By Sam Nardone ’20
Staff Writer
For students returning to campus this fall, there were a number of surprises. The postcard painting on the side of the Rogers Art Center. The redone Communication Department with a fresh new media center. The new Crowe academic building.
And it was hard to miss the brightly colored walls of the dorm lobbies and the sak.
But the most noticeable addition to the campus was the new $1 million football field surrounded by an eight lane, 400-meter track.
The school broke ground on the project in June with President Christopher E. Hopey, Athletic Director Jeremy Gibson, and Competing for Good co-chair Richard Gallant.
The men’s and women’s track and field teams previously had to North Andover High School to compete. Coach Jacky Mendes said the team having their own track and field on campus will help unite the team as a whole and unleash the team’s full potential.
“It’s wonderful news that Merrimack College is building these new facilities. Having a track will be amazing for our program,” Mendes said. “Our student-athletes have accomplished outstanding things. Our own track and field facility will unleash the full potential of our student-athletes.”
The facility is set to open about two weeks before homecoming weekend.