A former Detroit Lakes High School track athlete is now the lead project manager on the track reconstruction project.
Jon Olson, of Ulteig Engineers, said to be a part of refurbishing a track that he's had many memories on was an exciting experience.
"To be able to reconstruct the track that I ran on, it was a neat opportunity and a fun project to be on," the 2000 DLHS graduate said.
School officials were also confident that Olson would be dedicated to the project.
"It was a good feeling to see one of our former athletes leading that change," said head girls track coach Mike Labine.
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This week, crews are finishing up the final touches on the track by surfacing and painting it.
The 22-year-old track was in need of serious repairs, Detroit Lakes school officials agreed.
It didn't allow for proper drainage, it wasn't elevated or slated and it was butting right up against the football field.
Also, the water would intrude on or inside the topcoat layer and the structural asphalt base, so they began to tear away.
Olson said all of that is fixed now, as crews began working on the project in June and they're finishing it up right on schedule.
"The track was in the process of being built when I started (in 1988)," Labine said.
"It was way past needing to be replaced."
With the new track, come new opportunities for next season.
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Labine said Detroit Lakes will now be able to host Section meets, which will bring in teams from all over the region including St. Cloud, Thief River Falls, East Grand Forks, Motley, Staples and Pequot Lakes.
"Because of our geographic location, we just have so many schools that would like to come and compete here," Labine said.
"As soon as they found out we were gonna have a new facility, instantly they decided Detroit Lakes was a good location."
