Disclaimer: Please do not donate, we are simply seeking signatures and awareness!

It is with great sadness that we have recently learned that the University of Akron’s Outdoor Track and Field program will not be hosting any meets this 2019 season due to the condition of the Lee R. Jackson Track and Field facility. The issue with our track is that lanes 6, 7, and 8 have tree roots growing in to them, which has caused the track to raise up and become severely bumpy. In addition, lane 1 is uneven to a degree where it can no longer be used due to fear of an athlete getting injured. The long jump and pole vault runways are also damaged to the point where they cannot be used safely. This problem appears to have been ignored by the University for so long that it will now cost over $1 million to repair.

This past weekend, our conference (Mid-American) had seven athletes competing at the NCAA Championships, five of which were from The University of Akron, which is a significant achievement from a non-Power 5 school. The track and field team is arguably the most successful athletic team on campus. With numerous MAC titles, several National Champions, consistent representatives at the NCAA Championships each year, and multiple Olympians... you would think that the university would want to fund such a successful team. It’s great that they can bring back lacrosse and baseball to the university athletic program, but a reputable program like the track and field team cannot have a safe surface to practice on? 

Our teams are the only teams on campus that do not have private locker rooms that are not accessible to the public and other athletics teams. This isn’t necessarily a huge problem in the grand scheme of life, but are we not all supposed to be treated equally and given equal opportunities? 

It is sad that our seniors will not be recognized at their home track for their senior night. It is sad that we will not be hosting any outdoor meets this year. It is sad that neither the male/female track and field teams have access to a private locker room, and it is sad that the university is not willing to address and overcome these problems. 

It is not just the team that is affected by this; the Police Academy, other athletic teams, running clubs and the wider community will all be impacted by the fact that our outdoor track is not fit for use. 

We are hoping that this post can raise awareness and bring attention to people the problem that we as a team are facing. We are asking to have a new track ready for the 2020 outdoor season so that we can host meets. Please sign our petition to show that you support what we are advocating for, in order to back the future of the Track and Field program at the University of Akron.