by Neil Richard
The King George High School track has been open for business for a few months already but today was the official ribbon cutting ceremony. With several dignitaries attending, the ceremony was brief and to the point. Athletic Director Alex Fisher hosted the ceremony with everyone gathering at the far end of the track. School Board Chairman T. C. Collins said a few words, mostly thanking everyone involved in making the project happen. The crowd applauded current and former Coaches, Athletic Directors, School Board Members, County Supervisors, track athletes, parents, and community members.
Jeff Bueche, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, was also invited to speak a few words. He thanked everyone for attending but said he couldn't take credit for the project and instead thanked Jim Howard, former Supervisor, for being an advocate for the new track surface.
Fisher then explained that even though there were a lot of competitive people on the track, including those currently on the track team, he wanted to make sure that T. C. Collins, Jeff Bueche, and Jim Howard were at the front of the pack and crossed the finish line first.
As expected, the competitive people took off and Collins barely edged out a win. There were no official results for the non-certified 100 meter race, but based on the photo finish, Ruby Brabo finished second and Cathy Binder tied for fifth. Jim Howard, Jeff Bueche, and Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, took a more leisurely jog across the finish line. A few local residents, School Board members, and former parents took their time walking and enjoyed the new rubberized surface.
The roughly $1 million project was cash-funded by the County as the old surface was in dire need of repair. The old rubberized surface prior to the newly installed surface was in such bad shape that several sections of the track had worn down to bare asphalt. Local track teams would not run on the surface citing safety concerns, forcing King George to travel to all of their meets. Prior to that old rubberized surface, the original track had a dirt and cinder surface. While this made long track spikes legal, it also made falling more painful.
As seen in some of the above pictures, the King George High School track has a long tradition of being an important part of the County's history. It not only serves as a place for student athletes to compete, but also a place for parents, students, and coaches to learn about good sportsmanship.
The King George High School track has been open for business for a few months already but today was the official ribbon cutting ceremony. With several dignitaries attending, the ceremony was brief and to the point. Athletic Director Alex Fisher hosted the ceremony with everyone gathering at the far end of the track. School Board Chairman T. C. Collins said a few words, mostly thanking everyone involved in making the project happen. The crowd applauded current and former Coaches, Athletic Directors, School Board Members, County Supervisors, track athletes, parents, and community members.
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| Matt Boyd, former track and cross-country athlete, returns to King George for a lap around the new track. |
Jeff Bueche, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, was also invited to speak a few words. He thanked everyone for attending but said he couldn't take credit for the project and instead thanked Jim Howard, former Supervisor, for being an advocate for the new track surface.
 |
| Near the finish, Cathy Binder, Ruby Brabo, and several track athletes give T. C. Collins a challenge. |
Fisher then explained that even though there were a lot of competitive people on the track, including those currently on the track team, he wanted to make sure that T. C. Collins, Jeff Bueche, and Jim Howard were at the front of the pack and crossed the finish line first.
 |
| Dr. Neiman Young, Matt Boyd, Jim Howard, and Jeff Bueche make it look easy. |
As expected, the competitive people took off and Collins barely edged out a win. There were no official results for the non-certified 100 meter race, but based on the photo finish, Ruby Brabo finished second and Cathy Binder tied for fifth. Jim Howard, Jeff Bueche, and Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, took a more leisurely jog across the finish line. A few local residents, School Board members, and former parents took their time walking and enjoyed the new rubberized surface.
 |
| Photo courtesy of Gary Butler. Used with permission. |
The roughly $1 million project was cash-funded by the County as the old surface was in dire need of repair. The old rubberized surface prior to the newly installed surface was in such bad shape that several sections of the track had worn down to bare asphalt. Local track teams would not run on the surface citing safety concerns, forcing King George to travel to all of their meets. Prior to that old rubberized surface, the original track had a dirt and cinder surface. While this made long track spikes legal, it also made falling more painful.
 |
| Photo courtesy of Gary Butler. Used with permission. |
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| Photo courtesy of Gary Butler. Used with permission. |
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| 1974 Boys Track Team. Photo courtesy of Cathy Binder. Used with permission. |
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| The old cinder track on display. Photo courtesy of Cathy Binder. Used with permission. |
As seen in some of the above pictures, the King George High School track has a long tradition of being an important part of the County's history. It not only serves as a place for student athletes to compete, but also a place for parents, students, and coaches to learn about good sportsmanship.
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