2009 NCAA® Division III Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Marietta, Ohio, May 21-23, 2009
Marietta College, which installed a new track in 2005, will play host to the 2009 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
NCAA officials praised Marietta College's commitment to the outdoor facility, as well as the availability of the indoor track at the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center for the athlete's pre-event warm ups, as a major deciding factor for selection.
"Hosting this meet demonstrates so many qualities of Marietta College including the College's administrative support of athletics, the quality of our athletic facilities and the College's commitment to enhance the community that surrounds it," said Derek Stanley, Marietta's track and field coach. "Personally I am very excited to bring national caliber collegiate competition to Marietta in hopes of inspiring and educating young minds about the oldest and most wonderful sport in the world."
Nearly 1,000 student-athletes and coaches from more than 100 institutions competed in the 2008 championships at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, which also hosted the 2007 event. 1,300 spectators a day watched the three-day event, which culminated in McMurry University claiming the men's national championship and University of Wisconsin-River Falls winning the women's title last year.
Marietta College is working closely with the Marietta Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Marietta and the Marietta Chamber of Commerce to prepare the city for the 3,000 visitors expected to descend on the area for the three-day event. Early plans call for a fireworks display on the Friday of the championship.
The NCAA provides Marietta College Track & Field with an intern for a year leading up to the event. The intern, who will begin in June of 2008, will help the institution prepare for the championships.
The right to host NCAA Championships will also allow Marietta to make improvements to Don Drumm Stadium. Possible upgrades include the addition of pole vault boxes and triple jump boards, repainting of the lines, and an upgrade from fencing to netting around the hammer cage to improve safety for the athletes.
About the Facility
Named after legendary Marietta High School track coach Bob Annasenz, the track and Don Drumm stadium carry much history. The stadium was built in 1916 and had a cinder track, which remained until the 1980s. A latex surface was installed in place of the cinders to make the track one of the best facilities in the region to run on.
In 2004, Marietta College negotiated the reacquisition of the stadium and track from the Marietta City School District. This allowed the College to move forward with a $2 million Fields Project to improve the facility and make it once again a great place to run.
Along with the FieldTurf football venue, a polyurethane base mat system was installed during the summer of 2005 and was ready for competition beginning in the spring of 2006. Other improvements included adding a steeplechase pit, new shot put area and a hammer/discus cage as well as a javelin runway.
