MHCC resurfaces track after nearly two decades

MHCC finshed the track upgrade in August.

After nearly 20 years of seeing the MHCC outdoor running track deteriorate, school athletes, staff and faculty can enjoy a smooth run after the track was completely resurfaced this summer.

The project cost $280,000 and was paid for by the college and Associated Student Government (ASG). The track was closed for nearly three weeks in August for workers to grind and resurface the track.

The renovations came after increasing complaints about the torn-up track, including runners getting shin splints due to the hard, worn  surface.

The resurfaced track will again allow Mt. Hood to hold collegiate meets next spring.

Now, MHCC athletes and their coaches are raving about the new, improved rubber track.

“It’s nice to be able to use such optimal facilities. The new surface is very performance-friendly in that it is fast, and training-friendly in that it is impact absorbent and easy on the body,” said Matt Hart, MHCC head coach for cross country and track.

Conditions were so poor that MHCC did not host any collegiate meets on campus in the spring and were forced to always travel for meets.

“This year we are back to regular (track) meet schedules. We are going to host our traditional meets this year (2014),” Hart said. “The early meet is called the Saints Open and the later meet is called the Mt. Hood Track & Field Festival.”

The MHCC track was last resurfaced in 1994 and was fairly similar to the new surface now, Hart said.

Hart and others had long lobbied Mt. Hood to renovate the hardened, cracked surface that also quickly formed puddles during rain. Money was often an issue, before the project got the green light this year.

“Back in the day, our track and our facilities were top-of-the-line and ranked among the best facilities in the Northwest. Twenty years is a long time to expect a track surface to still be safe, functional and current,” he said.

The eight-lane track is open to the entire community, but students, staff and visitors are asked to stay off when MHCC teams are using it for practice.

Even after the resurfacing, there still are some concerns according to Hart.

“I’m a little worried about the outdated drainage being problematic later in the year. We updated the track but we still have the same drainage system.”

When track meets return in the spring, there also will be an NCAA-certified camera at the finish line to determine split-second results in close races – literally, photo finishes.

“We’ve had the camera for two years, but since we didn’t have any home meets we never used it,” Hart said.

Advocate Staff