Florida Atlantic University's athletics department, led by Athletics Director Craig Angelos, broke ground on a new on-campus track behind FAU Arena on Monday.

The $4.2 million project is scheduled to begin May 8, with an approximate completion time of six months.

"We are very excited about this track project," Craig Angelos, FAU's athletics director said. "It will be the premier track and field complex in South Florida. This is the beginning of our quest to build first-class facilities for our student-athletes and have some of the best facilities in the country."

The existing track will be removed as part of the construction, and FieldTurf® will be placed in the center of the eight-lane track to better accommodate campus recreation activities.

The track will be located just northeast of FAU Arena. Directly behind the arena will be the throwing pits, including two shot put pits, one discus field, and one javelin field. Construction will also include four-long jump pits, a high jump area, and two pole vault pits.

"The only day more important than today is the day the decision was made to start the women's track program," Alex Smolka, FAU head track coach added. "I think both the women's track program, as well as both men's and women's cross country teams will benefit mentally from having an on-campus facility. I'm very thankful to the university administration and the entire athletic department for helping to catapult our program forward by leaps and bounds."

The FAU women's track and field team finished second at the Atlantic Sun Indoor Championship and third at the Outdoor Championship. The team currently has two individuals who have qualified for the NCAA Regional in Greensboro, SC as well as the 4x400m relay team.

The Owls have never finished worse than third at an A-Sun Conference Championship under Smolka. They have had eight individual A-Sun Champions and five relay team champions in the program's history, and in 2002 FAU's Vicki Briggs was named the A-Sun's Most Outstanding Freshman.

In addition to the new facilities, 2006 marked the first year for FAU's indoor track and field squad.