Newtrack is state of the art

MC’s facility features sensors that record speed, stride lengths and step frequency

Marin Catholic’s newly installed track is likely the most technologically advanced in the MCAL — if not all of Northern California.

MC’s new Rekortan SmarTrack, whichwas finishedbeing installed at the start of the month, is equipped with 52 sensors embedded into the surface that can log data such as lap times, speed, stride lengths and step frequency.

While the technology is in use in a handful of other tracks around the country, only Cheney Track — which served as the warm-up facilities for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta — has as many sensors as MC’s, according to athletic director Adam Callan.

“We have the most sophisticated track in the country, which is pretty cool to say,” Callan said.

After a generous donation, ground broke on the project in mid-September and construction and installation was finished on Oct. 2.

While Callan said that the technology of the track is still being set up, MC’s track team — along with other teams currently conducting offseason conditioning in small groups — have been using the new facility for the last several weeks.

“It’s gorgeous,” MC track coach Wayne Patton said. “… It’s got that smell, that new track smell.

“We’ve done some relays on it, but it’s just nice and cushy and it just feels new and it feels fast,” Patton added. “The kids were super excited.”

Along with the entire track being replaced, new surfaces were also installed behind the end zones of the football field and

on the pole vault and long jump pits. The track itself, however, remains at six lanes, meaning it won’t be the site of any championship-level events, which require eight lanes for competition.

“Wewere six lanes before and we’re six lanes now,” Patton said. “We can host duals and tris but nothing bigger than that, unfortunately.”

A self-proclaimed “track geek,” Patton said he can’t wait until he’s able to pair the analytics fromthe track with video and other training tools, like XCStats, which MC uses to track performances and improvement throughout athletes’

careers.

“What’s great about that is we can show improvement for all kids — it’s not just about winning races,

it’s about improving,” Patton said. “… But this (Smart track) with XCStats is going to be next level and we’re going to utilize it to the

fullest potential. I’m really pumped about it.”

MC’s track and field season is tentatively set to begin in March.

JEFFREY THOMPSON PHOTO A ground view of Marin Catholic’s newly installed track. The renovation, funded by a donation from the Violich Family Foundation, took about two weeks to complete and was finished at the start of the month.

DOUG CANNING PHOTO An overheard view of Marin Catholic’s new track. The Rekortan Smart track is equipped with 52sensors in different sections of the track’s surface that record data such as an athlete’s speed, stride lengths and more.