At last!
A new Mondo 400-metre athletics track will be laid six months from now, as phase one of the project is moving ahead at full speed at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Wildey.
When the Weekend Nation visited the site recently, three excavators were seen fully operational, digging the extensive plot of land located behind the National Hockey Centre and the Barbados Football Association’s headquarters and its Astroturf facility.
Although phase one, which started about a month ago with the levelling of the land, is scheduled for completion by March 2025, the track will not be ready in time for the upcoming track and field season which usually gets into full swing in January.
As a result, organisers for the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletics Championships and the National Primary Schools Athletics Championship may have to continue to rely on the Usain Bolt Sports Complex, as they have done in previous years.
The project, overseen by the National Sports Council with two local companies Matron Inc. and Williams Electrical involved, will be completed in two phases and is expected to cost millions of dollars once completed.
When contacted, director of the National Sports Council (NSC), Neil Murrell, stated that while he could not provide many details because he did not have all the information at hand, he told a Nation team he was pleased that a new track would soon be available while the National Stadium is being sorted.
“They have to dig out the track and level it before laying the new surface, and they are in the process of doing that. I am keen to ensure that we have a track available for athletic competition and training while the National Stadium is being sorted,” Murrell explained.
Finally, the sport of athletics in Barbados will see some light with this new development after many national athletes were forced to train and compete on grass surfaces earlier this year due to the unavailability of a readily available track.
Nicholas Matthias, senior superintendent of Works at the NSC, said that phase one, which also includes lighting and other amenities, would be completed on time, barring disruptions from the weather.
“Phase one will mainly involve the track, including field events, long jump and triple jump pits, lighting, and amenities such as changing rooms, bathrooms and storerooms. A large retaining wall will also be built due to the slope at the southern end of the facility,” Matthias said.
He acknowledged that phase two would follow once phase one is completed in March but could not yet confirm its full scope. However, it is expected to include a warm-up track.
“There will be a phase two to expand the project with a warm-up track and additional amenities for the building itself. I can’t confirm all the details yet, but that’s the plan.
“For phase one, you will definitely get the track, changing facilities and bathrooms. We’re also making space for the start team. Seating will likely come in phase two, but for now, there will be room for tents and temporary bleachers,” Matthias added. (ML)
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