Upperman High School has never had a regulation-size track, something the School System wants to correct.
A regulation-size track is 400 meters long. Principal Justin Campbell said the existing track was built 40 meters too long. Campbell said Upperman can not host track meets until it is regulation sized.
“I’m very happy with the willingness that I have from my supervisors above me to look at what kids need and make sure that we have that within the budget,” Campbell said. “Whether that be a few years or however long that may take, just making the appropriate steps to give kids the chance to perform on a track that is regulation size is big to me.”
Campbell said he has never received a clear answer on why the track was sized incorrectly.
Campbell said a handful of Upperman track athletes plan to run collegiately. Campbell said a properly sized track makes training more accurate.
“Everything seems to flow as far as when you’re going to increase your speed, when you’re going to pull off, when you need to make sure you’re keeping a good pace,” Campbell said. “Having that regulation-track is going to make our athletes more willing and more able to compete at events they can be successful in.”
Campbell said he first recognized a problem when he arrived at Upperman as a teacher and track coach.
“We tried to run a mock track meet here,” Campbell said. “And I brought it to our central office’s attention. They worked diligently and worked with us to see if we could make a plan for the next few years, and get something that we can, make sure our track athletes are able to have a track meet and have the correct size and appropriate length.”
School Officials are looking for ways to fund the project as part of the system’s Capital Expenses. Several athletic facilities at the school suffered as budget cuts were made when the school was built. The fixes remain an issue, according to School Board members.
