On Monday, April 14, faculty, community members, and athletes from Marshall High School and Southwest Minnesota State University gathered to break ground on the Marshall Regional Track & Field Complex.

The Marshall Regional Track & Field Complex will be constructed in place of the former Mattke Field stadium, and will include a 9-lane, double-bend, 400 meter track, complete with a water jump pit, a high jump area, and a hurdle for steeplechase. The complex will also include an artificial turf infield, which SMSU students voted in favor of last year, designed for soccer and football use. North of the track facility will be an area designated for field events, including long/triple jump, pole vault, shot put, discus, and javelin.
Construction on the track and field complex is projected to be in the fall of 2014.

Men’s and women’s track and field was recently added to the roster of athletic events at SMSU, with 2013-14 being the first season. The Mustangs join the 13 schools in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference that host women’s teams, and the 11 schools that host men’s teams. SMSU last sponsored men’s track and field from 1969 to 1986 and 1990 to 1993, while the school last sponsored women’s track and field from 1972 to 1986 and 1990 to 1993.