Location of "fast" indoor tracks in the USA

[AyZiggy]

Here's a map of the USA's 200m banked and flat oversized tracks.

http://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2315210&x=-97.387821&y=37.914946&z=13

There are fewer of them than you might think: 20 banked tracks and 22 oversized ones. College coaches see these as their only option for gaining qualifying marks (regardless of conversion factors) and these sites tend to get crowded.

[aaronk]

Yes, I know I'm one in a million (or even greater ratio), but NO--ZERO--marks should be allowed to Q from OT's!!
These devils should be for training only!

[Powell]

42 tracks is actually a lot. I bet very few countries have more on per capita basis.

[gm]

Texas Tech will have a banked 200m track when their new facility is completed.

[Karl]

How is an indoor track defined? I'm talking size. Here's why I ask. If a track is put inside a large stadium like Jerry World or some such venue, and they hold a meet - how is that classified?

[Karl]

42 tracks is actually a lot. I bet very few countries have more on per capita basis.

Also keep in mind they come and go. Tracks are built for an event and then broken back down. The USA indoor champs was here in Atlanta several years back, but that track had a very short life span.

[aaronk]

How is an indoor track defined? I'm talking size. Here's why I ask. If a track is put inside a large stadium like Jerry World or some such venue, and they hold a meet - how is that classified?

An Oversize Track is any oval inside a building (roof & 4 walls) LONGER THAN 201 meters around!!
201 or less is "legal" for record & list purposes!

I believe I got that info from a group called "MichTrack", or Michigan Track.
They had a list of ALL indoor tracks in the US, which I believe numbered close to 500.
Of those, 25 are OT's, ranging in length from 209 to 442!!
Here's the list of OT's I got from that longer list!

Air Force (Cadet Field House) 268
Akron (Field House) 300
Appalachian State (Holmes Center) 300
BYU (Smith Field House) 352
East Tenn State (Memorial Center) 280
Edinboro (Zafrofski Rec center) 230
Grand Valley State (Laker Turf Bldg) 300
Idaho (Kibbi ASUI Activity Center) 290
Iowa State Leid Rec center) 300
Kent State (KS Field House) 292
Kentucky (Nutter Field House) 291
Luther College 299
Maine (Field House) 215
Middle Tenn State (Murphy Center) 280
Northern Arizona (Skydome) 300
Notre Dame (Loftus Center) 352 yards (320 meters??)
Portland (Chiles Center??) 240
Rutgers (Busch Bubble) 330
SPIRE Institute INdoor T&F Facility 300
Swarthmore College 215
Tennessee State 209
Texas Tech 233.3 (!!)
Utah (Olympic Ice Arena) 442
Washington (Dempsey Center) 307
Youngstown State (WATTS) 300

There was a MichTrack editorial attached to this list.
I'll try to find the link to it.
It gave the best arguments AGAINST using OT's for record & list & qualifying purposes!!

ADD: Article is from MichTrack---and I believe it was written by Jeff Hollobaugh!!

I quoted extensively from it in my post of February 27, 2016, titled "Explaining This Blog".

If I can't find the link, I'll copy what I wrote in my blog!

[Karl]

And THAT is why I ask you guys! Thanks, aaronk!

[gm]

Also keep in mind they come and go. Tracks are built for an event and then broken back down. The USA indoor champs was here in Atlanta several years back, but that track had a very short life span.

The Atlanta track is in Nampa (Boise).

[gh]

And the track that was built for the '93 World Indoor in Toronto has served faithfully as Arkansas's oval for many years now.

The one that was built for last year's World Champs in Portland has moved on to Iowa.

They may have short life spans in one site, but they do get moved around.

[lonewolf]

The ten lap track that hosted the indoor NCAA in Oklahoma City in the 1980s was most recently spotted in a horse barn at the Shawnee, Oklahoma Fair Grounds hosting a HS meet.
Wear em out, use em up.

[aaronk]

Re: prior post--
Found article, but no link!
Google "MichTrack article on oversize tracks by Jeff Hollobaugh" and you'll find it.

Its title is--
FAQ Why don't 300M track times count for records indoors?

PLEASE read it!!
Or refer to my blog post of Feb 27, 2016!

[polevaultpower]

Some are much faster than others though. East Tennessee State is long with very tight turns.

[aaronk]

Some are much faster than others though. East Tennessee State is long with very tight turns.

It's not a question of speed, or tight turns, or whatever.
It's a question of equality and fairness!
OUTdoors, ALL tracks are 400 meters in circumference.
Yes, some are in better climates.
Some are softer or firmer, or have more or less bounce.
But ALL of them are the exact same distance around---giving everyone who runs on a 400 meter OUTdoor track equal ability to handle the turns & the straights....AND the distance!!

INdoors, with OT's, you do NOT have that equality.
Most "important" INdoor tracks are banked.
Given that ALL qualifying (or record efforts) happens on 200 meter tracks gives everyone the same test of handling the turns, the banking, or even the flatness (if it's a flat track).

Look at my list of the 25 tracks above!
They range from 209 to 442 meters!
Granted, most of them fall between about 270 and 320 meters, but even then, they are NOT the same, thus giving unfair advantage to those who run on certain OT's over others!

Even with "conversion factors" entered into the equation, there is still INequality!!
That's why INdoor WR's, US (or other National) Records, Collegiate and HS Records can be set ONLY on tracks 200 meters in circumference!!

Read the article on the MichTrack site!
Or again, look at my Feb 27, 2016 blog post, where I quote extensively from it!!
It argues all my points perfectly & succinctly!!

[tandfman]

It's not a question of speed, or tight turns, or whatever.
It's a question of equality and fairness!
OUTdoors, ALL tracks are 400 meters in circumference.
Yes, some are in better climates.
Some are softer or firmer, or have more or less bounce.
But ALL of them are the exact same distance around---giving everyone who runs on a 400 meter OUTdoor track equal ability to handle the turns & the straights....AND the distance!!

You seem to think that the tightness of the turns does not matter. I believe at least for some runners, in some events, it does.