Skowhegan dedicates new track today

A decade-long effort to upgrade the track and field facilities at Skowhegan Area High School comes to a climax at 3 p.m. Friday with the dedication of the school’s new track.

Constructed last summer at a cost of more than $400,000, the new facility features a rubberized track as well as new high jump and pole vault pits.

“We were probably the last Class A school in the state to still run on a dirt track in terms of practice,” said Skowhegan athletic director Terry Michaud.

“This was an eight- to 10-year commitment to get to the point where we have the facility we have now,” Michaud said. “It’s been a tremendous amount of work, but this is a huge development for our school.”

Michaud said the new track, located around the school’s field hockey field, is having an impact on participation in outdoor track and field at the school. He said the program has averaged 35 to 45 athletes in recent years, but that number already has increased this spring and both he and track coach Dan Hyland expect that trend to continue.

The school also is committed to making the facility accessible to the general public – and already has engaged in a partnership with Redington-Fairview Hospital for cardiac rehabilitation patients to use the track as part of their recovery efforts.

“It’s also brought a huge benefit to our community,” said Michaud. “This project was developed as a community-based effort, something for the whole community to benefit from. When I leave school now for the day, I’m always seeing people walking around the track, or a mother pushing a baby carriage around the track, and that’s good to see.”

Funding for the project came from sources large and small, Michaud said, including the SAD 54 board of directors, which provided $100,000 toward the construction over a two-year period. Other major benefactors were the New Balance Foundation, the Harold Alfond Foundation, and the Tory family of Canaan, including Richard Tory, who spearheaded the fund-raising efforts.

The school actually attempted to hold its first home meet in 25 years on April 27, but had to stop after five events due to inclement weather. On Friday, the Indians will host Brunswick, Winslow and Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield in a meet scheduled to start at 3:30.