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Fair New track, courts at South Middle School
Upgraded features expected to speed up competitions, aid in drainage system
Athletes at Lynbrook South Middle School came back from spring break to brand new tennis courts and track and field surfaces, as construction on the project, which began in the summer of 2014, was completed earlier this month.
"We have roughly 250 student-athletes that use the new surfaces everyday, for practices or meets," said Tom Graham, the school's athletic director. "All of our students will be able to use it during their gym classes as well."
The upgraded track features two jumping runways and two shot-put areas, a new rubberized track surface, and a pole vault area, the first to be installed at South Middle School.
"This will really allow us to hold more events, and hold them in a much better manner than we did before," said. "We can have two shot-put or jumping heats going on at once, which will make meets go by quicker, and we can have pole-vaulters take their runs here for the first time."
The new rubberized track service also features a new draining system that will reduce puddles and flooding on the track, allowing students to use the new facility in bad weather.
The school's tennis courts were also resurfaced, repairing cracks and holes that previously dotted the court. Matthew Wheeler, the boy’s tennis coach, said he was glad to be on the new courts.
“It’s definitely a nice way to start the season off,” he said. “The new courts are really look great and it should definitely help us out. We should be able to practice in better weather, and get more use out of the courts, which is always a good thing.”
The new facilities are also open to all residents when school teams are not using them.
“We’re really glad to say that this can be of use not just to students at South Middle School or at different schools in our district, but all of our neighbors as well.” Graham said. “Our athletes have already been using it plenty, physical education classes have been out there, I’ve seen people running on it when it’s not in use. It should be a great resource for a lot of different people.”
