Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Mylan Park Track and Field Complex Dedicated
October 26, 2018 12:32 PM | Track & Field
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Earlier today, Mylan Park held its official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new outdoor track and field complex that will serve as the host venue for the West Virginia University track and field program, as well as local Monongalia County high schools and area running enthusiasts.
The eight-lane track consists of a prefabricated, synthetic Mondo surface developed by Mondotrack, considered a world leader in track and field surfacing.
The facility also features a grass infield for field events, seating to accommodate more than 1,200 spectators, public restrooms, a press box and a state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard and timing system.
Plenty of surface parking is available to accommodate spectators for track competitions and swimming events in the new aquatic center that is currently under construction next to the track and is slated to open sometime next year.
"It's a great, great day for Mon County. We've all come together to work on this project," West Virginia University director of athletics Shane Lyons said below overcast skies and chilly conditions. "There has been a lot of collaboration among the group to make this a first-class facility, not only for Morgantown, but for the greater area.
"When I came here four years ago as director of athletics, this was just a concept and there were a lot of people sitting around tables talking about this. The one thing we all agreed upon is if we were going to do it, we were going to do it right," he added.
Others making remarks today were Ron Justice, president of the Mylan Park Foundation Board, Stephen B. Farmer of the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust, Monongalia County commissioner Tom Bloom, Susan Riddle, president and CEO of Great Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau and Ron Lytle, school board president of Monongalia County Schools.
Several members of the community were also invited to take part in a ceremonial first lap around the track.
Among the invitees were WVU track and field assistant coach Shelly-Ann Gallimore and current WVU track and field athletes Madelin Gardner and Shamoya McNeil, as well as former Mountaineer national champions Mike Mosser and Megan (Metcalfe) Wright.
WVU coach Sean Cleary could not attend today's event because his women's cross country team is in Ames, Iowa, competing in the Big 12 championships.
Gardner, a Williamstown, West Virginia resident, said the facility will give the WVU track and field program a big boost.
"It's amazing. I love it. I'm from West Virginia so I'm not sure I have really ever trained on that good of a surface and this is just amazing and it's really hard to beat the view out here, to be honest," she said.
McNeil, the school record holder in the triple jump, agrees.
"It's very exciting. I'm just sad it wasn't here for my entire career at WVU," she said.
Lyons calls the track facility and the adjacent aquatic center one of the "best state-of-the-art facilities east of the Mississippi."
"Having a Mondo track surface is something we wanted for our community. It's the best of the best," he noted.
Among those Lyons thanked for helping make this facility possible were the Mylan Park Foundation, Steve Farmer and the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust for its $15 million contribution to the project, the commissioners of Mon County, the Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mon County Schools, the city of Westover, the WVU Board of Governors, WVU Hospitals and the Westridge Development.
Lyons also pointed out that a one-third-mile walking facility will surround the track that local residents can utilize.
"I can't begin to calculate the added value to our recruiting efforts, and I know we will be proud to call this place our home," he said. "Our goal is to bring more people to Morgantown, not only to see this facility, but also to see the aquatic facility right next to this.
"Today is a win-win, and I can say WVU athletics is very proud to be a part of it," he concluded.
The eight-lane track consists of a prefabricated, synthetic Mondo surface developed by Mondotrack, considered a world leader in track and field surfacing.
The facility also features a grass infield for field events, seating to accommodate more than 1,200 spectators, public restrooms, a press box and a state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard and timing system.
Plenty of surface parking is available to accommodate spectators for track competitions and swimming events in the new aquatic center that is currently under construction next to the track and is slated to open sometime next year.
"It's a great, great day for Mon County. We've all come together to work on this project," West Virginia University director of athletics Shane Lyons said below overcast skies and chilly conditions. "There has been a lot of collaboration among the group to make this a first-class facility, not only for Morgantown, but for the greater area.
"When I came here four years ago as director of athletics, this was just a concept and there were a lot of people sitting around tables talking about this. The one thing we all agreed upon is if we were going to do it, we were going to do it right," he added.
Others making remarks today were Ron Justice, president of the Mylan Park Foundation Board, Stephen B. Farmer of the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust, Monongalia County commissioner Tom Bloom, Susan Riddle, president and CEO of Great Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau and Ron Lytle, school board president of Monongalia County Schools.
Several members of the community were also invited to take part in a ceremonial first lap around the track.
Among the invitees were WVU track and field assistant coach Shelly-Ann Gallimore and current WVU track and field athletes Madelin Gardner and Shamoya McNeil, as well as former Mountaineer national champions Mike Mosser and Megan (Metcalfe) Wright.WVU coach Sean Cleary could not attend today's event because his women's cross country team is in Ames, Iowa, competing in the Big 12 championships.
Gardner, a Williamstown, West Virginia resident, said the facility will give the WVU track and field program a big boost.
"It's amazing. I love it. I'm from West Virginia so I'm not sure I have really ever trained on that good of a surface and this is just amazing and it's really hard to beat the view out here, to be honest," she said.
McNeil, the school record holder in the triple jump, agrees.
"It's very exciting. I'm just sad it wasn't here for my entire career at WVU," she said.
Lyons calls the track facility and the adjacent aquatic center one of the "best state-of-the-art facilities east of the Mississippi."
"Having a Mondo track surface is something we wanted for our community. It's the best of the best," he noted.
Among those Lyons thanked for helping make this facility possible were the Mylan Park Foundation, Steve Farmer and the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust for its $15 million contribution to the project, the commissioners of Mon County, the Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mon County Schools, the city of Westover, the WVU Board of Governors, WVU Hospitals and the Westridge Development.
Lyons also pointed out that a one-third-mile walking facility will surround the track that local residents can utilize.
"I can't begin to calculate the added value to our recruiting efforts, and I know we will be proud to call this place our home," he said. "Our goal is to bring more people to Morgantown, not only to see this facility, but also to see the aquatic facility right next to this.
"Today is a win-win, and I can say WVU athletics is very proud to be a part of it," he concluded.
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