The stadium field at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington received a much-needed renovation over the summer. As students return to campus, it will be hard for them not to notice the striking royal blue and gray track that encircles the playing field at McMurtrie Stadium.
“At the end of the 2021-22 season, it was apparent to our athletes and coaches that the track was showing 10 years of wear and tear and was no longer an optimal surface for the school’s program,” said head track coach Jim Connor, who is starting his 12th year at the school, where he also serves as the math department chair and head cross-country coach.
Connor then worked with the athletics office and the administration to get the ball rolling, sharing the news that he and his wife, Kathy, would generously underwrite the project. With funding in hand, the pre-construction engineering, design and contracting work was completed during the subsequent school year.
Once the 2023 spring sports season was finished, the job of resurfacing began in earnest, and by mid-July, the project was completed. The beautiful new surface is now ready not only for O’Connell athletes, but also for the multitude of visiting high school athletes who will participate in meets year-round, as well as local youth athletes who take part in the annual fall and spring CYO track meets.
“I am so pleased with the outcome,” said Connor. “The gray exchange lanes contrast well with the blue track, creating a cleaner passing zone, and the upgraded track surface will provide a better running experience for all the athletes who compete on our track. I’m looking forward to all that this new season will bring.”
