Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Al Blanton
Jasper High School’s new eight-lane rubber running track officially opened on Thursday, April 9, with a ribbon cutting ceremony ahead of the school’s first home meet.
The opening was the result of a six-year effort to bring the long-awaited track to campus. During the ceremony, Jasper City Schools Superintendent Dr. Ann Jackson said the project was especially challenging due to the terrain, noting that the site was originally a valley and required extensive mass grading before construction could begin.
Jackson credited Drummond Company with helping make that work possible and specifically thanked Drummond Company representatives Mike Tracy and David Muncher for their support. She also recognized track and field and cross country coaches Patrick Darwin, Caroline Kamplain, Eric Phillips, and Andy Franks, along with teachers, parents, students, and community supporters who helped bring the project to fruition.
In her remarks, Jackson said the new track is more than a new athletic facility. For years, Jasper athletes competed at a high level while practicing on borrowed tracks and traveling to other schools, even producing state champions without a home track of their own.
“Starting today, we no longer have to beg and borrow from others,” Jackson said. “This is our track.”
School and city officials were present for the ribbon cutting, along with representatives of Drummond Company and Ms. June Hudson, the first girls’ track coach at Jasper High School.
The day also included Senior Day recognition for Jasper’s track and field and cross country seniors:
• Evan Atkins
• Grant Bailey
• Kayley Bivona
• Gavin Blackwell
• Emily Cooper
• Brodey Garrett
• Summer Murray
• Jaden Power
• Summer Roberts
• Lilly Waldrop
Immediately following the ribbon cutting and senior recognition, Jasper hosted the Jasper Vikings Invitational. Events included relays, dashes, hurdles, and field events such as shot put, high jump, triple jump, pole vault, javelin, and discus.
Jasper High School Athletic Director Jonathan Jordan previously told The Walker Leader that hosting the meet on campus was a major milestone for the school’s track and field program.
“We are extremely excited to host our first meet on the campus track, and I can’t wait to watch us compete at our own track,” Jordan said. “We have been very successful in track and field throughout our school’s history, but up to now, we have done so without the fortune of having our own facilities.” WL
