Runners, take your mark. Get set... go! Construction of the Colfax High School all-weather track is underway.

Immediately following commencement ceremonies on June 7, the crowds cleared and the heavy equipment rolled in.

Phase 2 of the three-part stadium project was made possible by donations from the community, grants and a large loan provided by the Placer Union High School District.

“We are very excited to be moving ahead with the track project,” said CHS Athletic Director Rob Hitchcock. “The targeted completion date is Sept. 18 - in time for the first home football game against Truckee High School.”

Though district financing has enabled the project to move forward, Colfax High expects to re-pay the loan through fundraising efforts and donations from the community. The district will pick up the planning costs.

“It’s great to have a district Superintendent like Bart O’Brien who really cares about the Colfax community,” Hitchcock said. “Without his stewardship we wouldn’t have been able to start this project so soon. He even put up $1,000 of his family’s money for the project.”

The anticipated price tag for all three phases of the project is $1.2 million - $900K for the track and $300K for other improvements, including remodel and expansion of bleachers, observation deck and storage facility.

The expansion of the visitor side bleachers, which was completed earlier this year, was made possible through philanthropic donations of time, materials and labor.

Doug Marquand, Placer Union High School District Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, said the track project was one of the facilities upgrades the administration and the board decided to focus on this year.

“Bart O’Brien is very committed to this project,” Marquand said. “The real motivation for pushing this project forward was to benefit the Colfax community as well as the students. Now, all of the comprehensive schools in the district will have an all-weather track. Community members frequently make use of the tracks at Del Oro, Foresthill and Placer High Schools.”

Marquand also indicated there are timeline restrictions on the funds awarded through grants. By moving the project along those timelines will be met.

To date, the school has raised approximately $200,000, but there is still a long way to go.

“We greatly appreciate all the help we’ve received, and we can still use a lot of help with our fundraising efforts,” Hitchcock said. “We are particularly interested in any donors with financial reserves who really want to make a difference in our community and our kids’ lives. If you are out there, give me a call.”

Funding also includes a $25K “recycled tire” matching grant through the State of California, $150K in matching funds from the Placer County Parks and Recreation Department, and $18K from The Falcon Foundation.

The Arp and Reimers families have made substantial donations to the Falcon Foundation for the project. An additional 33 local families have each donated between $20 and $1,000.

Lynn MacDonald and Laura Owens organized the May 3 Colfax Fun Run and a wine-tasting event hosted by Basement Wines. These events combined to raise $4,000.

“I’d like to thank the wonderful individuals and businesses that helped organize and sponsor the race, including Sierra Market, Hansen Bros., Athletics Unlimited, GKM Corp. and J&J Sports Productions,” said high school district board trustee Lynn MacDonald.

“Once the track facility is completed, I encourage everyone in the community to take advantage of it,” she added.

CHS music director Todd Wilkinson designated $4,000 of spring concert proceeds for the project, while various CHS athletics programs contributed a total of $28K, $4,000 of which came from the football program.

Members of the Colfax area business community have donated money and in-kind services totaling over $35K.

Commercial donors include Todd’s Excavating, Hills Flat Lumber, RJ Miles, Pacific Foundation Systems-EZ Ply, Sierra Market and Hansen Brothers.

The individual efforts of Gary Todd, Eric Harmon, Jason Stocks, John Seither, Russ George, Wes Mayfield and Grant Ballenger have been commendable.

After O’Brien announced the initiation of Phase 2 of the project, Brett T. Long and Western Engineering were selected as architect and contractor, respectively.

Beyond an all-weather track, Phase 2 includes a continuous, fenced-in walkway around the outside of the track similar to the one at South Lake Tahoe High School, renovation of the pole vault, long jump and triple jump runways, and an upgrade to the shot-put venue.

Phase 3 will feature the expansion of the home side bleachers and construction of the observation deck.

Tax deductible donations may be made through the Falcon Foundation by writing a check to Colfax High School Track Project.