High school track athletes will have to find an alternate venue at which to train and compete this season since Gutheridge Field will undergo major renovations to give it new life.
Renovations were actually scheduled for last year, but weather issues hampered the contractor in finishing prior projects and when it could start on the field, trustees with the Prairie South School Division (PSSD) board of education heard recently.
Furthermore, once the contractor began digging up the track surface, it found larger problems underneath with the sub-bed. It could not start any major work since the fall weather was becoming colder.
Trustee Al Kessler, a representative with the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletics Association (SHSAA), explained that at least 10 straight days of 15-degree weather is required for this project to be completed. That means it would likely be late May or early June before the project commences and around July when it is finished.
“Part of the work was done last fall and we talked a little bit about using the hard surfaces for just practices. Like, if it was a muddy or rainy day, if you wanted to go run on the cement, no one was working, I guess you could,” he said.
It will now be up to individual schools to rent a venue in either Swift Current or Regina to hold a meet, Kessler continued. Three days are required to hold two regional and district meets, but that has been difficult.
SHSAA officials have also looked to those communities to hold events, but the problem is those places have given the organization the leftovers for dates. Kessler noted the tracks in both of those communities are regularly busy.
What’s also difficult is track athletes sometimes don’t want to compete on the dates that have been set aside for them because of other commitments such as graduation or other club sports, he continued. Many students don’t want to participate on Fridays since they will be away for the weekend.
“So we’ve had all kinds of issues about Gutheridge Field not being available,” Kessler added.
Besides the weather, the contractor found further problems with the asphalt bed underneath the rubber surface that division administrators thought was in good shape, explained education director Tony Baldwin. Officials realized there were problems once the rubber top was ripped off.
“Because it’s a pretty expensive improvement to Gutheridge, we wanted to make sure the stuff underneath was really good so we’re only having to do this once every 15 to 20 years,” he said.
The asphalt has to be perfectly clean when the rubberized top coating is applied, explained CFO Steve Robitaille. That’s why lines were not painted on top nor were activities held on it.
“Anything that sullies or damages the asphalt will have to be repaired before we do the final two rubber coats,” he added. “It’s quite an expensive project and it comes with a five-year warranty that we don’t want it voided by anything that might happen because it’s not clean or has been damaged underneath.”
An opportunity for track meets is to use the venue at École Palliser Heights School, Baldwin said. The division has begun to improve the track there, which included adding and spreading gravel in the winter. Once spring arrives, compaction work will occur so it can be ready for activities.
PSSD will have one of the best track sites in Saskatchewan again when Gutheridge Field is finished, said Kessler. Furthermore, the division is lucky and fortunate to have such a field in Moose Jaw.
“It will be an exciting opportunity for kids in the school division when it’s finished,” echoed Baldwin.
The next PSSD board meeting is March 3.
