Thanks to the generous support of Mr. Irwin Belk, a lead gift has been made to fund a new track for Campbell University. The track, which will be located adjacent to the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center, Johnson Natatorium and the Campbell Cross Country Course, will benefit not only the varsity athletics program, but all Campbell students as well. However, we need your help to complete the funding of this project.
All persons who make a gift of $1000 or more will receive a commemorative wall plaque with a picture of the new track, their giving club level and a piece of the new track. Persons who make gifts of $5000 or more will receive an Adidas Official Campbell University track sweat suit. All gifts may be paid over a one to five year pledge period and we can establish monthly bank drafts. A $5000 gift over five years comes to $83.33 per month. A $1000 gift over five years comes to $16.66 per month. If you are interested in setting a monthly draft up, please contact the Fighting Camel Club office at (910) 893-1329.
We encourage you to make a gift to Campbell University’s new track by returning the donor form in the attached link with your gift. If you have questions, please contact Coach Jim Patchell (Head Coach-Track & Field), Coach Ken Frenette (Head Coach-Cross Country), or an athletics development staff member at 1-800-760-8962.
Track Details: The 400-meter layout will include eight, 42-inch lanes on its polyurethane surface. Features will include a water jump for the steeple chase, high-jump "D" area, pole vault runway, two shot put rings, one discus/hammer ring. There will be one long jump runway adjacent to the home stretch with a sand pit on each end to allow for wind direction changes.
"We are looking forward to construction and this set up will allow us to host invitational meets as well as the outdoor conference meet," said Coach Patchell. "A facility of this caliber will naturally give us a better training environment and give a tremendous boost to recruiting. We also plan on holding high school meets as well."
Campbell University athletics has a rich athletic history. The Track and Field program has sponsored varsity competition every year since joining the senior college ranks in the early 1960s. The 1977 squad was one of Campbell’s most successful, posting an 11-0 record in meets, the first undefeated track season in school history.
In the 1980s, Campbell’s track team included Orville Peterson who became Campbell’s first All-American on the NCAA Division I level and qualified for the decathlon in the 1984 Olympic Trials. Decathlete Ernie White gained All-America recognition while shot putter Mac McDaries was selected Academic All-American.
In the last seven years, Campbell athletes have qualified for the NCAA National Championship meet six times in either cross country, indoor or outdoor track. Eric Bergemann earned All-America honors indoors in the 2003 high jump while Heather Lee advanced to the national meet in both cross country and in the outdoor 5000 meters in 2003-04.
In the 2007 season, Sam Tilly won the NCAA East Regional long jump and finished ninth at the nationals. Alicia Valtin also advanced through regional competition to the NCAA Championships in the 3000 meter steeplechase in the same year.
Over the past six seasons, Campbell athletes have earned all-conference honors 164 times during indoor and outdoor competition and 49 school records have been broken.
These are but a few of the highlights that Campbell student-athletes have accomplished in track and field. More details may be found on-line at www.GoCamels.com.
Courtesy: GoCamels.com