(Photos by Bruce Rolfe)
G-A track team will enjoy first
home track meet in over 20 years
By Bruce Rolfe
Galesburg-Augusta student-athletes competing on the Ram track team have faced bus trips for away track meets for over 20 years because the district determined the track at the old Maskill Field was not suitable to compete on.
But that is about to change.
G-A will host Martin April 10 in the first home track meet for the Rams since G-A coach Paul Schab believes was 2003.
The G-A middle school track team will actually be the first G-A team to compete on the new track, hosting a track meet April 9.
Bond proposals in 2000, 2005, 2006, 2015, and May, 2021 all included the construction of a new athletic complex with an all-weather track, however the proposals were defeated in each election.
However in November, 2021, a new $5.88 million athletic facility that included a new all-weather track and field events area that was part of a $16.5 million bond proposal, was passed by G-A voters.
The G-A middle school track team will actually be the first G-A team to compete on the new track, hosting a track meet April 9.
Bond proposals in 2000, 2005, 2006, 2015, and May, 2021 all included the construction of a new athletic complex with an all-weather track, however the proposals were defeated in each election.
However in November, 2021, a new $5.88 million athletic facility that included a new all-weather track and field events area that was part of a $16.5 million bond proposal, was passed by G-A voters.
The new athletic facility with the all-weather track and field events area, is now ready for student-athletes to compete on and G-A athletes and the coaching staff are very excited about the opportunity to compete at home in front of G-A fans.
“It’s going to be really huge. I’m excited and I’m excited to see how it is from a different perspective and cheer on my team from a home meet,” said G-A junior Jaidyn Klimp, who adds she’s looking forward to having the opportunity to compete in front of home fans.
“It will be exciting. It will be different and it will be fun,” adds senior John Klimp.
“I’m very excited. Super excited. I can’t even describe it. It’s going to be nice to have some where to finally run and I can just go home right after,” said junior Carter Stevens, who plans to run in the 1600 and 3200-meter runs this season.
“It’s going to be really huge. I’m excited and I’m excited to see how it is from a different perspective and cheer on my team from a home meet,” said G-A junior Jaidyn Klimp, who adds she’s looking forward to having the opportunity to compete in front of home fans.
“It will be exciting. It will be different and it will be fun,” adds senior John Klimp.
“I’m very excited. Super excited. I can’t even describe it. It’s going to be nice to have some where to finally run and I can just go home right after,” said junior Carter Stevens, who plans to run in the 1600 and 3200-meter runs this season.
G-A only has two home meets scheduled for the inaugural season of the new track (the other home meet is scheduled for May 1 against Holland Black River), but at least G-A students know there will be future home track meets instead of traveling great distances in some cases, to away meets.
“It’s really nice to have. We haven’t had one at least in my history running,” said Stevens.
When the bond that included a multi-purpose athletic facility and track was passed by voters in 2021, it was determined the track could be used in the spring of 2024 for competition. Junior Jaidyn Klimp said it was very exciting to figure out she would have an opportunity to participate in a home track meet before she graduated.
While Klimp participated in other sports, she monitored the progress being done at the new athletic complex and couldn’t help but start looking forward to the track season.
“When I saw them laying down turf and stuff I had to come and check it out. When the lines (on the track) were painted, it was super exciting. We got closer and finally we’re here,” said the G-A junior.
The other big component is having a place to practice on the G-A campus. There will be a big reduction of travel and hours spent on a bus. After it was determined the track at the old Maskill Field was not suitable to compete on because of erosion and draininge issues that left big craters on the corners of the track, G-A student-athletes not only faced away meets each season, but many practices were held away from G-A High School, typically at Comstock High School.
“I think there’s a challenge going on the road. Also, we had to go on the road for practice. Luckily, it was great that the Comstock District allowed us to come in (to practice). Obviously, it’s going to save us a couple of days because we’re going to Saugatuck, we’re going to Holland Black River. That takes like two plus hours. Not being on the road (so much), you get done earlier, the kids get done earlier. They’re a lot happier I think over all,” said Schab.
“This year it’s going to go from only practicing on a real track a couple of times to every day so I’m excited to see how that will change everyone’s numbers, not just mine,” said Jaidyn Klimp.
Klimp admits the student-athletes had to prepare mentally for some very long bus trips, which could become a grind.
“An hour there and then an hour back. That pushes back everything. Just knowing my legs are as warm as everybody elses. And not having to get off the bus,” said Jaidyn Klimp, who was a state finals qualifier in the 400-meter dash and as a member of the 4x200-meter relay team last year and a state finals qualifier in the 400-meter dash her freshman year.
While there’s currently just two scheduled home meets, senior John Klimp said he’s looking forward to just competing in a home meet and having a place to practice on campus instead of loading a bus and traveling to another school to either compete or practice.
“It was boring. You’ve got a 30-minute bus ride and then 30 minutes back. You’re sitting on a bus for an hour,” said Klimp, who plans to participate in the 200 and 400-meter dashes, the shot put, discus and hopefully the 4x200-meter relay.
Stevens feels the track surface itself, has a nice and bouncy feel to it. “It’s a really comfortable one to run on and I think it’s going to be a nice PR (personal record) track,” said Stevens who is entering his third season running track in high school at G-A after participating in track when he attended the G-A middle school.
Schab feels having a new track and field facility may be a factor in larger roster numbers this spring.
“We’re pushing that 40 mark. We have four or five people that have never run track. We never would get that when you’re running on pavement or having practice at 5:30, 6 o’clock at night,” said Schab, who has coached track at G-A 10 years.
While the track is safe and ready to use this season, G-A Athletic Director Mike Woodard said two additional layers will be applied this summer on the track.
“It was boring. You’ve got a 30-minute bus ride and then 30 minutes back. You’re sitting on a bus for an hour,” said Klimp, who plans to participate in the 200 and 400-meter dashes, the shot put, discus and hopefully the 4x200-meter relay.
Stevens feels the track surface itself, has a nice and bouncy feel to it. “It’s a really comfortable one to run on and I think it’s going to be a nice PR (personal record) track,” said Stevens who is entering his third season running track in high school at G-A after participating in track when he attended the G-A middle school.
Schab feels having a new track and field facility may be a factor in larger roster numbers this spring.
“We’re pushing that 40 mark. We have four or five people that have never run track. We never would get that when you’re running on pavement or having practice at 5:30, 6 o’clock at night,” said Schab, who has coached track at G-A 10 years.
While the track is safe and ready to use this season, G-A Athletic Director Mike Woodard said two additional layers will be applied this summer on the track.
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