Burrell track not ready for meets until weather allows for painting to be done

One of the final details on Burrell School District’s $1.8 million renovation of Buccaneer Stadium — painting lines on the track — remains on hold until there’s a window of warmer and dry weather.

“It’s a great surface,” said Drake D’Angelo, Burrell’s athletic director. “We will be excited to use the track at full force when everything is completed.”

Although the boys and girls varsity track teams have been practicing on the new track, they have moved their first scheduled home meet with Highlands on March 26 to the Highlands High School track.

While athletes can run on the new track, they can’t compete because lines for the runner lanes have not been painted yet.

For the paint to cure, contractors need at least four rain-free days with temperatures above 50 degrees in the evening and overnight, D’Angelo said.

For the next week, the National Weather Service forecast doesn’t show overnight temperatures cracking 50 degrees for any day.

While the track team waits for the weather to cooperate, Burrell will talk with opposing teams about moving meets to that school or another facility, he said.

The contractor ran out of good weather last fall when it was completing the renovations in October, D’Angelo said. The contractor decided to wait until the spring for better weather to complete the painting, D’Angelo said.

The contractor, W.G. Land Co. LLC of Acme, originally projected work would be done by Aug. 28.

Covid-19 pandemic restrictions caused delays, resulting in hurdles scheduling contractors and securing permits, D’Angelo said.

The track was among the last items to complete for the stadium renovation, which included installing new drainage, artificial turf and other work.