The UVA Athletics Department announced a $5 million pledge from alumna Amy Griffin. The donation allows the Virginia Athletics Foundation to proceed with the design and construction of a new track and field facility that is expected to cost nearly $14 million.
Although an additional $725,000 is needed before construction can begin, the athletics department hopes that crews will break ground on the track in June. So long as construction starts this summer, the facility should be ready in time for UVA to host the 2012 Atlantic Coast Conference’s Track and Field Championships next spring. The current conceptual design calls for lights, team locker rooms, a scoreboard, and seating for 1,500.
The UVA Track and Field program is one of the oldest in the nation and boasts several standout athletes on its 2011 roster. Last week, Anthony Kostelac was named ACC Men’s Indoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year after he finished the season undefeated in the 800 meter sprint. His teammate, sophomore Robby Andrews, was the 2010 NCAA champion in the 800 meters, and also earned the ACC Indoor Freshman of the Year title in 2010. On the women’s side, junior All-American Morgan Gay led Virginia’s distance medley relay team to a third-place finish at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships.
University benefactor and former Cavalier volleyball player Amy Griffin graduated from UVA in 1998. Griffin previously contributed $1 million to the UVA Volleyball program to assist the installation of sand volleyball courts on Nameless Field.