Oxnard High School
This photo is facing east. This (new campus) was in the west end of town,
in the middle of unoccupied fields when it was constructed. The city is moving
toward it, most of the fields have been already been built as residential housing.
In front of us is the north straightaway--the backstretch. It has a chute while
the homestretch does not, so sprints are run backwards on this side of the track.
Since this track was constructed over a decade after its district mate, Camarillo
(which does the same thing--a legacy case), they could have learned from the
mistake but instead they copied the awkward design. But here they had a fresh
piece of paper (this was just a farm) so there is no excuse. At least they installed
a proper concrete curb. The row of eucalyptus trees would serve as a good windbreak
except the prevailing wind comes from the opposite direction. Another school
in the district, Channel Islands built a similar orientation (school, home stands
and chute on the north) but made the greater mistake of placing the common finish
west into the frequently strong prevailing wind. Two other schools in the district,
also located north of their stadiums (Hueneme and Pacifica) did the right thing
and placed the home stands, chute and common finish on the south so the wind
on the homestretch is an aiding wind. The sixth school (yes all six schools
have all weather tracks, that is how the politics of such investments work)
Rio Mesa is located south of the stadium so it was not a stretch to also place
the stands, chute and common finish on the south side.