It’s been a long process for Gordon Central coach John Rainwater, but the Warriors finally have the new track they’ve been waiting for.

Gordon Central started the renovation of their track at Ratner Stadium back in July after it was approved at a school board meeting a month earlier and the project was completed last week with the painting of the lines on the new surface.

“It’s exciting to have this done,” said Rainwater. “It’s great to know that the schoolboard has confidence enough in our program to give us this opportunity.”

The Warriors commemorated the completion of the track on Monday when members of the team ran their first lap on the new surface and followed that up by saying their team pledge.

The the previous surface was installed in the late 1990s, and when Rainwater took over the Warrior track program in 2004, he said he knew getting a new track installed should be a high priority. That goal became a reality recently when they received the opportunity from Polytan, a German-based company with U.S. headquarters in Calhoun, to be a showcase track. Being a showcase track gave the Gordon County School System the opportunity to have the project done at a cheaper price, and they didn’t pass that up.

“Being a showcase track means that colleges, high schools and recreation departments from all over the Southeast, will be coming to our facility to see this product,” said Rainwater. “And having that here gives us the opportunity to showcase our athletes and program as a whole.”

With the new track, the two new long jump and pole vault lanes and a new high jump area that is twice the size as the previous one, the Warriors will have several great opportunities in the near future.

The Region 5-AAA coaches have already voted to hold the Region Meet this coming spring, and they have also been approached by other regions to possible use the facility for sectionals because no one else in those regions have facilities of the same quality.

Rainwater said his track athletes are already jumping at the chance to use the new track for early training.

“I’ve already had athletes that aren’t participating in fall sports and some that aren’t participating in winter sports ask about preseason training programs,” said Rainwater. “They are just ready to work out here.”

Rainwater said the Warriors are excited about the fundraising efforts and sponsorship opportunities with the track. He even said there is a possibility for a corporation or family to have the track facility named after them with a large enough donation. He said the sponsors from last season would have the first chance, and they would be contacted soon about that.

Anyone who is interested in being a sponsor or donating to the track fund should contact Rainwater at jrainwater@gcbe.org or by phone at 678-986-8539.