College of the Canyons
This photo is facing north during the finish of one of the College of the
Canyons famous summer Cross Country Series races (which finishes backwards around
the track at the common finish). A metal curb separates the inner jogging lane
from the track. There is a long unlined chute at the end of the home stretch.
In 2002 they installed the fake grass infield which caused them to have to reorient
the field event areas. The Horizontal Jump runways have been moved north out
of the oval with Pole Vault and SP on the south end. As of August 2003, the
new runways have not been surfaced, in fact the sand pits are just big empty
holes in the ground, and their runways have cut slots (more holes) where the
removable boards will be inserted.
As you probably have noted from my comments, I am against stupidity in regards
to construction, particularly as it relates to how a track might be used. Here
is one of those cases. Unfortunately it was dark when I was able to photograph
this. The old "slice" style steeplechase runway was installed here
on the original track construction. In 2002, when they put in the fake grass
football field (and actually the soccer field), it was aligned so the field
had to cut a notch out of the steeplechase ramp and a bit out of the jogging
lane on both sides of the track. Curiously they have no need to do this on the
opposite end of the track. As can be seen above, they have tons of room on that
end. What apparently was the overriding concern was to align the football and
soccer fields to the center of the press box above west stands. But the track
was not aligned to that same mark (it is too far south), so they had to destroy
the track facilities in the process. Possibly when they re-do the track the
next time around they will move the steeplechase to the center of the turn where
it will fit. The stationary steeplechase barrier is outdated anyhow. What this
(suggestion) will affect is the size of the High Jump apron. While the jogging
lane is technically unimportant to the operation of a track meet, it is a shame
to lose a portion of it simply because they felt it so important to perfectly
align the field to the press box.