IMBLER — Last month’s surge to second place at the 1A state track and field championships by the Imbler boys team came at one of the most historic track facilities in the world — Eugene’s Hayward Field — by a program that, currently, doesn’t have a legitimate track.

Parents are spearheading the charge to change that and give the school a track befitting a program that is presently on the rise, and that has had runs of success throughout the years.

“We all agreed we were interested in trying to get a track built, a modern track,” said Ian Gordon, a Summerville resident who has three children at IHS, including two who compete in track and field. “All we have right now is a dirt path with some gravel in it. In spite of that, our boys finished second in state at the 1A state track meet. There is a lot of commitment on the part of the students, and we think there should be commitment on the part of the parents.”

The parents have presented the idea to the Imbler School Board, and currently several are researching various aspects of what it would entail to get a new track installed. Committees looking into both the cost and the construction efforts for a facility have been formed.

This much is clear, though: The student-athletes would benefit greatly, if nothing more from the reality that they could have meets and more basic events — such as practice — in Imbler.

“A lot of times we have to bus our kids to various county tracks just to practice,” Imbler Superintendent Randy Waite said. “We have very limited facilities here. We don’t even have a full set of hurdles for our hurdlers. They have to practice later in the evening after the school that has a track.”

According to athletic.net, there were 48 high school students on the track team this spring, a number many teams would be happy with, let alone a school the size of Imbler that lacks a track facility.

“Without a track, it’s a pretty amazing feat,” Waite said.

Depending on the route IHS decides to go, the facility would enable the school to host a range of track meets. A larger track — such as the standard eight-lane — would enable the school to host larger events. A smaller — say six-lane — track would allow for small meets.

Waite anticipates a track meet would be supported by community members, given the support other programs in the school receive from the community.

The new facility would also be available to more than just students, Gordon said.

“Another component we’re looking at is the track being available to the community. Some of our older folks want to go stretch their legs, they can go run around the track,” Gordon said. “We have a lot of junior high students interested in track.”

While many details still need to be discussed, one thing Gordon said is pretty firm is the location — the track would encircle the football field behind IHS.

What is also clear, at least in discussions with other schools, is the cost to do the project will be pretty steep.

“We did get some preliminary numbers. Morrow County just put in a track at Irrigon High School,” Waite said.

The cost of the facility there, he said, was $850,000, and he anticipates the track at Imbler could range between that and $1 million.

But the community won’t be alone trying to foot the bill. One of the committees is researching fundraising, including grant options, to supplement costs, and Waite said Irrigon shared where it received grant funding.

“This is going to be a process of at least a year and a half, two years,” Waite said.

Both Waite and Gordon said the hope is to have the facility up and ready in time for the 2025 spring track season.

Gordon said the support from the community so far has been positive, and Waite believes both the residents and the school board would back the project.

“We’re excited about the interest people have shown,” Gordon said.

The next meeting to discuss the track is June 13.