Widget shaped track to cost almost 4 million dollars

I'm no architect, but that's among the stranger things I've seen..

How would 200M times even be accepted on this track?

OMG!

I see a ghost on that picture!!!!!!

Who ever designed that must love stock cars...that's Darlington!

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/news/story?id=4146137

I actually like it. That one curve would feel never ending!

Could any records actually be ratified on that track - does it meet the specs it has to?

As long as the track is flat and no more than 400m I don't see why any times would not be ratified.

The Board of Trustees of Austin Preparatory School is pleased to announce a $3.7 million renovation to the school’s stadium.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to say how excited we are with the commencement of this stadium project,” said Anthony J. Pimentel, chairman of the Board of Trustees. “This represents a dramatic improvement to not only the school campus and athletic facilities, but also the student life experience at our school.”

The project includes installation of synthetic turf on Fr. Seymour Field, permanent lighting, a 400-meter track and accompanying infrastructure (shot put, discus, pole vault, high jump, long jump and triple jump), and replacing the original bleachers, which will now seat 1,100. The plans also call for grading the existing slope, creating green space and room for a new concession stand building, equipped with permanent restroom facilities. For the first time, there will be a fence surrounding the stadium.

I thought there were IAAF rules about the angles and curve but I could be completely wrong.

The IAAF will never certify that because both turns are clearly outside the 35-38 meter radius range.

But how many international meets are there in the US anyhow? Whereas USATF will certify just about anything. So this track will suit their purposes.

The IAAF does have standards for radius and such but seriously could there be any advantage for any race outside of a 200m race?

I guess the most advantageous configuration for a 400m race or longer would be a perfect circle.

But that also has disadvantages as there is never a time to pass someone without running a further distance.

10m turns with 190m straightaways would not be helpful.

As long as a configuration does not provide an advantage I don't know why it would be ineligible for records.

The advantage for 200m is obvious as others have stated.

Would there be an advantage for outside lanes in the 400. Because of the shorter turn, lane 8 would start farther into the turn than a normal track and have a milder final turn.

I am not saying a person would necessarily feel an advantage, but for record's sake I can see it being aided.

Bad Wigins wrote:

The IAAF will never certify that because both turns are clearly outside the 35-38 meter radius range.

But how many international meets are there in the US anyhow? Whereas USATF will certify just about anything. So this track will suit their purposes.

Would you be cite exactly where in the IAAF manual it says that tracks must be within a 35-38 meter radius? I can't find it. The manual only suggests a 36.8m radius, but explicitly gives examples of tracks with multi-radius turns (as in Stockholm Stadium) with radii ranging from 27m to as much as 51m.

While it's doubful that track won't ever hold an Olympics, World Champs or Diamond League event, I can't see anything in the rules that would preclude it from being a certified track.

What Chapter/Paragraph/Line in the IAAF manual did you find the 35-38m range? Thanks in advance.

Here's another crazy track in Albany, CA. It gets used for high school meets on a regular basis.

http://dailytrackpic.com/2012/10/25/st-marys-college-high-school-track-albany-ca/

ucrunner09 wrote:

Here's another crazy track in Albany, CA. It gets used for high school meets on a regular basis.

http://dailytrackpic.com/2012/10/25/st-marys-college-high-school-track-albany-ca/

Have you raced there? If so, what was the experience?

How do they run the 110mHH? The finish line is at the 10 yard line on the football field and what appears to be a starting line even with the back of the end zone of the football field. That would make start to finish approximately 100 yards. I do not see any other clear start or finish.

@malmo

2.2.1.8 Other Layouts for the 400m Oval Track (Figure 1.2.3b to d and Table

1.2.3a)

Radii other than between 35.00m and 38.00m should not be used for tracks for international competition, except for double bend tracks where the dimensions of which ensures an infield size adequate for rugby. In this case, the minimum radius must not be less than 24.00m.

If I'm understanding correctly there seems to be an exception for rugby stadia. The only example I can think of is the Stade de France.

" 2.2.1.8 Other Layouts for the 400m Oval Track (Figure 1.2.3b to d and Table 1.2.3a)

Radii other than between 35.00m and 38.00m should not be used for tracks for international competition, except for double bend tracks where the dimensions of which ensures an infield size adequate for rugby. In this case, the minimum radius must not be less than 24.00m."

wizardstaff wrote:

I'm no architect, but that's among the stranger things I've seen..

The old Stanford track - huge turns, short straights.

Square track in China.

And everyone's favorite track with a hill -- Pista de Atletismo.

With all the configurations out there I can't believe there are no circular tracks out there.

Mundus Vult wrote:

@malmo

2.2.1.8 Other Layouts for the 400m Oval Track (Figure 1.2.3b to d and Table

1.2.3a)

Radii other than between 35.00m and 38.00m should not be used for tracks for international competition, except for double bend tracks where the dimensions of which ensures an infield size adequate for rugby. In this case, the minimum radius must not be less than 24.00m.

Thank you. All of the track radii examples (tables) were given in Chapter 1, the general rule is in Chapter 2, as you posted above. Obviously the track cited by the OP was never going to be good for international competitons, as are many other odd tracks around the world.