Nyc Parks' Ocean Breeze Track & Field Athletic Complex To Host New York State Public High School Track & Field Championships

NYC Parks' Ocean Breeze Track & Field Athletic Complex has been chosen to host the 2017, 2018, and 2019 New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Girls and Boys Indoor Track & Field State Championships. Meets will take place on March 3, 2017, March 2, 2018, and March 7, 2019. Approximately 1,200 high school girls and boys from across the state participate in the event each year.

"NYC Parks' Ocean Breeze Track & Field Athletic Complex joins the Carl Icahn Stadium as a premier competition and practice facility, providing a home and training ground for youth, high school, collegiate and professional athletes, as well as an exceptional year-round resource for the Staten Island community," said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. "We are so thrilled that the NYSPHSAA chose this incredible facility to host the 2017-2019 championships in."

"Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex submitted an outstanding bid that our committee, staff and board supported," said Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. "We are excited to be able to conduct an exciting track and field event at a brand new state-of-the-art venue for our student-athletes for three years."

NYSPHSAA had previously conducted its Girls and Boys Indoor Track & Field Championships at Barton Fieldhouse on the campus of Cornell University from 2006-2016, following stints in the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University from 1997-2005 and in Barton Hall at the inception of the meet, 1981-1997.

The 135,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility opened this fall and boasts an elite-level hydraulically-banked competition track that can be converted from eight to six lanes and can incline up to 4.5 feet. The facility features a warm-up area with fitness and cardio rooms along with a coaches lounge and announcer booth, and can host up to 2,500 spectators. It is anticipated to draw competitors from around the region and is fast-becoming a premier destination for athletic events, with more than 70 competitions already scheduled. In November, the Ocean Breeze Track & Field Athletic Complex received an International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) certificate, making it the only certified indoor track & field facility in the nation.

In keeping with New York City's sustainability goals, NYC Parks and NYC's Department of Design and Construction (DDC) are seeking a LEED Silver rating for the building, and have incorporated features to conserve energy and water into the design. Sustainable features for the building include geothermal heating and cooling, displacement ventilation, harvesting of storm water to recharge surrounding wetlands, a "cool" roof and recycled materials. In addition, the building will take advantage of the cool ocean breezes to provide natural ventilation for the majority of the year. Natural daylight harvested through skylights, windows, light shelves and clerestories will either eliminate or supplement the necessity for artificial lighting much of the time. For more information about the facility contact oceanbreeze@parks.nyc.gov.

About NYSPHSAA (Please "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter...@NYSPHSAA)
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association Inc. is a non-profit, voluntary, educational service organization composed of public, parochial, and private schools dedicated to providing equitable and safe competition for the students of its member schools. The organization conducts 32 championship events and governs the rules and regulations of high school athletics in New York State. Membership is open to secondary schools providing interschool athletic activities for boys and girls in grades 7-12.

Image Credit: NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney