by Billy Findley
The basketball team has its court, likewise, the soccer and baseball teams their fields, but the Bryan College track team has no track on campus.
“To get a track built right would cost about $1.5 million,” Track and Field and Cross Country Head Coach Rodney Stoker says.
According to Stoker, the team has been successful without a track, but he says they would probably be more successful with one. He says having a track would probably benefit the school and the team because it would allow the school to host high school track meets. This, he says, could encourage prospective students.
Stoker says for certain types of runners, such as distance runners, throwers and jumpers, tracks aren’t just a benefit – they are a necessity. He says having a track would allow the team to expand its number of athletes.
Coach Stoker also says sprinters need to be running on a track at least four to five times a week. The team is currently only able to practice on a track twice a week.
Unfortunately for Stoker, the finances just aren’t available for the school to embark on such a construction project.
“Let me know if you come across someone with a million and a half dollars on them,” he says.
In the meantime, the team is forced to put up with a few inconveniences such as having to travel approximately 45 minutes from campus to available tracks at high schools and other colleges.
“It’s annoying really,” freshman runner Daniel Downing says.
According to Downing, 45 minutes both ways in a rather full van can be a bother, especially when practice is only about two hours long. On practice days, the team usually tries to leave campus about 3 in the afternoon and arrive back just in time for dinner.
Without a track there are no home meets. All the races have to be away.
“I think there would be a lot more response from students if we had a track,” junior runner Bailey Paine says.
According to Paine, fan supporters aren’t a necessity, although she thinks it would be nice to have them. Paine says students, on occasion, watch their practices but none ever make it to an event.
Despite not being able to practice on a track consistently, Paine says the team manages to make due with what is available to them. When the team doesn’t travel, they take advantage of the trails on campus and the rolling terrain at nearby Laurel-Snow Pocket Wilderness.
According to Stoker, not having a track doesn’t mean settling for being average. The team still strives for excellence.
“We want to get better always,” Stoker says. “We don’t want to settle for mediocrity.”
Several runners have stood out this semester including junior All-American Josh Bradley and senior Daniel Goetz, All-American last year, according to Stoker. He says the women’s team has improved significantly this season as well.
All in all, the track team may be trackless, but they still try to maintain a high level of positivity.
“We have a good team and a great coach,” Downing says.
Stoker knows construction of a track is completely out of the question at this point. However, he still holds high hopes for the future.