What's the latest on the track stadium construction?

Will we host any track meets this spring?

We will not host any track meets until 2009

You're right about 2009, but will we have an outdoor track by then. I know the indoor track is in the works, but I haven't heard any news about the outdoor track. I'd really like to see the plans for the new outdoor facility.

As a former track athlete at A&M, I know how badly they need a new facility. That track was hard as a rock. It was one of the nicest in the country in 1987, when they installed it. I'm pretty sure it is the same rubber. They also need to get some kind of wind protection, and a decent set of stands. There is no reason why t.u. has to have all the best meets in TX. We can surely do better if ol' Pat Henry can convince $Bill.

The outdoor track plans are on ice for a while. A big part of recruiting is facilities, another part is travel. With the indoor track, there will be year-round top quality training availability and a site that will host a national championship. The team also has a virtual blank check for travelling.

I think the idea of not having outdoor home meets is a little discouraging to the athletes on the team (cross country gets it a little better with a very well attended home meet), but they get the next best thing, which is travelling to good/big meets.

The postponement, by the way, is due to donations being much lower than anticipated thanks to football results being much lower than anticipated. Hopefully a successful Sherman-led football team will lead to more successful donation campaigns.

So, we will be hosting track meets in 2009?

When are they gonna start construction?

Indoor meets in 2009. Construction has been going on for a while. No word on outdoor meets.

Don't expect any outdoor meets for at least two or more years. We will host indoor meets next year including the NCAA meet and I believe Big XII Indoors as well. The construction of the outdoor track is a fundraising matter and the scope of the stadium that Coach Henry wants. It is amazing the men's team was as good as it was under Coach Nelson considering the state of the track and the absence of a locker room until the year before he was fired.

NCAA Indoor National Championships will be held at Texas A&M in March 2009.

The outdoor track (I've heard) will begin construction around/before that time. They plan to dig out [lower] the surface of the track 3 feet and then use [push] that dirt as a "wind block" on the South bend of the track (Callaway House). Stadium seating will wrap around the Northeast corner (Softball complex) down the backstretch and to the Southwest corner (Equestrian center) leaving the intramurals and soccer field in view. The track "scoreboard" will be relocated to the opposite end (possibly) overlooking the soccer field. *Actually, they might have a dual screen for Track & Soccer (two-sided). "Tunnel entrances" will be at the NE and SE corners (Softball & Callaway) for spectators/athletes to enter/exit.

It's supposed to be pretty neat. I'm just not sure if all of what I heard is confirmed or if/when the construction will start. I wish I had some pictures of it.

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.