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DOCUMENT RESUME

EF 000 164

Jones, Thomas E. How to Ruild a Track. Wisconsin Univ., Madison.

55 86p.

EDPS 'Price N1F-0.50 HC-$4.40 *Athletic Fields, Athletics, *Building Materials, *Construction (Process) , *Facility Requirements, *Physical Education Facilities, Physical Facilities

ABSTRACT

Information on various aspects of track construction

is provided, requirements

divided into the following for a standard track, (2)

areas--(1) general selection of a site,

(3)

construction of the body of the track, (4) track measurements and

markers, (9) circles, and

requirements

specifications for construction of takeoffs, runways,

field areas, (6) for high school

care of tracks,

the track, (7) (8) construction

minimum and care

of

indoor tracks, and (9) preparation for Diagrams and specifications of some of

conducting a track the best tracks in

meet. the world

are included. (PS)

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINATING IT, POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS

REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY POSITION OR POLICY.

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by THOMAS E. JONES

Former Head Track Coach and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics The University of Wisconsin

A University of Wisconsin Extension Division Publication

"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED

of aIBsYcoUlntsiversarl 8Gk.AiaftlecAi.$F1.ovKt ci.i.s.Or3KIv

TO ERIC AND ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING UNDER AGREEMENTS WITH THE U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION. FURTHER REPRODUCTION OUTSIDE THE ERIC SYSTEM REQUIRES PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER."

Copyright, 1955, by the Regents of The University of Wisconsin

The cover, diagrams, and specifications of tracks were drawn by William C. Schafer, Jr.,

Art Director, University Extension Division, The University of Wisconsin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas E. Jones, Sr., stands today as one of the truly great figures on the American athletic scene. Track and cross-country coach emeritus at the University of Wisconsin, he is one of the nation's most renpected authorities on track and field athletics.

His How to Build a Track represents some 50 years of study and research into the complicated problems of track construction and maintenance. It is the first time that such a work has been made available to track and field coaches.

Jones was born in Cresco, Iowa, on November 14, 1877. He was graduated from Cresco High School, where he had won honors In track, running sprints and

hurdles,and throwing the hammer and shot. At Iowa State Teachers' College, Cedar Falls, he won four letters in football and track and three in basketball.

In the fall of 1904, he became principal of the Algona, Iowa, High School, with additional duties as coach of football, basketball, and track. Two years later he left to enroll at the Springfield YMCA College, Massachusetts, then the nation's outstanding physical education school. During this period he also attended Dr.

Sargent's School of Physical Education at Harvard, studying training methods under James Lathrop, venerable track coach. In 1908 he was graduated with a

bachelor's degree from Springfield College. That summer Jones came to Madison, Wisconsin, as head of the city's play-

ground system and coach. of the high school football, basketball, and track teams. Shortly afterwards, he introduced ice hockey to the athletic program.

From 1910 to 1912 Jones served as acting director of athletics at the University of Missouri, coaching track and football. In 1912 he returned to Madison to begin his long association with the University of Wisconsin. He served continuously as head track coach until the summer of 1948 when he climaxed his outstanding career by serving as one of the United States' Olympic coaches.

During his four decades at the University, Jones held virtually every coaching position. He coached track, cross-country, basketball, and football. From 1916 to 1925 he served as chairman of the department of physical education. In 1920 he received his full professorship, and, as chairman of the department of physical

education, he served as director of intercollegiate athletics. During his long tenure ac head track coach, Jones' teams won 14 Western Con-

ference cross-country titles and three indoor and three outdoor Conference track crowns. His teams stand third in the all-time Big Ten record,just behind Michigan and Illinois.

His outdoor teams won 71 of 96 dual meets, 7 of 11 triangular meets. In quadrangular meets his teams won 3 of 9 and placed second in 4. His indoor squads won 16 triangular meets without a loss, and took 52 of 74 dual meets. After he resumed active coaching of cross-country in 1926, his teams won 70 of 88 dual meets.

Jones coached many individuals to track stardom. Team members won 71 individual outdoor and 65 individual indoor championships in the Western Conference. Many of his charges won victories in the National AAU and Central States AAU championships, and at such special meets as the Drake, Penn, and Kansas Relays.

