangual
University of Puerto Rico at Carolina Universidad de Puerto Rico en Carolina UPRCA     Jaguares Carolina 1994 Public 4,240 Beitia
University of Puerto Rico at Utuado Universidad de Puerto Rico en Utuado UPRU       Guaraguaos Utuado 1998 Public 1,682 Mangual
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico PUPR     Castores San Juan 1999 Private 5,195 Beitia
Caribbean University CU       Grifones Bayamón 2005 Private 1,603 Beitia
Ana G. Méndez University Universidad Ana G. Méndez UAGM     Taínos and Taínas San Juan 2019[lower-alpha 2] Private 24,700 Mangual
Notes
  1. Undergraduate
  2. UAGM was formed in 2019 from the merger of the three institutions under the Ana G. Mendez University System: the University of Turabo, Metropolitan University, and Universidad del Este, all of whom were LAI members at the time of merger.

Former members
Institution (English) Institution (Spanish) Acronym Colors Nickname Location Joined Left Affiliation Enrollment[lower-alpha 1] Section Current
conference
University of the Virgin Islands Universidad de las Islas Vírgenes UVI       Bucaneros and Bucaneras St. Thomas 2005 2017 Public 2,138 N/A Gulf Coast (GCAC)[lower-alpha 2]
Ana G. Méndez University at Gurabo[lower-alpha 3] Universidad Ana G. Méndez en Gurabo UT     Taínos and Taínas Gurabo 1975 2019 Private 16,000 Mangual N/A[lower-alpha 4]
Ana G. Méndez University at Carolina[lower-alpha 5] Universidad Ana G. Méndez en Carolina UNE     Pitirres Carolina 2005 2019 Private 10,366 Mangual
Ana G. Méndez University at Cupey[lower-alpha 6] Universidad Ana G. Méndez en Cupey UMET     Cocodrilos San Juan 2005 2019 Private Beitia
American University of Puerto Rico AUPR     Piratas Bayamón 1991 2023 Private 2,934 Beitia N/A[lower-alpha 7]
Notes
  1. Undergraduate
  2. Currently an NAIA athletic conference.
  3. Formerly known as the University of Turabo (or Universidad del Turabo).
  4. All three universities were former independent institutions that were part of the Ana G. Méndez University System, before being merged to form Ana G. Méndez University.
  5. Formerly known as the University of the East (or Universidad del Este).
  6. Formerly known as the Metropolitan University of Puerto Rico (or Universidad Metropolitana).
  7. Closed following the end of the 2022–23 school year.

References
  1. "Luna Athletic Interuniversity of PR and Virgin Islands (translated from Spanish)". 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  2. "Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico". Archived from the original on 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  3. Donativos a manos llenas en Ponce. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  4. Las Justas se quedan en Ponce. Amigos de Ponce. 21 January 2010. Univision. (Originally published in El Nuevo Dia Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  5. "Deportes - Primera Hora". Archived from the original on 2013-12-25. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  6. Ponce se duplicará durante las Justas. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. Ponce, Puerto Rico: La Perla del Sur. Year 30. Issue 1480. Page 4. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
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