by Michelle Brooks | staff writer

Track athletes can look forward to a new practice track on campus.  Although it won’t be ready by the first meet of track season, the new track was provided by the same bond that resulted in turf on the practice field on campus.

“Well, the new track was needed because when Johnson was first built it wasn’t surfaced properly. So, we needed a new surface and new track being built and so, they started after the holidays,” head track coach Nancy Almarez said. “And supposedly, it’s supposed to be ready Feb. 1 but with weather conditions, we may not have it until like mid-February. It’ll be great to have, once we have our new track, it’ll be great for the athletes and all sports to be able to work out.”

Even with the delay, track and field athletes will have more for them than a new track.

“I know there’s gonna be a new draining system for the track and it’s gonna be better material. It won’t be as wet when it rains, afterwards. And they’re getting a new pole vault pit and long jump-triple jump section, they’re gonna redo the lanes there and resurface the whole thing,” junior Antonio Oakley said.

Many of the athletes feel that a new track was needed to help injuries caused by the old track.

“A lot of people would get shin splints because how flat the track was. It’s gonna help with that,” sophomore Asiah Fox said.

Meanwhile, the track team has moved practices to Heroes Stadium to aid them with a track to practice on.

“We just practice on the field. Sometimes, we bus to Heroes or Veterans Memorial down on Evans to practice,” Oakley said.

Players and coaches are hopeful that this new track lasts a long time before resurfacing is needed.

“Hopefully, this track will last another eight years. The great scenario is you would like to resurface it every five years and have great service every time but, we know that wouldn’t be possible but hopefully this track will last us a good eight years to ten,” Almarez said.