Making New Traditions & Celebrating Our History
With the 2022-2023 school year well underway and our first travel meet of the season on the horizon, what better time to celebrate our progress both on and off the track!
Summer Strides
While our athletes were busy putting in the miles this summer, our construction team was equally hard at work, as you can see from the progress images below. One major change from the old facility is the addition of throws pads for shot put and discuss to the infield, allowing students and spectators to cheer on all athletes from the stands. The long jump and triple jump pits will also have new homes, front and center along the home stretch of the track.
Both jump pits and throws pads have drains built into them to keep the surfaces and sand dry and competition-ready. The track itself encircles a French drain system on the inside of lane one, which will drain water off the track and, together with a concrete curb, will prevent grass from growing into the track surface.
These major improvements not only make our facility spectator-friendly, allowing some of our field athletes to compete in front of a full home crowd for the first time, but the preventative and well-planned construction also prepares the facility for longevity.
What’s next? Fundraising for Steeple chase barriers.
Ben Martin Track will become THE elite track facility this side of the state - outside of the University of Tennessee - with the addition of steeple chase. We will have the ability to run steeple events for youth to adults in the 1500m, 2000m, & 3000m. This means Oak Ridge High School will be able to host youth AAU meets all the way to the World Championships. Athletes of all ages can practice, perfect and perform in events most people do not have access to and allow them real chances to qualify for national meets. This will make Ben Martin Track not only a top place to race, but a choice facility for spectators. Read more about our steeple chase and Phase II of fundraising here.
The 2022 Cross Country Season Begins
Says head Coach Ed Wright of this year’s crew, “This is one of the closest teams I’ve had so far. The girls love to be around each other and are really welcoming to new people. The boys have a great set of captains and they set the tone for how the team interacts with each other. Both teams get along with each other and are fun to be around.”
Both teams tested their summer training last Saturday at a rainy Cherokee Classic. Out of 23 teams, including several out of state, the girls came in a solid 4th place led by freshman Dylan Job, placing 7th in a time of 19:49 in her first ever high school 5k. The boys came away with a respectable 3rd place finish, headed by the experienced senior captain Jack Biewer, who placed 9th in 17:05. For the full recap and results, read on here.
Celebrating our Seniors
While cross country is not a sport created for a traditional senior night, our administration does an excellent job insuring that all sports receive their recognition. On the first Friday night football game of September, seniors Jack Biewer, Joe Blair, Chloe Kirk, Eddie Moore, and Thora Spence were joined by their families at the center of Blankenship Field where they received their senior gifts to loud applause.
And Finally, Celebrating YOU
As with any great team, our success is thanks to every single individual’s cumulative contribution. It took each one of your donations to get here, and we are so grateful for your help. As a thank you, we would like to feature you on our Donor Celebration page, which will showcase our team’s history of success both on and off the track.
Each profile will include
Your favorite ORXC or ORT&F photo(s) from competitions, celebrations, team awards, or whatever you would like.
A description - as brief or detailed as you would like - of what this team means to you, what part it played in your or your athlete’s high school experience, and your favorite team memory.
Your or your family’s name, your donation amount and your or your athlete’s graduating year. If you would like your name or any of the above information to remain anonymous, please indicate so in the questionnaire.
Please fill out this brief questionnaire linked here, so that we can begin to feature you on our website and social media. Thank you so much not only for your donation, but for your time and support as well!
If you have already donated, then you are playing a huge part in ensuring that our athletes are safe and afforded an opportunity to compete on home turf amidst the cheers of our community. Forwarding this email to fellow ORHS T&F supporters, sharing our donation link and spreading the word on social media are all exceptionally helpful ways to continue your support, which we greatly appreciate. We hope to see you soon in our brand new facility!