NEW CENTRAL TRACK READY FOR OPERATION

Cape Girardeau Central High School's brand-new track & field venue is now completely ready for use -- which should be good news for a whole lot of people, particularly when the track season rolls around in the spring.

"It's totally ready for meets," said Central athletic director Terry Kitchen, sounding almost like a proud new parent as he surveyed the impressive facility. "We'll finally get to have some true `home' meets and it's really exciting.

"I know our coaches and athletes will be very excited, plus I know the parents of our athletes are going to be impressed by it because know they know they won't have to travel so much to see us compete."

According to Kitchen, Central has not had a true `home' track meet in more than 10 years because the old cinder track surface located at Lou Muegge Field near the high school was simply not fit for use. Central's teams have been utilizing Southeast Missouri State University's Abe Stuber Complex for meets.

"We've had all kinds of outstanding track teams over the years and no home track to have meets," Kitchen said. "And you couldn't even practice on it. It was basically crushed pottery. Any time we got rain, it was just ruts out there. It was a safety problem we had to address."

So Kitchen and a committee set out several years ago to start raising money for a new track facility at the old location at Lou Muegge Field. The project cost $160,000, according to Kitchen, and all the money came in through private donations. All the labor was also donated.

Central's track now consists of a rubberized, all-weather surface which is similar to many other area high school tracks along with many in the St. Louis area. A pole vault area was also added while improvements were made to the jumping and weight throw areas.

In addition, a five-foot fence going all the way around the track for spectator safety was put up and a press box with a public address system was constructed.

"We felt a new track was a top priority for us and now we've got as good a track as you'll find in this area," said Kitchen. "We really appreciate all that (Southeast track coach) Joey Haines and the university have done for us over the years because they've been so good to us. And if they ever need to use this track, they're more than welcome.

"But we're not planning on using the SEMO track any more and we're really excited that we're going to be able to start having our own meets right here at Cape Central."

Kitchen lauded the community in general and about 15 major contributors in particular.

"The value of this new facility is right around $160,000 and it has not cost the taxpayers anything," Kitchen said. "We could not have done this without our community support. The people have just been tremendous. I've said it before, as long as these people trust you and know where the money is going, the people in Cape will support you."

In addition to students at both Central senior and junior highs using the track, the community is also welcome to utilize the facility, as has always been the case.

"There are so many people from the community that come to run and walk on our track and this will be a great boost20for them," said Kitchen. "It's an ideal location and it's well lit. People can come in and get a great workout."

Kitchen said that the new track facility is just one example of how the Central athletic department has benefited from some generous donations over the past several years.

"In the past six years, private contributions that we have received are right at $400,000," he said. "I am so proud of this community, because our school district does not have the money right now and we could not afford a lot of the things we've been able to get because of some extremely generous people."