As runners return back to the track for the new season, they look to break records on a new surface. Over winter break, the track underwent modifications after 15 years of deteriorating during countless meets and practices.
The resurfacing was a four to six week process where the new crushed rubber surface was placed on top of the old track and given a fresh coat of paint. The soft surface gives runners a boost on and off the track with better times and more support.
“It’s probably one of the nicest tracks in the area right now,” Athletic Director David Langdon said. “What they’re going to do with this will be phenomenal, both aesthetically and functionally.”
Along with the new track comes a new Head Coach, Mike Rogers. Rogers has been a track coach at Trinity for the past 12 years. He has mainly focused on hurdles amongst other jumps, but Langdon said he has complete confidence in Rogers after watching him for the past eight years.
The majority of tracks regularly last between ten and twelve years. The track has been in use for over fifteen years and Rogers said it was in dire need of a renovation, given that he has seen the track decline over his time as a coach.
“It was definitely starting to show its age,” Rogers said. “We started getting some cracks and holes, and it was hard to read some of the markings on it.”
The signs from the aging track heavily affected runners’ health and performance. Junior Carlos O’Connor was especially excited to get out on the new track and was thrilled with the improvement.
“During practices there were holes in the track so it was easy for your ankle to get tweaked or slip,” O’Connor said. “But running on the new track is super comfortable and cushy.”
There will be new rules implemented to ensure that the track remains in great condition. A major change will be keeping vehicles like training carts and maintenance off of the track. According to Langdon, some regulations are still being debated, such as how cars will remain in the homecoming parade.
“There’s gonna be a lot more paying attention to where you go on and off the track,” Langdon said. “So it’ll change how people perceive the uses of it, as far as going on and off of it, even the training carts have to enter a certain place and stay on the grass, things of that nature.”
Langdon said that the track will help keep runners’ joints healthy after running long distances. Rogers thinks that it will not only have a physical effect on the athletes but also a mental effect.
“I think it’s psychologically going to help pump them up,” Rogers said. “There’s definitely going to be some changes with how things feel and how things look. Overall it’s going to be a great experience.”
Rogers has enjoyed getting to see the students he trains succeed and is looking forward to a great future on the new track.
“Seeing kids get better and reach their goals, whether it’s something small or something big,” Rogers said. “Some kids I work with from the time they’re in eighth grade all the way to graduating seniors, seeing that progression has been really fun.”
