World's Fastest Indoor Track Set to Debut on Saturday (2/4)

Who cares? Theres no indoor T&F at the Olys.

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A track faster than BU?

Times could be totally crazy

Can’t wait to see how fast Fay will go…

New CR?

https://www.nbindoorgrandprix.com/news/198/60/Pair-of-sub-four-minute-milers-lead-the-field-in-junior-international-mile-at-New-Balance-Indoor-Grand-Prix/

Not the same design as BU. The New Balance track does have plywood under the track surface but the frame is steel or aluminum - you can't have a springy wooden frame with hydraulics. Construction pics:

I believe there are one or two companies that build these hydraulically banked tracks and they all have essentially the same design. I don't believe there's any running benefit to the hydraulics as they're required to keep the banking fixed throughout the meet - I think it's more so they can have a flat floor to use the facility for other events.

Should be a great meet though, I see Kincaid is in the 3k.

Not only is it not the fastest track in the world, it's not even the fastest track in its neighborhood! The BU TTC is just a mile down the street in Allston and is also hosting a meet this weekend.

Would like to see the Reggie host a meet the same weekend as the other two and have someone try to run an event at all three venues all within a few miles of each other.

Thank you for correction re: support/frame construction.

Maybe the plywood does provide an extra bounce . . . or maybe super fast times will be due to the latest/greatest track surface + 5,000 fans screaming at the runners to go faster . . . an atmosphere which the newest LRC podcast guys stated does not exist to such an extent at BU . . .

I look forward to Sydney McLaughlin DNS'ing her 60m race. Because, let's be honest, she really doesn’t want to run in this meet.

I don’t think anything will be faster than BU, but every new, banked indoor track is pretty dang fast and the atmosphere for this one and Millrose should be electric.

I thought that the fastest 200m indoor banked tracks were asymmetrical in their design, that is the banking of the entrance of the corner is different from that of the exit of the turn. Is that something that con be incorporated into the hydraulic tracks?

Do you really think that 5,000 fans will show up for an indoor track meet? I have my doubts.

Good point . . . however, if the stadium isn't full it will likely be due to the icy road/weather conditions . . . not because greater Boston can't find 5,000 fans to attend a well-publicized world-class track meet . . .

Correct. Also anecdotally haven’t heard it’s much faster than the Reggie Lewis center from people that have raced it, but the air is better

It will be very very cold in Boston but no snow or ice. Looking at the ticket sales (go on and make like you are buying a ticket) looks like many seats still available.

Even the Millrose Games in New York City couldn't get 5,000 fans to show up when it was held at Madison Square Garden, which is why it was moved to the much smaller Armory.

Does Boston have a much higher concentration of track fans than New York City?

Props to the meet organizers for putting together international fields in the boys' and girls' miles. Taking nothing way from the other events these two races should be top notch. As to who will win I have no clue.

Should just put in a revolving track and end this already.

Debut? There's been like 4 college meets there already.

So does wood on hydraulics do anything? What's the point of the wood?

If this track is super fast New Balance should do a better job in explaining the wood.

But I'm very excited about this facility. We've been saying New Balance should have an annual event around the Boston Marathon like they did last year. If this track is pretty fast we're seeing that athletes can run pretty much as fast indoors as outdoors in the distances.

By true definition of "debut", the first event (not meet) was held in April 2022 when New Balance put together a women's team that set the WR in the DMR.

Since, there have been approx 30-40 age group, high school and small college meets held at The Track since December.

However, this Grand Prix meet tomorrow is The Track's professional meet debut as well as its debut to a national/world audience.