Board breaks ground on new track

Despite the rain Tuesday, Lamar High School had something to be happy about: breaking ground on a track.

“It’s been a long time coming. I think we’ve won eight state championships in a row in boys, and the girls have done very well also,” said Warren Jeffords, school board representative for District 4-Lamar.

The Lamar boys’ track team won eight consecutive state championships from 1999 to 2006, the most consecutive championships on record according to the S.C. High School League. The team was the runner-up in 1998, 2007 and 2008.

The Lamar girls’ track team’s most recent state championships were in 2004 and 2007. The team was runner up in 2000-03 and 2008.

“Now people in Lamar can witness a real live track meet. Something they have not had the opportunity to do in the past years,” Jeffords said.

The track is expected to be completed by the end of January in time for spring meets.

“It is a good day. We have good sports at the field here in Lamar. This is just going to add to the atmosphere,” Connell Delaine, chairman of the board of education, said. “We hope that you have many successful years here on this track.”

The new track will include asphalt, rubberized track, concrete curbing, fencing, shot put and discus pads, pole vault pad, grassing, lighting, irrigation system, sodding and sprigging of the interior track area. Construction of the track will cost $690,000, including design fees. The school will purchase track equipment.

Defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons, John Abraham donated $100,000 to the school for the construction of the track. Abraham is an alumnus of the Lamar High track program.

“On behalf of Lamar High School and the students, I want to thank former student, graduate John Abraham of the Atlanta Falcons for the generous donation,” Principal Kathy Gainey said. “I’d also like to thank the school board for completing this project. Without them we couldn’t have this.”

You can view a pdf of the track design here.