KINGSTON, R.I. – Several hundred onlookers gathered at the University of Rhode Island as the school officially unveiled its new outdoor track and field facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday morning.
"This incredible facility will be a tremendous asset not only to our talented student-athletes and the University, but also to our state and local community," Rhode Island Vice President and Director of Athletics Patrick Lyons said. "A facility like this provides us with the opportunity to host local events, championships, and collegiate competitions, showcasing all that URI and Rhode Island have to offer.
"We look forward to taking full advantage of these opportunities and showing off this outstanding facility every chance we get. This facility is truly what makes the state of Rhode Island and the University of Rhode Island so special."
The new facility features a nine-lane track, multiple jump runways, including two long/triple jump runways with four sand pits, two pole vault runways with four pole vault boxes, and two high jump areas; a separate throws facility for combined hammer/discus, javelin, and shot put; and a new digital-display scoreboard. There is a new 200-seat bleacher grandstand and press box.
Earlier in the month,
URI President Marc Parlange led several URI student-athletes and community members in a one-mile run around the track, setting the first official course record in the process.
"Having this outdoor track is great to see," Parlage said. "It's great to see our student-athletes already out here working out. These are championship caliber student-athletes and they deserve championship caliber spaces and that is exactly what this new track and field is. This is deeper than a new track and field. It's a championship caliber space for our student-athletes."
In addition to Parlange and Lyons, state representative Kathy Fogerty, State Senator Susan Sosowski, URI Board of Trustees member Matt Lenz, student-athletes
Lily Saul and
Adam Melnick and head coaches
Laurie Feit-Melnick and
Trent Baltzell all addressed the crowd.
"It's one thing to picture the final product in your head but it's another thing to see the fruits of our labor come to fruition," Fogarty said. "We have a world class track and field facility for Rhode Island Athletics and future Atlantic 10 Champions."
"We take great pride in Rhode Island Athletics and we want all students to have access to state-of-th-art facilities," Sosowski said. "URI opens up pathways of opportunities for thousands of Rhode Island student and families. Athletics are integral to the University. Let's keep working together to support the flagship university of the state of Rhode Island."
The new facility is a key piece
to Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee's 2024 state budget that included $65.8 million in Rhode Island Capital Plan funding targeted for URI athletic facility upgrades. Already completed as part of the project were a resurfacing of Bill Beck Field (baseball) as well as work on the Tootell Aquatic Center. The east stands of Meade Stadium are currently under construction and will be done in time for the 2027 football season.
