Running Track at Brooks Middle School in Harvey Gets $150,000 Facelift
Running Track at Brooks Middle School in Harvey Gets $150,000 Facelift
The Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School located in Harvey School District 152 has a history of producing successful track & field athletes. The school board believes that an investment in the children is an investment in the future. So much so that the district has decided to invest in their student athletes to the tune of $150,000 for a track resurfacing project due to be completed this summer.
“We believe that this is an investment in our children and will ensure that the Gwendolyn Brooks track will last beyond another 30 years,” added School Board Member Tyrone Rogers. Benjamin Averyheart, a 30-year track & field veteran and Harvey School District 152 track & field Coach says the current track is only good enough to practice on, but not to hold meets. According to Dr. Kevin Nohelty, School District 152 Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations and Human Relations, the ability to host meets at the school could contribute to the success of the track & field team as well as attract revenue for the district.
“There has been a strong need to host regional and sectional track meets in the Harvey area,” Nohelty said. “With the new track in place what once was a possibility may become a future reality,” he added.
The school received a maintenance grant in the amount of $50,000 from the Illinois State Board of Education to help underwrite some of the cost of the project and according to Nohelty, the remaining funds needed to complete the project will come from the District’s operating fund.
“The project was designed in collaboration with staff, students, administrators, professional architects and engineers. The mission was to design a track that was affordable and have a life expectancy of 20 years,” said Nohelty. Averyheart, who ran track in high school and college, but received a scholarship to play football, continued to run to keep himself in shape. “I really enjoy it because it’s challenging and it makes you a stronger person”, he says. Averyheart has contributed to the success of many track & field athletes that have passed through Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School. Since 2005, 26 track and field athletes that attended Brooks went on to receive full scholarships to colleges all across the country.
Ladonnna Caston, a former Brooks student, is a Missouri Valley Conference Champion in the Hurdles. After breaking her own record in the 100 Meter Hurdles at Southern Illinois University, she was named to The Missouri Valley All-Academic Team. For 30 years, Coach Averyheart has worked with student-athletes in Harvey at the middle and high school level. The new track will service the District’s 2500 students and host US track and field meets. The track will feature 8 straight lanes for the 100 Meter Dash, 110 Meter Hurdles; 6 turns for the 4 x 100 Relay, 4 x 20 Relay and the 4 x 4 100 Relay.
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