Previously, the Birmingham Community Charter High School (BCCHS) track was slightly uneven, worn down and beat up. Now, the cross country team athletes are ready to run on the track after six months of renovation.
“I feel pretty good about it,” said senior Deven Scymczak, a four-year veteran of the cross country team. “I actually saw it in person and it feels so smooth. It also matches well with the school with the cool colors.”
Birmingham closed its track for renovation in February, which it was supposed to do last year and installed a new one complete with school colors of vibrant blues and tans and a smoother platform.
Made out of a rubber-based synthetic material, the Mondo track was designed by Mondo, a worldwide famous track and field company that creates tracks used in the Olympic Games. Now BCCHS can utilize an Olympic-level field for cross country and track and field.
“The Mondo track is an Olympic quality track that is carpet like,” Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Fernando Fernandez said. “With the little waves on the side, it looks more like a carpet than a traditional track, which makes it much faster for sprinters.”
Team members who haven’t set eyes on the new track agree that it sounds like an improvement.
“I’ve never really seen the old track,” said freshman and cross country athlete Jake Galdamez. “I’m looking forward to using the new one,”
During the installation process, the track was closed and it interrupted some students’ summer practice. They adapted, however, utilizing the Birmingham grass fields to keep up their fitness. The track and field team looks forward to running on a new and improved track.
“We were at a major disadvantage in sprints, pole vault, high jump and some other events too,” Fernandez said. “We did our best working on the field but it is not the same as working on a track.”
Sophomore Ava Weinstein has been on the track and field team for two years and approves of the fresh installation.
“It’s really nice,” Weinstein said. “It’s a top tier track.”
