By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Construction at Hoisington's Bill Kimble Track and Elton Brown Field is expected to begin after the school year. The USD 431 Board of Education debated some changes to the layout of the track facilities during Monday's meeting. The discussion was ultimately tabled. Superintendent Patrick Crowdis approached the idea of switching the jumping and pole vault locations.
"I have talked to Coach Schmidt and taken a look at this," he said. "One of the suggestions is to move the pole vault closer to the track and move the horizontal jumping and flip-flop those, which I don't believe those will be an issue. It will actually, hopefully, be a safer way for us to do that because of the potential of the discus getting away from kids."
Board Member Becky Mooney brought up concerns about congestion with athletes, coaches, and spectators getting from the parking lot to the stands if the changes were made. The javelin was moved to another facility last year, and she pitched the idea of moving other throwing events to free up more space.
"I just think maybe we need to rethink something," she said. "I don't know how many kids do javelin. I don't know how long they're there, if we move the other throwing events out there as well, if that would help. Those track meets are not small. There are a lot of people at them, and that's just going to be too congested, in my opinion."
With construction on the $1.597 million project expected to begin soon, Crowdis planned to contact Dylan Driver with ATG, who will do the work. A special board meeting will likely be scheduled prior to the May meeting to address any changes that need to be made.