The following is reprinted from the Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise- written by Jack Minch
Running club goes distance for new Leominster track
By Jack Minch, jminch@sentinelandenterprise.com Sentinel & Enterprise
Posted:
SentinelAndEnterprise.com
LEOMINSTER — The North Medford Running Club gave the Leominster School Department a running start on an ambitious goal Tuesday to build a track and athletic field behind Leominster High School.
Club board member Dr. Mark Fontaine presented Superintendent of Schools James Jolicoeur and Leominster Education Foundation board member Jennifer Maguy a $1,000 check toward the construction of a track and field.
With the entire project estimated to cost $2.9 million, the running club’s donation is just the first blade of grass in a big field, but Jolicoeur is hoping it helps raise awareness.
“We’re trying to get some momentum building an athletic field behind Leominster High School,” he said. “This is a project that has been talked about for a long time.”
A new track and field could also be used for lacrosse, soccer or football practice, Jolicoeur said.
The track and field, as well as an early-childhood center for the School Department, are the Leominster Education Foundation’s priorities, Jolicoeur said.
Girls track coach Karen Marino welcomed the first donation after hearing about it Tuesday.
“I think that’s an excellent idea,” she said. “We’ve been needing one. We want to give our kids a fair chance. We’re going against really big schools and really talented schools.”
The high school’s track-and-field team is competing at a disadvantage to other schools without a home turf, Marino said.
“We’re in desperate need of a track,” she said. “We haven’t had a home meet in probably 10 or more years.”
The team practices at Doyle Field, but that field is open to the public so runners dodge an occasional walker or bicyclist, and the javelin throwers must keep an eye out for soccer games in the field.
There are no lanes in which to practice sprints, and runners can’t use spikes because the surface is asphalt and they often suffer shin splints.
The running club held a St. Patrick’s Day 5K road race in Lunenburg and directed part of the proceeds toward the high-school field, Fontaine said.
“We wanted to get people aware of the need,” he said.
The club is planning another road race at the Luxury Box on Central Street and will again donate part of the proceeds to the track, Fontaine said.
“The committee has decided this will be our beneficiary as long as possible,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to build enough momentum to work with the city and fulfill this project in the future.”
Applications for the road race will be available on the club’s website, www.northmedfordclub.org and at www.coolrunning.com.
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