Two outdoor track and field meets scheduled for spring 2026 were canceled last December due to weather-related construction delays at Wichita State’s University Stadium.
Brad Pittman, Wichita State’s associate athletic director of facilities and operations, told The Sunflower at the time that the new track was expected to be put in by late April or early May this year. On Wednesday, Pittman said it’s now ahead of schedule.
Because of rising temperatures and relatively dry weather since then, the construction crew began installing the track near the end of February and finished painting the lines during the last weekend of March, Pittman said. Wichita State’s track and field athletes have been able to utilize it now since the beginning of April.
“We are so excited about the new track and field facility in University Stadium here at Wichita State,” head coach Steve Rainbolt said in a statement. “As I’ve watched it unfold out of the window of my office, I’m more and more convinced all the time it’s going to be one of the finest track and field facilities in the entire country.”
The track’s lanes have been widened, and a ninth lane was added as part of the installation. The bounciness of the rubber will be easier on joints like knees and ankles, too, junior Jason Parrish said.
Parrish, who competes in hurdles and sprints for the Shockers, said it’s made a big difference so far.
“I almost feel faster when I run on a new track,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s a placebo effect or something. But yeah, there’s a big difference.”
Parrish explained that the widened lanes will help, especially during relay events, because they limit the number of times a runner is bumped compared to narrower lanes. He also said during hurdle events that “there’s less room for error” in narrow lanes and that the wider lanes are “just better, overall.”
And having nine lanes total has been helpful because the team can practice multiple events at the same time while receiving the same amount of coaching.
“It’s definitely a positive for the coaches,” senior Jenna Kuepker said. “They don’t have to run back-and-forth. It’s all going to be right here for us.”
“It’s a huge upgrade,” Parrish added. “During practice, we can go three lanes. I can still do my 400-hurdles in another lane, and there’s still room for distance runners and sprinters to run.”
On top of the renovations to the track, all throwing events — javelin, shot put, hammer, discus and weight throw — will be held on the field just southwest of the stadium. Shot put events were previously held inside the stadium itself.
Now, all throwers have their own space to practice and compete.
A new runway was added for javelin throwers and for shot put throwers.
“It’s definitely going to be different,” Kuepker, a javelin thrower, said. “Last year, we had one (throwing area) in there (the stadium) and one out here.
“Consistency is going to be great, because we’re going to focus mainly out here. I like it so far.”
Pittman said that the two meets — the KT Woodman Classic and Shocker Pre-State Challenge — will remain canceled, however, out of precaution.
“We didn’t want to have a meet and not be certain we can put it on because that’s no good for teams that sign up for it,” Pittman said. “Hindsight is always 20/20, and if I had a crystal ball, I would’ve said go ahead.
“But none of us have that, so we did the prudent thing knowing that we were going to be done by the end of April.”
While “hindsight is 20/20,” Rainbolt’s comment about having “one of the finest track and field facilities in the entire country” seems to be taking place.
Pittman said a goal down the line with the renovations is to host bigger events, like USA Track and Field Championships and potentially NCAA Outdoor Championships, along with continuing to host the Kansas State High School All-Class Meet.
With big events comes the potential to sign big recruits.
“People notice the difference,” Kuepker, a Hutchinson Community College transfer, said. “We hold state here every year and it’s just getting better.”
For now, Wichita State’s track and field team will have another month to practice on its new facilities before hosting the Shocker Open May 8.
“I love this track,” Parrish said. “I can’t wait to run on it on May 8. That’s the only time we’re going to have a meet on it this season, and I’ve been very excited.”
