A facelift for Fresno State’s Warmerdam Field began Monday, Dec. 14. The $2.6 million project is expected to continue through June 2016.

The project includes:

  • an eight-lane, all-weather track
  • a high-jump area
  • long- and triple-jump runways
  • two pole vault runways
  • shot put, discus, hammer cage and javelin improvements

Site improvements will also include utilities, landscaping and fencing updates.

“We are working to bring track prominence back to Fresno State,” said Bulldogs track and field coach Scott Winsor. “This new, on-campus facility will serve as a great building block in our efforts to keep the abundance of talent in the Central Valley here at Fresno State.”

The contractor for the project is BMY Construction Group of Fresno. The project is being financed through the University’s general fund reserves. The synthetic track surface, called Beynon BSS 1000, is a UV-stabilized elastomeric polyurethane, dual durometer, synthetic surfacing system with a rubber embedded, textured finish. The surface is textured and tailored to provide high friction in both wet and dry weather.

The current nine-lane, 400-meter track was constructed in 1976 and is named in honor of Cornelius “Dutch” Warmerdam, the former Fresno State head coach and former world-record holder in the pole vault. The track was last resurfaced in 1989.

“The track facility is an area we have identified as needing improvements,” said Fresno State Director of Athletics Jim Bartko. “The Warmerdam Field project will greatly benefit our student-athletes and the University as well, and the improvements represent an investment in our track and field program as it looks to restore its proud tradition.”

The first-ever dual meet held at Warmerdam Field was April 23, 1977, when Fresno State hosted the University of California.

Warmerdam Field hosted the 1994 Western Athletic Conference Championships. Fresno State’s men’s outdoor team won the conference championship that season under then-coach Red Estes, who was inducted into the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2000.

Estes led the men’s track and field team for 20 seasons and won 10 consecutive conference championships from  1983-1992.

Bob Fraley coached at Fresno State for 20 seasons before taking over as director of track and field in 2001. He retired from Fresno State in 2008 but continues to direct the North American Pole Vaulting Association Championship each summer in Old Town Clovis and the annual Run for the Dream indoor meet at the Save Mart Center.

Among the student-athletes who competed at Warmerdam Field over the years are David Cox, a five-time All-American and 1993 WAC outdoor male track and field athlete of the year, and Lacy Barnes, a three-time All-American in discus from 1985-1988.

For more information, contact Jason Clay at 559.278.6577 or jaclay@csufresno.edu.

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