On Thursday, February 27 members of the FAMU community gathered at the Robert “Pete” Griffin Track Complex to celebrate the facility’s renovations.
For almost 20 years, the track has been unreplaced. The nearly $1 million funding provided resurfacing and upgrades to all event specific areas including pits, runways and shot put.
Bobby Lang, former track coach and ceremony speaker, had many fond memories of the facility.
Before the building of Bragg Memorial stadium in 1957, FAMU’s football field was located at the FAMU tracks current location. Lang recalled the FAMU track being built in 1979 with just $279,000.
Family members, coaches, team members and administrators joined together to cut the orange and green ribbon that marked the new track. In attendance, was Charlotte Griffin, wife of deceased Robert “Pete” Griffin.
The ceremony ended with celebratory drills by the women’s track team joined by interim athletic director, Michael Smith and interim president, Larry Robinson.
Robinson believes the renovations will bring a great deal of opportunity to the FAMU community.
“This means we have a world class facility for training and competition,” he said. “It’s also going to be available for the community and it promotes good health.”
The men and women’s track and field teams made arrangements to practice at Rickards High School while the current track was under renovation.
Danielle Ivey, a sophomore pre-physical therapy student from Sandersville, Ga., is happy to be back on her old training ground.
“It feels wonderful to have a new facility. I ran on the old track. Now, when you step on the track you want to go to practice because it feels so much better,” she said.
Tiffini Morrow, womens track and field assistant coach, says that the renovations will positively impact the teams.
“It’s definitely an upgrade from what we had,” she said. “The renovations will reduce injuries, build confidence and allow for bigger meets to bring in more revenue.”
Robinson is also confident the upgrades will “rejuvenate the great days of the Rattler Relays” by providing a quality experience for participants.
FAMU hosted the 63rd Annual FAMU Relays on Saturday, March 1 at 9 a.m. The event showcased the men and women’s track and field teams in conjunction with surrounding collegiate teams.
The lady rattlers excelled on the new track with a 45.61 victory in the 4x100m. The women would also win the 4×400 along with the men’s team.
The track reopened to the public on Monday, March 3. For more information about the FAMU Relays, visit http://www.famuathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=25300&ATCLID=209403232