Jones served as first president of the NCAA Coaches Association, and for

many years was a member of the National Collegiate Track Rules Committee. He was among those who pioneered the organization of national intercollegiate meets. In addition, he has published numerous artictes and has authored one of the first textbooks on track and field athletics.

In the half-century gone by Tom Jones has helped to make track and field athletics a contributing force in the American educational scheme. His present work, How to Build a Track, should perpetuate his beneficent influence on high school and college athletes for many years to come.

ii

PREFACE

My purpose in writing this bulletin is to provide a source of information on track construction which I hope will be a valuable guide to administrators in their efforts to obtain adequate track facilities.

For the many diagrams and specifications of some of the best tracks in the

world which are included, I am deeply grateful to those architects, city engineers, and college and high school track coaches who have provided blueprints and specifications as well as the fruits of their experience in track construction.

Specifically, I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to: C. E. Pratt, architect, Maxwell Construction Co., Vancouver, B.C., for assistance on the British Empire Games track; and to the following for information on college and university tracks: Albert McGree, former head track coach, and Robert Giegengack, present coach, Yale University; Harry L. Hillman, former president of the Association of College Track Coaches of America, and Elliot B. Noyes, head coach at Dartmouth, for information on the Dartmouth College track ; Clyde Littlefield, University of Texas head track coach; Frank R. Castleman, former track coach,and Larry Synder, present coach, Ohio State University; Jim Kelly, University of Minnesota track coach; George Bresnahan, former track coach, University of Iowa; Frank Hill, former track coach, and C. Russell Walter, present coach, Northwestern University; Ralph Young, former director of athletics, Michigan State College, Conrad Jennings, director ofathletics, and Melvin Shimek, track coach,Marquette University; Flint Hanner, track coach, Fresno State College; George Gauther, director of athletics and track coach, Ohio Wesleyan University; Gordon Fisher, track coach, Indiana University.

These men provided information on high school tracks: Ole Jorgensen, director of athletics, Neenah (Wisconsin) High School; F. A. Bishop, superintendent of schools, Washington High School, Two Rivers, Wisconsin; Lowell Goodrich,former superintendent of schools, Fond du Lac( Wisconsin) High School; Edward Jankowski, director of athletics, Whitefish Bay (Wisconsin) High School; and Tom Frederick, director of athletics, Barrington (Illinois) Consolidated High School.

Oliver Kuechle, director of the Milwaukee Journal relays, was also most helpful. A word of thanks, too, for the editorial and production assistance provided by Richard J. Loftus, Margaret Allen, Lois Brunngraber, and Felice Goodman, all of the University of Wisconsin Extension Division, and Art Lentz, UW Athletic Publicity Director. And finally, a special note of appreciation to Professor Carl Sanger, chairman of the department of physical education, the University of Wisconsin Extension Division, for his encouragement and his assistance in making this publication a reality.

Thomas E. Jones

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. General Requirements for a Standard Track

2

2. Selection of a Site

3

Drainage Requirements Suggested Procedure for Laying Out a Running Track

3. Construction of the Body of the Track Kind and Relative Amount of Material Needed

.6

Curb (Concrete, Wooden, or Iron) Scuppers (Drain Stations for Surface of Track)

4. Measurements, Starts, and Finishes

9

Markers (Starts, Finishes, Posts)

Staggered Starts

Lane Markers

Construction and Placement of Hurdles

5. Specifications for Construction of Takeoffs, Runways, Circles, and

Field Area

13

6. Care of the Track

21

Daily Upkeep

Top Dressing

Resurfacing

7. Minimum Requirements for High School Tracks

23

8. Construction and Care of Indoor Tracks

24

9. Preparations for Conducting a Track Meet

25

10. Diagrams and Specifications of Leading Tracks

28

Olympic Tracks: Stockholm, London, Los Angeles

29

British Empire Games Track, Vancouver, B. C.

.. 36

University and College Tracks: Wisconsin, Yale,

Dartmouth, Texas, Ohio State, Minnesota, Iowa,

Northwestern, Michigan State, Marquette, Fresno

State College, Ohio Wesleyan, Old Camp Randall,

Madison Municipal

.

38

High School Tracks: Neenah, Two Rivers, Fond du Lac,

Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin; Barrington, !Ilinois

66

Portable Indoor Track

76

Diagrams of Standard Indoor College Tracks: Wisconsin, Chicago,

Iowa

78

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