May 11 — Reconstruction officially began a year ago when the University of Colorado Board of Regents approved the renovation project that would remake Prentup Field, Potts Field and the adjacent ski building.
Hours before Colorado was set to host the final edition of the Pac-12 Conference outdoor track and field championships, the final touches of that renovation were still being applied to Potts Field.
As CU wrapped up the opening day of the three-day meet on Friday with a championship from Bailey Hertenstein in the women’s 10K, the Buffaloes’ oldest athletic institution, coach Mark Wetmore, was reflective and grateful.
Like much of his three decades at the helm of CU’s cross country and track and field programs, Wetmore described the effort to prepare Potts for this weekend’s Pac-12 bye as a team effort, from the administrative level to the field. and stadium operations, as well as the generosity of longtime UC and international donors Paul and Brenda Lilly.
“It’s the best I’ve ever seen and I’ve been here since 1991. This is the best Potts facility we’ve ever had,” Wetmore said. “There are a lot of people who have worked really hard on this. At the top is (athletic director) Rick George’s decision to do this. Rick had to make the decision to make this investment. His right-hand man, (associate AD for business operations) Cory Hilliard, he needed to make the money work.
“Alex Hoots (CU’s assistant AD for stadium operations), she’s never been to a competition this size and she’s done an incredible job. She’s been working on this for a year and a half. (Assistant) Casey (Malone) is our meeting manager at home and this is the biggest thing he has ever done. He has collected many thousands of dollars worth of equipment for two years.
Some of the renovations on display this weekend in Potts are obvious. The west side of the facility, on the border of Prentup Field, has new permanent bleachers, as well as new concession facilities, restrooms and storage. The track has been resurfaced and there are new jump pits.
The preparation for this weekend’s meeting, however, included close attention to much finer details. New starter blocks have been acquired over the past few weeks and will be released this weekend. And Malone, CU’s head throwing coach, said Friday morning that he was drilling new holes in the concrete to make sure the hammer throw gates were exactly up to NCAA specifications.
Malone said Pac-12 fans and teams have grown accustomed to championship venues like Oregon’s historic Hayward Field, which has hosted NCAA championships and Olympic Trials. Even with Potts’ recent renovation, the CU site would not transform into Hayward II. But that didn’t stop organizers from making Potts as pristine as possible for what is the final Pac-12 event for all CU athletics before the university’s return, the Big 12 Conference.
“It’s an honor to host, especially since this is potentially the last Pac-12 championship, we really take it seriously,” Malone said. “Our facilities aren’t always in Pac-12 championship shape. Maybe Oregon’s are. But now is the time to really let this whole place flourish. We put every effort into trying to get everything right. There are all these little behind-the-scenes details that most people will never see it when they go to a running competition.
“All the new equipment throughout the stadium helped make everything functional at the highest level. It’s fun to see everything finally being used and put into practice.”
