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Show I TIIBUNIVERSI'l'Y JOURNAL• SOUTHERN UTMI lJNIY.ERSITY • MONDA~, MAY 18, 1998 'BIRD SPORTS I ll331 SU track to get a facelift beginning today The SU track will receive a much needed face lift beginning today as a new track facilities in the western part of the country." SUU President Steven D. Bennion will be put in. After years of waiting for a new surface for the track at Eccles said the cost of the track is around $285,000 and is a neccesary renovation for the Coliseum, the legislature gave the go ah ead earlier this year for SUU to replace the school. The cost of the new track will come from state money and not from existing track that is in disrepair. · university or student funds. T he entire process takes 90 days to complete, meaning The existing synthetic surface will be replaced by a full-pour urethane material the track will not be ready in time £or the Utah Summer Games beginning June 12. made by Martin Surfacing of Hunt Valley, Md. The new surface will be However, the track will be dressed up to look nice for the opening ceremonies, and comparable to that of BYU's which has a surface that is one step up from that track events will probably be moved to the area high schools. The plan is to finish which will cover SU's new track. ......_..._ __ _ _ ,_...,,_........,_,,__ _ ......,_..,...._ __,...,...._..,,_~.,.. the track before the first home football game Sep. According to Roger Davis, a purchasing agent 19 against McNeese State. Along with the main for SUU, the Utah legisla ture informed Vice track, the Jong jump, high jump, javelin run and President for Planning and Technology Mike pole vault run wiJI all be resurfaced as well. Richards in April that the funds are now There are several problems that currently exist available to go ahead and replace the existing which make the SU track ineligible for an NCAAtrack. Davis then sent out requests for proposals sanctioned track meet. The track does not comply and four companies responded. Davis said that with NCAA or Mid-Continent Conference safety SUU decided to go with Martin Surfacing due to standards for one thing. There are patches all over the cost and type of surface the company was the track that are tom up and cause a danger to able to provide. athletes who run on it. This also mak es it Along with Martin, Ashdown Brothers of difficult for SU to invi te any teams to compete in Cedar City is the sub-contractor who will do a Cedar City, because schools do not want to run roro mix to prepare the track for the pour of the on a track that can injure their athletes. At the new surface. "First they will grind up the old same time, if teams are unable to record NCAA track, compact it down and pou r three inches of times and standards, then it would be worthless asphalt over the top," Davis said. The track will for them to come to a m eet at SU. Track athletes still be around the same sjze, but the new want tO set national times that will allow them to surface wil~ provide the university with the move up in the NCAA rankings- athletes will be chance tO bring in better recruits and draw unable to do this on the SU track in its current bigger colleges to compete at the SU facilities. Roger Davis, purchasing agent for SUU, shows a piece of what condition. According to Davis, BYU, Utah State and Utah the new track will look like when completed. The new surface The current track surface has been decomposed w ill not travel here presently because of the made of a uretlw ne pour will replace the old synthetic spray due to the weather, and presen ts problems because condition of the track. However, he said that surface that is currently on the track. Com pletion is set for the it is uneven in certain spots and collects water they would be glad to come down if the track is first part of September. when it rains or when the fi eld is watered. resurfaced and made to NCAA specifications. The university could hold a meet any time it "It's going to be a state-of-the-art track," said Assistant Athletic Director wanted on the current track, but times and distances would be considered Kathryn Berg. unofficial according to NCAA regulations as the length and width of the track are One thing is for sure-th~ track is going to be red. Davis said the color of the not in accordance with NCAA standards. T he current track also has a banked oval surface will match the red hills and look real pleasing when it is done. " It is the on the north and south ends. The track must be level according to the Mid Con same type of track Stanford University has," Davis said. "It will be one of th!! best manual for track and field events. 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