Community stepped up to make remodeled track
a reality at Flint Northwestern

By Holly Klaft | The Flint Journal
April 07, 2008

FLINT, Michigan -- A flurry of feet will hit Flint Northwestern Academy's newly renovated track Tuesday, April 8, as hundreds of young runners help break in the red-orange rubberized oval.

The huge feat being unveiled Tuesday was accomplished with lots of helping hands.

"It was a lot of work by a lot of people," said Gail Ganakas, the school district's director of community education and relations. "You saw a real community effort here."

A great deal of the $371,000 project was paid for through donations from about a dozen individuals and organizations, including Flint Athletes for a Better Education, the Greater Flint Olympian and CANUSA Association, the Coca Cola Co., and Rock Financial, she said.

Flint students in the Crim Running Clubs, along with administrators and representatives from area companies and organizations are set to "christen" the track during a 3 p.m. dedication ceremony at Guy Houston Stadium.

More than 500 Flint elementary school students are expected to attend.

"Everyone's looking forward to running, especially on this new track," said Sean Brandon, a parent facilitator and Crim Running Club coordinator at Anderson Elementary School. "They're all asking me, 'When's track?'"

Brandon said he planned to bring about 45 students to the event to take a jog on the freshly-painted lanes.

"I've already gone over to take a peek at it and it's gorgeous," Brandon said of the new track. "I'm excited and they're excited."

Ganakas said the donations to support construction will pay off for the community, which frequently uses the track.

"It's not just for the school district," Ganakas said of the renovation. "It's for the community that demonstrated a great love for Northwestern."

Dan Cady, an executive board member of the Greater Flint Olympian and CANUSA Association, which donated $100,000, said the school's new track might help keep students in the district and motivate them to participate in sports.

"The track program itself has always been there, but it's wonderful for the kids to have a high-class facility to compete in," said Cady, who is past president of the organization. "It's the typical example of Flint people coming together to create facilities for kids."

Brandon said he also plans to attend the track's premiere event when his son and daughter head to the stadium at 4 p.m. for a track meet between Flint Northern and Midland Dow high schools.

"It will be an all day event for my family," Brandon said of the dedication.

Students started using the new track for the first time last week. It will allow the district to host meets at Guy Houston Stadium for the first time in two years.

"We really wanted to allow our kids the opportunity to get out there and perform," said Jeff Grayer, president of Flint Athletes for a Better Education that helped raise $100,000 for the track. "When you get out there and accomplish a goal on the athletic field you feel good about yourself. You feel like you can compete, even in the classroom setting."

The track was considered unfit for meets after years of wear and tear left grass growing between the cracks that sprawled through its lanes.

Northwestern athletes were disappointed to have to hold meets off their home turf or practice elsewhere, said Grayer, who also is a mentor coordinator for Flint schools.

Now, they're excited to be competing in their own backyard.

"They didn't have a home track to practice on or compete on," Grayer said. "Now I see their level of excitement and enthusiasm."

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