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Outdoor facilities referendum would see return of pole vaulting [UPDATED]
Published 9:49am Tuesday, September 4, 2012 Updated 11:54am Tuesday, September 4, 2012If the Outdoor Facilities Bond Referendum passes on Nov. 6, Cleveland School, Roosevelt Education Center and Kennedy Secondary School would see major changes, and to boys varsity track coach Randy Hansen, this means the return of pole vaulting to Fergus Falls.
The $6.27 million outdoor facility facelift would come with several new soccer fields, new baseball fields, new practice fields and a new football stadium. Track athletes and fans will be happy to know that this project would also come with an eight-lane track and a new area for all track and field events.
The larger track will allow Fergus Falls to host Central Lakes Conference and section championship meets. It will also make practicing easier and more safe, Hansen said.
“We only have one track facility in town, and the middle school and high school hold practices at the same time,” he said. “We usually have people doing distance laps on the inside lanes, and with a six-lane track, there are only a couple lanes left to do starts without crashing into somebody.”
Eight lanes would provide enough room for all of the track teams to spread out, Hansen said.
Fergus Falls discontinued pole vaulting more than 20 years ago, but if the referendum passes, the track team would once again compete in the high flying event.
The current track and field setup does not have the space necessary for a pole vault area, and the track team wouldn’t have the money to fund the supplies needed even if there was space, Hansen said.
“Not being able to do pole vault puts us at a disadvantage at every meet we go to,” Hansen said. “It’s an event in our sport and we need it back.”
