EPPJ Adds Track To Facilities

Elgin Public/Pope John upgraded its athletic facilities by adding a four-lane asphalt track to the Wolfpacks’ football stadium this summer.

“The benefits of have the track are huge,” said Elgin athletics director Michael Becker. “They first, and most important, is the safety of the kids. It will allow all of our athletes to be centrally located and have supervision throughout all of practice. Previously, lots of track practice would be done by running on streets throughout town. The track eliminates the hazard of traffic or accidents that could happen while running throughout town. The next is it gives all of our activities a location to use for running purposes no matter what the weather is like, spring weather can be unpredictable so to have a location that our kids can practice and our coaches not having to worry about whether or not it is to muddy to practice outside will be very beneficial. The last added benefit would be the fact that it allows all of our programs as well as members of the community a space to use to be active. Our volleyball team has already used it this year for some conditioning and there have been numerous members from town that been using it for exercise.”

EPPJ purchased the track and Schmitt Construction installed the track over the summer.

“It is wonderful,” said EPPJ track and field coach Sandi Henn. “We finally have a real track, we aren’t guessing and kids aren’t running around the football field. Sometimes we didn’t even know if we ran an exact 400 (meters). At least we know if we run 100 or 200 sprints, we will know we are running the right distance. It will be nice to space out the hurdles on the track and it will a big benefit. One of the biggest benefits will be exchange zones as well.”

Although the Wolfpack cannot host any meets since the track is an asphalt surface, the new addition helps EPPJ athletic teams grow and improve.

“I believe it will help to prepare our athletes on a daily basis so that when they are competing at a meet they have a great chance to be as successful as possible,” Becker said. “It will teach our younger athletes the basic of a track before their first track meet to help them be as prepared as possible. Many athletes at the Junior High level have never been on a real track before so they will be able to learn about exchange zones, and what races they have to stay in their lane and even where the starting and finishing line of a race are. It might also help to spark more interest in our track and field program.”

Henn believes the EPPJ track and field team will take a big step forward as a track program thanks to the new addition.

“Most of our junior high athletes have never been on a track,” Henn said. “So being able to run on a track before their first meet will be great and we can finally have all the spacing and distances accurate for each race.”