It is a track of dreams that will help launch elite athletes to Rio 2016 and beyond — while still allowing duffers in the public a nice place to jog.
The B.C. government on Thursday announced $150,000 in funding for the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence, enough to allow construction of a $1-million track to proceed.
The track was the missing piece at the sports facility, where you could get all of your physical training needs met — except running, that is.
“Athletes have everything at PISE — from strength and conditioning areas to regeneration to physiology labs to trail running,” said Heather Hennigar, head coach of Athletics Canada’s Victoria-based training centre.
“The track is a crucial add.”
The all-weather, four-lane, 400-metre training track will encircle the existing turf playing field and be open to national-team athletes and the public. It will also include a 100-metre track for sprint training, a jumps area and seating.
Construction is scheduled to begin next month, with completion expected in September — not a moment too soon for Canada’s Olympic hopefuls, who have about 430 days to prepare for the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil.
PISE, home to an Athletics Canada training hub, is set to play a big role in the preparations.
Rob Guy, Athletics Canada’s CEO, said the “fully functional” centre is an important part of the strategy to meet medal goals at the Olympics, Paralympics and world championships. The track will complement the coaching and support services already offered at PISE, he said.
It will also benefit athletes in sports such as soccer and rugby who want to work on their speed and endurance.
Taylor Lyman of Victoria, No. 1 in Canada and world top-10 in the 800 metres for U-18, will be among the beneficiaries of the new track.
“Another track in the city is a good thing,” said the emerging star, who is looking to qualify for the world youth championships in Cali, Colombia.
“It’s better than running on cement or gravel.”
For UVic Vikes running star Rachel Francois, the new track means there will be two places in the city for high-level training.
The University of Victoria recently opened its Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities, a $77-million athletics and recreation facility.
“To have tracks located right beside facilities like PISE and CARSA gives two opportunities for one-stop athletic shopping and makes this a truly sports-oriented city,” Francois said.
She is aiming to compete in the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games and 2015 International Association of Athletics Federation world track and field championships in Beijing, with the ultimate goal of getting to Rio 2016.
Robert Bettauer, CEO of PISE, said the track is a “testament to this community that 21 years ago hosted the Commonwealth Games.”
“This is the continuing legacy of that, and shows the value this community places on sport, from the grassroots to the Olympic level.”
The province is contributing a total of $250,000 to the track project. Other major contributors include Athletics Canada ($200,000); Tire Stewardship B.C. ($130,000); PacificSport ($100,000); Canadian Sport Centre-Pacific ($75,000); the federal government, Peninsula Co-op and Camosun College ($50,000 each); and Corix ($25,000).
Another $100,000 has come from personal donations.
With contingencies added in, it is estimated that more than 80 per cent of the total budget has been reached. The remaining will come from naming rights and continued sponsorships and donations.
