McAndrew Stadium will soon have a new track after the SIU Board of Trustees approved the $700,000 project at its regular meeting Thursday.

The project, which will be implemented by Design Architects Inc. of Hillsboro, will replace the stadium’s current aging track and will move fields designed for discuss, javelin and other throwing events to the east side of the stadium. SIUC engineers said the project is expected to be completed by this summer or summer 1999.

The project will be funded with $500,000 from the University’s $2.3 million Saluki Futures campaign for athletic improvements, and $200,000 will come from the athletics facility reserves. The track was resurfaced in 1987 but has deteriorated to the point that replacement was the school’s only option.

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