John Cosgrove
The Paul Derr Track is nearing completion and, given no unforeseen delays, should be finished within the next month, according to construction management official Rudy Lopez.
Lopez, a senior construction project manager, said the project is nearing its final stages and will be turned over to the Athletics department in the near future.
“We expect [it] to be completed by the middle of November,” Lopez said.
He explained that installing the synthetic material on the track was subject to the most hold-ups during construction and has taken the longest time to complete.
“The contractor who does installation of synthetic material is experiencing some delays due to bad weather,” Lopez said. “It is a process that takes approximately five months.”
Sombat Southivorarat, a junior in business management, said the track will benefit the track and field team but said he suspected many students will still favor the gym when they want to run.
“It is further away for most people than the gym,” Southivorarat said. “Also, most people want to have water available when they run and be able to work out after they finish.”
Lopez said the new track will conform to professional standards on the international level and has been surveyed five times through the course of construction to guarantee compliance with those standards.
“It has been enlarged to meet NCAA requirements and Olympic requirements so if anyone sets a new record it will be recognized as legitimate,” Lopez said. “Once we get it built they need to survey it once again and present the numbers to the NCAA for approval.”
Brian Slightom, a senior in horticulture, said he can’t wait for the track to be opened and that the improved standards will benefit the campus.
“It’s great not only for the N.C. State track and field team’s practice capabilities, but for the possibility of regional competition on an internationally approved course,” he said.
Justin Buckland, a junior in chemistry, said he will use the facilities if they are opened to the student body and he often ran around the track before it was closed for renovations.
“Being able to hold qualifying meets on our own campus will be great for the track and field program, this really brings a greater sense of unity to our campus,” Buckland said.
Katy Champion, a senior in communications, said she is a member of the Campus Crusades for Christ and having the option to once again meet in the outdoor stadium facilities, where they met before the renovations started, will be a welcome option for her group.
“We missed it a lot, not being able to meet out there,” Champion said. “Although State has been so nice in letting us use Reynolds Coliseum, there is no air conditioning in that building so it would often get really hot.”
Lopez said after the project is complete it will be turned over to Athletics and it is up to those officials when the area will be opened for use.
“It’s up to the discretion of the Athletic office,” Lopez said. “The only thing being used right now is the softball field, which we turned over several weeks ago.”