By Mary Helen Sprecher
Track and field may be one of the oldest sports in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s staying static. And although it’s no secret that the granular surfaces such as cinder, fired clay and expanded shale have been left in the dust, it’s easy to lose sight of what really is new in facilities these days.
According to Sam Fisher of Fisher Tracks in Boone, Iowa, the arms race to have the best and newest sports venues is showing no signs of slowing down – at both the high school and college levels.
“I think one of the biggest trends I am seeing is the desire for a competition track,” said Fisher. “This seems to be true regardless of the size of the district. Depending upon the school’s conference, this may mean an opportunity to hold a big track meet of some stature only once every six or eight years. At the same time, the thought of building a full competition track seems to be the biggest driver. The difference in cost between a six-lane versus an eight-lane, between one or two runways versus four to six runways, and even multiple high jumps does not seem to faze most.”
The better the facility, the more chance it has of attracting the attention of students who want to showcase their skills – and the better the chance of helping cities attract the attention of big-name youth and amateur competitions. Increasingly, communities are becoming interested in using sports facilities as marketing devices to lure events that bring in traveling athletes and their families, who contribute to the local economy.
Need proof? The 2024 USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships, held in College Station, Texas, brought in 8,000 of the nation’s top young athletes and made a whopping $10.84 million. The 58th AAU Junior Olympic Games in Greensboro, North Carolina, attracted 15,000 participants – including 12,000 track and field athletes for the games’ marquee event. The total: $67.69 million.
Multi-colored tracks
The right track can be a marketing tool for a city, but it can also be a source of pride for the school. According to Fisher, branding is a trend to watch. Whereas fields have long used logos to boost their image, tracks that incorporate school colors are now coming on strong.
“There is a strong desire for colored exchange zones,” he said. “This lends itself to the ‘wow’ factor from the stands for not only track but obviously the other sports as well. Many owners feel like it shows a level of care and cutting-edge construction.”
Accordingly, some track surfacing companies have developed website features, allowing visitors to exercise their creativity, designing onscreen tracks using various colors in not just the track lanes and exchange zones but side zones and jump lanes as well.
However, said Fisher, if schools want to take the route of using their colors on the track, it is essential to make the investment in having the job carried out by a professional track builder. Cutting corners won’t improve the look for very long.
“Some owners are having these colors just painted on and, unfortunately, that very quickly leaves a very ragged look and it becomes a maintenance item of some significant cost to keep the facility looking pristine.”
Field events
Field events are an aspect essential to a fully appointed competition track. These events are classified as follows:
- Jumps: High jump, pole vault, steeplechase, long jump, and triple jump
- Throws: Hammer throw, shot put, discus, javelin
Although tradition would have as many of the field events as possible located within the track oval, today’s school tracks often surround football and multi-sport fields that are constantly in use, making that impractical.
“I am really seeing the desire to have the events inside the oval and the main driver is coming from the coaching staff, who want to have all of their kids within one viewing area,” said Fisher. “Obviously, the throwing events are outside and usually on a practice field nearby. A few schools – mainly new schools with a lot of real estate – are tending to put the event areas outside of the oval and within a fence.”
Field surface is a key consideration in determining the location of throwing events. UEFA, the European governing body for soccer, has guidelines on synthetic turf that state that shot put and discus do not cause damage, but that hammer and javelin can. In order to preserve the playing surface, therefore, some events may need to be shifted around during meets and competitions in order to be held on grass.
Facility owners can expect to hear some complaints from spectators who do not want to have to move from their seats; however, outside of facilities designed for extremely high levels of competition, there is little chance of having all events in the same place – and doing so safely.
Keeping the track intact
One of the most challenging aspects of track ownership is safeguarding the surface from incorrect use. Tracks that are open to the community when athletes are not using them can quickly sustain damage from visitors using incorrect footwear, as well as from parents who come to walk or run on the track and who allow their children to bring tricycles or scooters to play with while they get their exercise.
Equally worrisome, said Fisher, is when the school staff perpetrates the problems.
“I think one of the most distressing things about our business is all of the care that goes into building the track, all of the accuracy required, only to turn around and find that the track is really nothing more than a picture frame for the football program. It is literally abused by UTVs, golf carts, etc., in preparation for the big game.”
Vehicles such as mowers that are used on the field, as well as utility vehicles and other equipment, can damage the track surface beyond repair. Track builders recommend putting down mats on a track, followed by boards, to create a pathway for vehicles to enter the field to perform maintenance without damaging the track.
“Obviously, the durometer, tensile strength, and return of energy are designed for the track athlete, and not designed for turning and twisting tires against the rubber surface,” said Fisher. “The groomers for synthetic turf also are using the track surface to pivot in some cases, and that causes damage as well.”
Fields that are used for purposes other than sports, including hosting graduations, festivals and other events can also lead to damage of the track surface.
“We have seen more damage this year than any other on tracks from July 4th fireworks celebrations,” said Fisher. “I realize it’s a great place to bring people into a stadium for viewing. Some are actually doing the fireworks in the stadium and, in some cases, it’s the viewers letting off fireworks on their own while waiting for the big show.”
Be proactive
Track builders recommend that athletic directors, coaches, facility managers and others walk the track on a regular basis in order to keep an eye on its condition. Look for areas where surfacing may be crumbling, cracked or loose; for areas that seem high or low; or places on the track where water collects. Markings on the track that seem worn should also be addressed.
Contact the track builder with concerns like these (or any others) and send photos of what might be problem areas. Remember that catching issues early can mean less extensive repairs – and that can help create a facility that remains safer overall, providing enjoyment for athletes and spectators, year after year.
Mary Helen Sprecher wrote this article on behalf of the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA). ASBA publishes Running Tracks: Construction and Maintenance Manual, which contains user-friendly information on running track design, construction, maintenance, renovation and equipment. It is available by visiting the ASBA website at sportsbuilders.org.
