University Southern California Trojans
USC Breaks Ground On New Track Stadium
June 21, 2000 | Track & Field
June 21, 2000
Groundbreaking Cermony Photo Gallery
Los Angeles - The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Katherine B. Loker Track Stadium took place today (June 21) at Cromwell Field on the campus of USC.
In attendance was Katherine B. Loker, who was honored for her $2 million gift (the largest donation ever to the athletic department by a single person) which will make construction of the stadium a possibility.
"Our ambition is always to be the best athletically, as well as academically," said USC President Steven Sample. "That requires that we have top-flight athletic facilities. If we want our athletes to be competitive at the highest level, we owe them the resources to achieve that level of athletic excellence. This new facility will go a long way toward reaching that goal. Katherine Loker's generosity is equalled only by the gratitude of the entire Trojan family."
The new stadium will house 3,000 seats, as well as locker-rooms, offices and storage space for the USC track and field program. Fittingly, the facility is being built during USC track and field's 100th anniversary--the perfect tribute to a heritage that includes 28 NCAA team championships, 118 individual titles, 40 Olympic gold medals and 61 world records.
"Finally, we'll have a stadium to match our track and field heritage," said USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett. "We wouldn't be here today without the generosity of Katherine Loker."
With Sample, Garrett and Trojan Director of Track and Field Ron Allice assisting, Loker shoveled the symbolic first scoop of earth to get the project underway.
"It is very significant that we have a facility to represent the people who came before us," noted Allice, referring to USC track and field history. "To do this in our 100th year is very significant. This will have a huge impact on the university and the surrounding community."
Current and former USC track athletes were also in attendance, including 2000 All-Americans Candace Young and Kinshasa Davis, as well as 1999 NCAA champion Jerome Davis.
"This investment will help our program in many key areas, especially recruiting," said Young, who spoke on behalf of USC student-athletes. "This shows that the university is willing to spend money today to achieve the ultimate goal of winning championships tomorrow."
Construction on Katherine B. Loker Track Stadium is expected to be completed in February of 2001--just in time for what promises to be an exciting year for USC track and field. Three home meets are scheduled, including the Trojan Invitational (before which the stadium will be dedicated), a four-way meet with national powers LSU, Texas and Tennessee, and the annual USC-UCLA dual meet. Both the Women of Troy, who are coming off a second-place finish at the 2000 NCAAs (their highest finish ever) and the USC men (coming off a seventh-place finish) are expected to challenge for the top spot at the 2001 NCAA Championships to be held in Eugene, Ore.
