Dryden’s “Track Man” shares recent history of track and field in Dryden
Posted by John Borst
on Dec 09, 2014
Mike Wood, star Master’s Marathoner and former city councilor didn’t know the adventure he was about to embark upon when in 2009 he volunteered to rejuvenate the cross country and track and field club at Dryden High School.
Back in ’09 the track that had seen little use for many years, was grown over with weeds and flooded during rain storms.
As cross-country and track and field flourished anew and student participation grew, the idea of a new track took shape after Mike had made a presentation to Dryden Rotary. Mike talked to Rtn Jack McMaster, then Director of the School Board and with support of Keewatin Patricia District School Board, looked at putting in a new track at DHS.This started a 3 year fundraising campaign that culminated with the dedication of the new field this past September.
Dryden now has a rubberized coating that makes it easier to run on and faster. Although only four lanes, as opposed to the regulation eight it is the only track of its kind between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg.
The track is unique too, because it is a community track and open to the public during non-school hours.
It cost over a half million dollars which included more than $100,000 of in-kind donations from local businesses.
The Opening of Dryden's New Rubberized Track (photo by Chris Marchand, Dryden Observer
Wood highlighted the growth of the club that has seen more than 300 kids participate over the last five years of which about half do not participate in any other sport.
As a gage of Wood’s success, 97 of the kids have gone on to provincials and five have been to national championship meets.
Mike Wood thanked Rotary for being there at the very start and for providing the equipment that started the club on its road to success.