Lynchburg, Virginia, January 24, 2017 (Newswire.com) - Not only is it striking in appearance, but Liberty University’s new indoor banked track facility showcases Beynon Sports’ state-of-the art technology and design.
One of only a handful of hydraulic banked tracks in the country, the 200-meter Beynon track is a dream come true for Liberty’s team and Coach Brant Tolsma, in his 31st season as the Flames’ track and field coach.
"I can't imagine anything better. It's beyond my dreams. And our school colors - red, white and blue -- on the track are stunning!"
Brant Tolsma, Head Track and Field Coach
The official grand opening ceremony for the Track Complex has been set for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, during the third annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational.
The Beynon track has already two national records to its name that took place prior to the unveiling at the “VA Showcase” where high school teams had the chance to break in one of the most innovative Beynon track surfaces in the U.S.
In an interview with the News & Advance in Lynchburg, University of Virginia head coach, Bryan Fetzer said it is, “absolutely amazing. This is one of the best facilities in the country.”
The 6-lane hydraulically banked 200-meter track sits in the middle of the first floor of Liberty’s new indoor facility - a 169,000-square-foot structure. It also features an eight-lane warm-up track below an elevated team area, accommodations for field events that can be held concurrently with track, as well as locker rooms, a coaches’ hospitality room, concession stands, training rooms, offices and seating for 1,500 spectators.
The university moved the indoor track and field facility from Green Hall to a plush, $30 million complex.
Coach Tolsma, who just won his 100th conference championship this year, admits that the “jaw dropping track is already good for recruiting.”
“This was truly a team experience,” says John Beynon, President of Beynon Sports. “Liberty took our 45 years of experience and our expertise in this field and asked what they needed to make a world class facility. We are all extremely happy and proud.”
In addition to Liberty University, the Virginia Military Institute recently added a Beynon hydraulically-banked indoor track to their program in the summer of 2016. The University of Michigan just broke ground on a Beynon hydraulically-banked indoor track and Texas Tech will add a Beynon permanent-banked track this summer.
“Personally, I like a banked track,” shares Coach Tolsma. “It reduces the lateral forces that tear a runner up. On a flat track, the centrifugal force always pushes you out so it’s easy to get injured. We had a lot of injuries on our previous track.”
Liberty will open its 2017 indoor season with back-to-back home meets, including the Liberty Kickoff (Jan. 20-21) and the third annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational (Jan. 27-28). The Flames will also host the inaugural Liberty Elite Invitational (Feb. 10-11), a high-level, invitation-only event. They anticipate many high level meets in years to come with this high caliber track and facility.
Source: Beynon Sports
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