Students at University College Cork (UCC) are rallying to save the running track at the Mardyke Arena, which was shut down last March due to health and safety concerns. The closure has left the UCC Athletics Club without a training facility, forcing them to travel across Cork and Munster for practice sessions.
UCC acknowledges the challenges facing the track. Recently, a referendum passed to increase the student capitation fee by €50 to upgrade outdoor sports facilities. The athletics club hopes some of the funds raised will be allocated to repairing the track.
“Save the Track” Campaign
Emma Murray, secretary of UCC Athletics, stated that the club is dedicated to preserving the track for future generations. “Our ‘Save The Track’ campaign is based on a survey released by the Students’ Union last week,” she explained.
This survey followed last year’s referendum, allowing all UCC students to voice their opinions on how the additional capitation funds should be spent. The referendum aimed to enhance the university’s outdoor sports facilities, which have long been recognized as needing upgrades.
A significant part of the campaign focuses on the track, which has fallen into disrepair. “The track is a vital component of our current sports facilities, and our campaign seeks to emphasize the need for resurfacing,” Murray said.
The club has faced a challenging year, training wherever possible for various intervarsity competitions. The closure of the Mardyke Arena has affected the entire running community in Cork, particularly UCC students, who have been forced to find alternative venues.
Despite these difficulties, the club has seen growth, with participation numbers increasing weekly. “Last year, we had between 40 and 50 people training on Tuesday and Thursday nights,” Murray noted. “The closure occurred just as the outdoor track season was beginning, and we were preparing for intervarsity competitions.”
Athletes were building momentum for the season when the track’s sudden closure disrupted their plans. “With MTU also closed for resurfacing, we were left with no nearby alternatives,” Murray added. “Athletes had to travel to tracks all over the region to train.”
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