Few, if any, recall the last Troy hosted a home varsity track meet, but it's in the crosshairs of a fundraising committee seeking to install a better surface.

Troy’s efforts to install a new track on school grounds is bearing significant fruit as fundraisers continue to seek funding in the face of rising costs. While it hosted a junior high meet in 2025, community members have bigger plans in mind.

Track committee volunteer and school board trustee vice chairperson Eric Storkson shared the committee’s progress and future plans for installing a rubber surface track.

“Since 2021, the goal of the Troy Track Committee has been to give our student athletes a rubber surface track,” Storkson said. “In case you have not seen Troy’s track, it is dirt and gravel, sometimes covered with weeds, mud puddles or potholes, depending on the time of year. And it’s pretty much always been this way. Though our maintenance crew does their best to keep it navigable, there is only so much that can be done.”

Storkson explained the goal is to raise $250,000 so the first phase of the work can be done. Currently, the committee needs $14,000 to begin work. Rising costs in materials and labors led the committee to split the project into two phases. The committee’s total goal is $500,000.

“We had plans drawn up in 2023 by an engineering firm which included estimates for the project,” Storkson said. “But each year those estimates rose and we became worried we may lose community support for the project entirely if we are not able to show some results. Through donations, fundraising and grant writing, the Troy Track Committee has raised $236,000 to build a new track, but our total estimate for this project is half a million.”

The first phase requires moving the light poles from the infield, the original track to be dug up, leveled and a new base added, then have the asphalt layer put down.  

“This will give us a good, weather-proof running surface,” Storkson said. “Athletes won’t be able to use spikes, but we will be able to paint lines and use this upgraded track as we raise funds for Phase 2. Phase 2 is simply applying the rubber surface to the asphalt.”

He spoke about the challenges of fund raising in the area without significant industry.

“With such little industry in Troy, we don’t have the tax revenue required for a major update like this to be funded by the school itself. This is why the committee was formed by a few concerned community members and supportive school staff to try to raise the funds needed to build a new track,” Storkson said. “We are just $14,000 away from our goal, then we can get local bids and break ground. 

By completing the first phase, committee members believe showing the community significant results for their contributions will help reinvigorate the project and push it to completion.

While fundraising is a challenge, the support has been remarkable, including a recent gift of $72,000 from the Troy Episcopal Church. 

Storkson said the track program has defied some of the participation issues other sports - such as baseball and football - have endured. He said the team had 35 kids in it.

"Track is a different story. We always have plenty of participation, even with all the other competing spring sports," Storkson said. "I think that’s a real testament to the uniqueness of the sport. Kids who may not typically be interested in other team sports still come out to compete in Troy."

While the shrinking student body has had a negative effect, Storkson said recent decisions to keep Troy sports in Troy has been met with a positive showing from our younger student athletes and it’s been a real shot in the arm for our Trojan pride.  

A new track would allow the school to host high school invitationals and open the door to other opportunities. It would also make a better surface for those who use the track for a walking path.

"Our new track will be no more than five lanes wide, so that would limit us from hosting large meets," Storkson said. "But we absolutely want to host some high school invitationals on the new track. Having a Special Olympics team could also be a potential option once we have a safe, clean running surface."

Grant writing, coordinating with the school and reaching out to the community have been staples of the committee’s work. Several fundraising events over the last few years were held. They included the annual Halloween Walk, run-a-thons, raffles for Yeti coolers, a 4-H pig, a .22 rifle and quilts.

“The success of the Halloween walk and the other events are directly attributed to all the volunteers who made it so memorable,” Storkson said. "And if we raise enough money to reach our halfway goal of $250K, we should be able to break ground in summer of 2027 on phase 1 of the new track build."

In addition to the previously mentioned fundraising events, the track committee released a letter to the community in June of 2022, asking individuals and businesses for direct donations to the new track project.

“In this letter, we outlined donation milestones to memorialize donor names on a bronze plaque, to be placed along the new track after construction is complete,” Storkson said. “We have had several generous donors so far, and are still looking for more names to add to our plaque.”

He also credited the hard work of community member Shana Bernall and Troy Superintendent of Schools Christina Schertel. Both worked tirelessly applying for grants, reaching out to local municipalities for assistance and seeking community help for the project.  

“It has taken us several years to get to where we are today, and we are now so close to pulling the trigger on Phase 1,” Storkson said. “That is why we are planning a special Halloween Walk fundraiser event this year. Our annual family event Oct. 30 will take place on the track itself, so everyone can see firsthand what we are trying to improve. As always, kids walk for free, adults are $10, and we welcome donations.”

Storkson said businesses interested in reserving a space along the path should reach out to the committee for details.

“We hope to see as many families come out to this event as possible this year to help us cross this finish line,” Storkson said.