"We Will Not Stand For It Any Longer" West Essex Track Team Outraged at Track Construction

By Samantha Gilbert

Student-athletes on the West Essex High School track team voiced their outrage during the Board of Education’s monthly meeting in November over current and upcoming construction to the track, which will inhibit their season.

Problems occurred when the turf field underwent planned construction earlier this year when it became apparent to contractors that the entire track and field would require reconstruction, according to board members.

While the track will not be fully usable until August 2015, the turf will be ready for the spring sports that require it.

“The cross country and spring track teams have been put on the back burner for many seasons and we will not stand for it any longer,” said senior Alexa Alhout.

Alhout is just one of six representatives who competes on both the winter and spring track teams that stood up and spoke on behalf of over 150 other track team members.

“This is not the proper way for us to be rewarded for our success,” Alhout said, alluding to last season’s major victories. She was a triple winner in last spring’s conference title, winning the 100, 200 and long jump.

Alhout expressed to the board that many runners would not be returning in the upcoming season because of the major setback and lack of facilities.

According to Alhout, the winter team has taken to running on the concrete parking lot, which causes harm to the runners’ shins and ankles, as well as running on the busy streets around town, which is also dangerous.

Other track members who spoke during the meeting were dubious as to what the construction entailed.

Senior Farukh Bhatti informed the board that his father, who is a contractor, personally assessed the field and believes the track did not have to be reconstructed along with the turf.

The board sternly refuted Alhout and Bhatti’s complaints, claiming that they were given misinformation.

“You need to get all of your facts straight first,” said Superintendent Barbara Longo.

Longo was the first to respond to the team’s complaints. According to Longo, the reconstruction was strongly recommended by a second opinion.

Despite the unfortunate consequences for the winter and spring track teams, the construction is being completed in order to accommodate graduation, she said, which is traditionally held in June on the turf field.

According to Longo, the turf and track will be complete by March, but the composite that goes on top of the asphalt must be laid out during warm weather and takes 45 days to settle in.

“Our hands are tied,” she said.

Board members assured the team representatives that the track and field would be ready for the fall 2015 season, despite this being the one season that the track teams do not compete in.

To supplement the teams while they are inconvenienced and without a home field, the high school will bus them to other facilities during the winter and spring seasons to allow them to continue to practice on a real track.

Board member Mary Wojtowicz, whose daughter Alison competed on both the winter and spring track teams for all four years of her time at West Essex, voiced her empathy.

“Understand that we are listening, you are heard,” Wojtowicz said.

Despite the board’s efforts to console them, the six team members left the meeting feeling let down.

“I know that what’s done is done, but it still hurts,” said senior Melissa Zyla. “We’re just a casualty to them, but we’ve gone through so much together.”

Although the track teams will suffer from the set back, West Essex still boasts celebrated lacrosse programs that will have the new turf field at their disposal by March.

The six students entered the meeting with hope and anticipation, but left feeling disappointed and nostalgic.

“I didn’t know at the time that last season would be my last time on the track,” Zyla said.

Photo courtesy of shutterstock