Track renovations underway; Phase 1 completion by June

Benjamin Pounds, Oakridger
·4 min read
Oak Ridge High School Assistant Athletic Director Alan Ethridge holds a shovel at the groundbreaking for renovations to the Ben Martin Track.
Oak Ridge High School Assistant Athletic Director Alan Ethridge holds a shovel at the groundbreaking for renovations to the Ben Martin Track.

The first stage of renovations on Oak Ridge High School's Ben Martin Track is expected to be complete by June.

Students watch the groundbreaking for the Ben Martin Track project.
Students watch the groundbreaking for the Ben Martin Track project.

"From what I understand, this will be the premier track in the area," Peter Ludman, an architect with Cope Architecture, said of the new complex on which he is working.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place Jan.14 at the complex, drawing in school and city officials. The track is named after ORHS coach Ben Martin, a Hall of Fame member.

Various officials came out to break ground at Ben Martin Track for a series of renovations.
Various officials came out to break ground at Ben Martin Track for a series of renovations.

Allen Thacker, supervisor of maintenance and operations for Oak Ridge Schools, explained that the current track's asphalt dates back to the 1950s and is eroding.

Holly Cross, Oak Ridge Schools supervisor of career readiness and communication, said the contract for the first phase of the track project, including the track surface itself, is supposed to be complete by June, but weather may cause some minor delays in the project timeline. The Athletic Department is working with the track team and boosters to raise money for a future leaderboard as well.

Alan Ethridge, former ORHS cross country coach and current assistant athletic director, has promoted this new track project in The Oak Ridger. He spoke to reporters at the event about the project. The new, eight lane track will be the only high school track in the area to have a steeple chase, which includes wooden and water barriers over which to jump.

Bruce Lay, the school system's executive director of school leadership, said this complex will lead to more home track meets. Ethridge added that officials at Tennessee Wesleyan are interested in having their athletes use the track when it's complete.

The project, a joint effort between Oak Ridge Schools and the Oak Ridge community, will require multiple phases and a supplementary fundraising campaign headed by ORHS Track and Field Head Coach Tom Sauer.

The Oak Ridge Board of Education has approved a transfer of $885,000 from its budget for renovations. The project, specifically its new leaderboard, will rely on fundraising and sponsorships. To help fundraise for the new leaderboard, people can contact Ethridge at aethridge@ortn.org.

Lay said the school system plans to raise funds from the public for other improvements, including new hurdles, a pole vault and high jump.

Oak Ridge Board of Education Chairman Keys Fillauer, left, talks to Peter Ludman, architect for the renovation project at Ben Martin Track.
Oak Ridge Board of Education Chairman Keys Fillauer, left, talks to Peter Ludman, architect for the renovation project at Ben Martin Track.

As Ethridge explained in his column in The Oak Ridger, a new rubberized surface to replace the worn and disintegrating track surface will be part of this first phase. All field events except the pole vault will move to the infield: shot put and discus rings will both be on the north end of the practice field, while long jump and triple jump will use a single 220-foot runway on the home straight, with pits on both the north and south ends. The pole vault will remain outside the south end of the track, but the new pit will swap sides and be on the west end near the field house.

Other phase one improvements to the facility Ethridge described include replacing the old lights and moving them to the outside of the track, adding an additional light at the south end of the track in turn two, and re-sodding the worn crown of the football practice field.

Ethridge went on in his recent column to describe several other renovations to the facility which would be part of a phase two.

"Because a first-class facility will also require significant upgrades to the rest of the complex, a second phase will include a new locker room, restroom and concessions building where the current concession/restroom building stands. The main entrance to the facility will move south, and a new gate modeled on the gate at the Pro2Serve Soccer Complex will sit next to the current track stands. New bleachers will be installed on the hill next to the home straight and in the north end of the facility, so that fans can sit close to the action and see every event in a track and field meet. At the north end of the track, plans call for a new scoreboard with a clear view for fans and athletes alike," he said.

"The facility specifications make ORHS a premier venue both for high school invitationals and the Section 1 Championship, as well as for college and club meets," he stated.

Ben Pounds is a staff reporter for The Oak Ridger. Call him at (865) 441-2317, email him at bpounds@oakridger.com and follow him on Twitter @Bpoundsjournal.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Track renovations underway; Phase 1 completion by June