Gill St. Bernard’s Completes Track & Field Renovation

The renovation of Gill St. Bernard’s outdoor track cements the school’s athletic success for years to come.

The newly remodeled facility is an eye-catching addition to the campus footprint. Encircling the GSB turf field, the striking blue and grey surface serves as the perfect backdrop for spectators cheering on our Boys’ and Girls’ Track & Field, Soccer, and Lacrosse teams. More importantly, however, the upgrade signals a bright future for our student-athletes.

“It is very exciting to now have a state-of-the-art track on our campus,” said Head Track & Field Coach Steve Leo. “The surface is one of the best I have seen, and the colors of the exchange zones are a very cool element. This will allow our athletes to train on a great surface and to hopefully produce some fast times! The new lines and markings are also a huge help to run quality meets for both the Upper School and Middle School. It only adds to our incredible athletic complex.”

The two-year project includes a new 400-meter Running Track with scratch lines for individual and relay running competitions, as well as new runways for high jump, long jump, pole vault, shot put, and other field events. The new surfaces are coated with all-weather rubberized material designed to enhance traction and stability for athletes’ long-term health, while providing durability through winter months and extreme weather conditions. The project was made possible by the incredible generosity of GSB families, PA Booster Club, and many other key community members over the past years.

“Our school has always had a successful program in both cross country and track,” said Head of School Sid Rowell. “Indeed, a number of our athletes, including Bobby Papasian '04, Sarah Quinn '12, CJ LIcata '18, Nicole Johnson '18, Sohan DeSilva '21, and Joe Licata '22 went on to compete in college.”

While the new track is designed for GSB’s interscholastic athletes, students of all ages will enjoy the new facilities during physical education classes and other extracurricular activities.

“The renovation also recognizes the leadership of Dick Emmitt P '02 and former Athletics Director Gerry Vanasse who oversaw the construction of the original track,” commented Mr. Rowell. “Our current students and future generations will benefit for years to come, running on a ‘state-of-the-art’ surface.”