Track & Field Expansion - Fundraising stage

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General Specifications of the Track and Field Facility:

 

IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) is the governing body of world track and field. IAAF sets all specifications for dimension and structure of the various track and field facilities and sets rules that govern track meets at the world level.  IAAF certification is the highest certification possible in track and field.

 

Track:

Manufacturer to provide surfacing for all track facilities:

         Beynon Corporation is the current front-runner.

 

Total area to be covered by the polyurethane surface:

         Approximately 6000m2

 

Total distance around the track in lane 1:

         400m

 

Number of lanes:

         8 lanes for the entire oval; 9 lanes on the home straight

 

Configuration of the track:

         Equal quadrant—100m straights and 100m curves

 

Certification:

         The track will be IAAF Class 2 certified. This would become the 12th track in Canada with IAAF certification. Alberta currently has two tracks that are IAAF certified: Foote Field in Edmonton and Foothill Park in Calgary. Note “Class 2” refers to the configuration of the track—in this case equal quadrant (100m straights, 100m curves) and contrasts with “Class 1” which has shorter straights and longer curves (85m straights, 115m curves). The track will be equal quadrant because it fits available space that was included in the original design (note graphic).

 

Surface of track and runways:

         Beynon BSS2000.  This is a 2-layer construction with the lower layer (the “force reduction layer”) being composed of 2-C Polyurethane virgin butyl rubber and the upper layer (“wear layer”)  is 13mm thick layer of embedded EPDM and 2-C Polyurethane. This product is approved by the IAAF and is also the surface used in many international-class facilities including Hayward Field (Eugene, Oregon) site of the 2021 World Championships.

 

Markings on track:

• 1-turn, 2-turn, and 3-turn staggers: The 1-turn staggers are used at the start for the 200m and 800m. The 2-turn staggers are typically used for the start of the 400m and the 4 x 100m relay. The 3-turn staggers are used for the start of the 4 x 400 relay to avoid serious congestion at the first exchange.

• Waterfall curved lines for the start of the 1500m, 3000m, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m, 10,000m and the 10,000m line could double for the 800m start if the officials decide on a waterfall start for the 800m.

• Relay exchange zones. This will be only the second track in Canada that has the relay exchange zones a different color from the rest of the track (see graphic). This practice is becoming increasingly popular in world-class events because it allows the athletes, the judges, and the spectators to more easily see if an infraction (passing outside the zone) has taken place.

• Hurdle placement markings: An array of different markings are required to identify the placement of hurdles on the track for various events. These will include the international standards: 400m hurdles, 110m hurdles (men), 100m hurdles (women) but also marking for high school and youth group competitions, most commonly the 300m hurdles, the 80m hurdles and the 100m hurdles duplicates the placement for the international woman’s hurdles race. These markings are discrete and color-coded so it does not give a cluttered appearance to the track. We also plan to put identical markings on the back straight so hurdlers can practice when the home straight is in heavy use.

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Steeplechase specifications

• The water jump meets IAAF specifications with a hurdle at the leading edge of the water jump.
  The hurdle adjust to 27” (youth events), 30” (women’s steeplechase), 33” (for practice with a shorter barrier) and 36” (the standard height for men’s international competition). The water portion is 12’ wide x 12’ long (3.66m x 3.66m) and the depth of the water in the pit slopes from 2’ 3” (70 cm) at the barrier end of the water to track level at the far border.

• Steeplechase hurdles: All steeplechase events include four additional barriers each lap of the race. For instance, in the international 3000m steeplechase, every race includes 28 hurdles and 7 water jumps.  Each hurdle weight 400 lb and is adjustable to 27”, 30”, 33’’, and 36”.

• Inside water jump. The most frequent format is for the steeplechase water jump to be located just inside lane 1 of the 400m track (see graphic). Some facilities have the water jump outside of lane 8.

• The water jump is equipped with a cover. When not in use, the water is drained and the water jump is covered with a structure with a surface identical to the track. The hurdle in front of the water pit always remains for practice purposes.

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Long jump and Triple jump pit and runway specifications:

•  The long and triple jump pits meet IAAF standards, and have an identical structure: 9m long x 2.75m wide with sand 30cm deep. The pit is created so it can be screeded (rather than raked) to allow a completely flat surface for athletes to land. This contrasts with non-IAAF facilities in which officials rake the sand and the surface is typically substantially lower than the runway.

• The runways: IAAF mandates a runway of at least 40m to the take-off board for either event. Our facility will have 50m runway to the long jump take-off board and 45m to the triple jump take-off board.

• Take off boards and placticine trays. The take off boards are removable and several locations are provided based on the competence of the athletes. For instance, for an elementary school track meet, the take off board would need to be quite close to the pit. When a board is not in use, the indentation is filled by a movable structure identical in size (to the take off board) with the standard track surface. The placticine tray is used to identify whether an athlete fouls a jump. This allows officials to determine whether the jump is fair or not with close calls.  Such trays are used in all track meets from the local all-comers to the Olympics.

 

Pole vault pit and runway specifications

• The pole vault pit will be placed between the edge of the end zone on the football field and the inside of the lane used for the steeplechase water jump (see graphic). This is a standard location in many international facilities. The pit itself, the plant box, and the standards that hold the bar will all meet IAAF specifications.  The IAAF minimum standard for runway length is 40m, ours is 45m.

 

High jump pit and runway

• The high jump pit will be placed on the track apron immediately to the south of the football end zone. The apron allows ample room for the run-up to the jump for most high school and many collegiate jumpers.  At the international level, the aluminum curbing is removed allowing some athletes who need a longer run up.  Foot Field (Edmonton) has an identical configuration and most IAAF games require that jumpers use a portion of the track for their run-up. Officials make sure that the track is clear before the athlete begins his or her run-up. The Pit and standards will be IAAF certified.

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Javelin runway and landing area:

• The javelin runway will be located to the North of the track facility (see graphic).  The runway will be identical to the track surface and will be the IAAF standard 36.5m long and 4m wide. A standard curved “stop board” will identify the end of the runway. The sector (where the javelin lands on the field) is a 29° arc and is marked with chalk on the day of a meet. The current setting allows a throw of 90m, 30m longer than the current ASAA provincial record.

 

Discus/hammer ring:

• The discus/hammer ring is also located on the field to the north of the track (see graphic). Discus and hammer use identical ring dimensions. The circle will be made of brushed concrete and meet IAAF specifications for size (2.5m diameter) and the sector for throwing the implement (35°). The “cage” surrounding the discus/hammer ring will also meet IAAF specifications. The room in the field allows a throw of 70m, 20m further than the current ASAA High School Provincial record.

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Shot put ring and landing area

• The shot put facility will also meet IAAF specifications.  The ring itself will be made of brushed concrete, having a diameter of 2.135m (a bit smaller than the discus ring) and a 10 cm high stop board at the front of the ring. The sector of the shot put is the same as the discus (35°) and the current facility creates a landing area of 23m—long enough for a world record. The facility does not require a cage, but will be equipped with sloping metal track that allows officials to place the thrown (technically “putted”) ball on the track and it rolls back to the ring.

 

 

Fully automatic timing

• Fully automatic timing for all races and a Score clock for spectators to view times will be installed. Fully installed contrasts with other facilities that must hire portable automatic timing to host events. When automatic timing is installed at the same time as the facility, cost is minimized and the timing can also be used for all track meets, from Elementary to High school as well as provincial and national meets.  Automatic timing will enable hosting Provincial and National Championships such as Indigenous Games, Special Olympics,  Royal Canadian Legion Provincial or National Championships, and Alberta or Canada Summer Games.