RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
A new surface has been installed at the Randolph High School track, just months after the female Ro-Hawks track team won the state 2A championship.
The contract to install the bouncy new exterior is the first significant upgrade to the Randolph track in over a decade.
"We don't look at the new track as a reward for our school's track teams or as reward, really, for anyone," Pete Wesp, Randolph athletic director and head football coach said. "There are many people who use the track and the upgrade was something we needed."
Individuals of all ages who live and work on the base routinely walk or run for exercise at the facility. Air Force personnel conduct various physical training maneuvers there and gym classes at the school access the circular grounds on a daily basis during the academic year.
The track will be open for use again July 7, said Mr. Wesp.
Randolph High's girls' and boys' teams host random meets and train at the complex, with the girls having secured their third straight 2A state title at the overall state meet in Austin this past May.
The Omni-B latex surface installed features as its main component recycled, ground up vehicle tires, according to Jerry Little, construction supervisor with Vibra-Whirl, the Panhandle, Texas-based company in charge of the track resurfacing. The existing track surface was not removed at the start of the project but a 3/8-inch surface was instead simply laid down atop the old one.
"It's common to resurface a track," said Mr. Little. "There is a mixture with the rubber and glue that goes down first, then we spray then entire track with another latex coating. It should last between seven and 10 years."
A paint crew came last, after an initial group of laborers put down the shiny, black surface. The entire project took one week to complete.
"The painting usually takes about two days, if the weather holds up," said Rudy Roland, paint foreman for Vibra-Whirl. "This is the sixth track we've worked on during the past three weeks. Summer is a good time to do this."
When school goes back in session, the Randolph football team will have already endured several days of conditioning and full-speed workouts, plus a pair of scrimmages.
School lets back during the last week of August and the first football game of the Ro-Hawks' regular season is Aug. 29 against Marion.