Douglas closer to all-weather track

It took nearly five years, but the finish line is finally in view for the Douglas High School All-weather track project.

The Douglas County School District board of trustees recently committed $200,000 to the track for the 2005-06 school year, bringing the project within about $100,000 of its goal.

"I think they (the school board) thought it was time," said former Douglas track coach Keith Cole, who has headed the fund-raising for the project for five years.

"I think it was an issue about being the right time and an issue of fairness.

"The other sports can hold their home games and meets here (at Douglas). Track can't do that. The current track is just limiting the amount of the performance the athletes can have.

"The board understands the importance of having the track. They recognize that the community is interested in having it and they want to see it get finished."

Cole said getting such a large contribution from the school board should bolster some more community support.

"I felt bad for the people who donated the money four years ago and haven't seen anything since," Cole said. "It was getting to the point where we either find the money and complete the track or start refunding money."

Cole said board members Keith Roman and David Brady were two of the track's strongest supporters in the vote.

"The prime mover on this was Keith Roman," Cole said. "He and Dave Brady really deserve a lot of thanks for helping this become a reality.

"It was a unanimous vote by the board, and I wanted to thank all of the board members for giving us the opportunity to present what we have and for being open-minded and supportive."

Cole also thanked District office administrators John Soderman and Rick Kester for their willingness to fund the project.

Cole decided not to coach the track team this past spring in order to concentrate more time on finding funding for the project.

"I wanted to provide a solution or start bringing a conclusion to this project," he said.

"It's been a long process and there are five of us that have worked together for five years to get this whole thing rolling," Cole said. "It's just exciting to be able to say for the first time that we can commit to this project being completed in two years."

Cole has worked with Brad Newlon, Christine Wilson and Kelly Ackerman, all teachers and former track coaches at Douglas, and Rick Brown joined the committee after taking over the Tiger track program this season.

The committee will spend the next year trying to raise the final $100,000 before construction on the track begins.

"We are so close," Cole said. "This community has given so much to make this project a reality. Let's finish the project. We just need a little bit more to get there."

To donate to the project, or for more information on the track, contact Cole at Douglas High School, 782-5136.