On your mark: Centennial Stadium track set to get a facelift

The Centennial Stadium track has been run on by the best, but it’s now weather-beaten and in need of replacement.

It will finally get a $694,000 facelift, announced Friday. Part of the funding comes from a $254,000 grant from the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program. Work on laying the new track, contracted to Playteck Enterprises, begins Monday with completion expected in mid August. It will meet IAAF, NCAA and U Sports standards.

The past version of the Centennial Stadium track was laid in 1994 and was trod upon in that year’s Commonwealth Games by the likes of Linford Christie, Frankie Fredericks and Cathy Freeman. During the Canadian track and field trials for the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics, it was run upon by the likes of Donovan Bailey, Bruny Surin and Perdita Felicien.

Thousands of Island school students and club athletes have also used it.

The track had been previously replaced in 1987.

“I am proud we have been able to support the University of Victoria’s efforts to upgrade the track at Centennial Stadium, ensuring that it will remain a valuable asset for the university and wider community well into the future,” said Navdeep Bains, the federal minister responsible, in a statement.

Centennial Stadium, built to commemorate Canada’s 100th year in 1967, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. A previous generations of greats who competed in the facility included John Carlos, Tommie Smith, John Walker and Dwight Stones. It hosted a group in the 2002 FIFA U-19 women’s soccer championship and also CONCACAF men’s U-20 and U-17 soccer qualifiers.

Canada’s coming generation of track stars need places to run and train. So, news of a freshly-laid Centennial Stadium track is rippling positively through the Canadian track community.

“It's long overdue,” said twotime Olympian Bruce Deacon of Victoria, who coaches runners in the Prairie Inn Harriers club.