Courtesy of Camel Athletics
Athletics are a core component of student-life here at Connecticut College. As a small liberal arts school, more than 500 members of our student body participate in the 28 Division III varsity sports offered. One of the main athletic facilities on campus can be found across Mohegan Avenue: Silfen Track and Field is home to Connecticut College’s sole turf field and outdoor track. Overlooking the gorgeous Thames River as the only NESCAC to have direct waterfront access, athletes are provided with a state-of-the-art facility for practices and competitions. Despite its luxurious location and ostensibly sufficient conditions, Silfen Track and Field needed a renovation to ensure the highest possible performance for all impacted teams.
Beginning this past July, project team leaders Justin Wolfradt, Executive Director of Facilities Management and Campus Planning, and Kayla Moreno, Associate Director of Projects and Planning, have led the management of Silfen’s renovation. The existing turf and track material were first removed, leaving the space bare and empty. The first signs of change came with the addition of the new turf, complete with a Camel head in the center of the field. The far sideline boasts “CAMELS” in light blue lettering, sandwiched between the words “NCAA” and “NESCAC.” Mo White, Connecticut College’s Head Athletic Director, noted the improved turf material. White referred to the material as “365 material,” meaning that it is capable of reacting to all types of weather. While the previous turf was often “frozen” and unreactive to colder months, the new material promises to hold up throughout the winter. She also accredited the new material as being “the closest artificial material to grass.” Apart from the 120-yard field, turf has also been added on either side of the endlines. Referred to as “D-spots,” these small sections of turf outside of the initial netting will provide additional warmup spaces for teams waiting for the field to become available. The D-spots may also be used for various strength and conditioning tests and exercises throughout the fall and spring seasons.
Surrounding the new and improved turf field is the 8-lane outdoor track primarily used by the track and field teams in the winter and spring seasons. According to Camel Athletics’ report on the project, “the track will be reconstructed with the leading choice in surfaces among elite and international track programs.” Ned Bishop, Head Coach of Women’s Cross Country and Track, shared many of the track’s enhancements with The College Voice. “The fence will be further away from the outside lane of the track, allowing us to store our hurdles and steeplechase barriers out of the way. This will give us more space because lane eight is now usable for workouts,” states Bishop. Mo White added that, “the track itself has been widened to fit full NCAA specs for all eight lanes.” Along with more space across the track, there will also be a new discus circle “that will make our home meets run more smoothly” (Bishop).
One challenging aspect of the previous track material was the inability to properly handle difficult wind conditions for sprint races. Coach Bishop spoke about the ability of the new track to improve this issue: “An extension to the south from the finish line will allow us to run the men’s high hurdles in both directions to accommodate the wind conditions. In the past we were able to run all the other sprint and hurdle races, but the men’s high hurdles could not be run in reverse.” These enhancements prove to be extremely beneficial for not only the track team, but all athletes who often use the space for conditioning or other running activities to prepare for their seasons. Regarding the coloring of the track, Camel Athletics states that “a two-tone design will accompany the track painted in Connecticut College’s colors.”
Mo White harped on the importance of this renovation project. She shared that “the main driving factor for this project was player safety for all three primary sports that use the turf” and the track teams that rely heavily on the quality of the surface.
When asked about the renovation project, coaches and athletes on campus demonstrate their excitement and anticipation for the completion. “We have needed to resurface the track for a while now, so it is really exciting that we are almost finished with this project,” exclaims Coach Ned Bishop. “We will have more effective practices because of the additional space. And the new surface will be better on everyone’s shins and joints. The extra energy that everyone will bring to practice by virtue of being in a brand-new facility will also benefit the whole team. Additionally, the Silfen Invitational promises to be an even better experience for all of the participating teams, which should translate into even stronger performances for the Camels” (Bishop). Ella Karhl ’25, captain of the women’s soccer team, states, “Redoing Silfen has already and will continue to improve the quality of our practices and games.” Karhl believes that “As players, we can be proud to show off a high-quality field to opponents and supporters rather than unsatisfied, which helps maintain our confidence and motivation throughout the season. From our team’s first practice on the new turf to anticipating night games on the field later in the season, we are excited to utilize a new resource rather than worrying about the previously degrading quality of the field impacting our play.”
At the end of the day, Connecticut College prides itself on its facilities and resources for student-athletes, as well as all members of the college community. The renovation of Silfen Track and Field is a step towards the improvement of an already beautiful place. Words of excitement, anticipation, and overall joy continue to buzz around the soon-to-be completed project. After hearing from coaches and athletes across campus, the impact that this will have on the entirety of Connecticut College’s outreach is immense. Karhl put it best: “investing in our athletic facilities encourages fans, players, and the Conn community to invest more in our athletic teams’ successes, which is the ultimate goal of the athletic department.” The project approaches completion just as all fall sports are delving into NESCAC competition. Come out to Silfen Track and Field this fall to cheer on all athletes but also to see the new and improved facilities for yourselves!
