The 2012-13 academic year at Iowa State will not only bring a new class of track and field athletes but also a brand-new track facility located near Wallace and Wilson residence halls.

ISU track and field was without its own facility due to the demolition of the old track in the Southwest Athletic Complex and was relocated to share practices with Ames High School at its track. That, however, is in the past as Iowa State’s new facility will be finished in time for next season.

“It’s exciting to get a new facility,” said coach Corey Ihmels in March. “Anytime you get anything new, you’re going to be excited about it, and I think … it’s going to be a first class facility.”

Since arriving at Iowa State in 2005, Athletics Director Jamie Pollard has overseen many facility upgrades at Iowa State including the Sukup Basketball Facility, the new football offices scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2012 and now the new track facility. Ihmels said everything Pollard has overseen since arriving at Iowa State has been first-class, and that is what he expects the track facility to be as well.

“It’s just exciting for us to have a facility that we can call our own and host an outdoor meet and eventually host a conference meet,” Ihmels said. “It’s something that we can take recruits to when it’s brand-new and shiny and that helps.”

The track and field facility will also be spectator-friendly with seating to support a large crowd for Cyclone track and field meets to support returning runners such as seniors Daniel Gruber and Ian Warner as well as junior standout Edward Kemboi.