California All-Weather Tracks

Big change here. There are so many tracks and so few of me to get around that I alone can't keep up with it.
Instead, trackinfo now has a wiki. You can add your own information.
Start here

Now open for business, I am now available for consulting on the installation of your new track. See details or write to me at info@trackinfo.org.

This section is for the benefit of other runners traveling around the state. As I travel I frequently have to find a place to run. I've been to and have run on so many tracks around this state, now over 700 in all, that I have a rare knowledge of this information. * Obviously, since this is mostly based on my personal recollections, there are inaccuracies and missing information. New tracks are constructed each year, now approaching 350 locations. I have not personally been to some of the tracks I have listed (not to mention the new ones that are constructed in secrecy), so some information might be wrong or outdated. If you find any tracks I have missed or have not listed correctly, please e.mail me the information at: info@trackinfo.org. I'm pretty sure there are others out there. Special thanks to Jimson Lee, Jim Bordoni, Andy Chan, Tom Judy, David Dennis, GLSmithmtn, John Davis, N Goeres, David Sawyer, Sean Laughlin, Paul Fleming, Tol96, A3310K, SyKckDance, Bostonruls, THJCPA, TNyhan, Tahoecal, clyons, Bill Rice and LAXKEEPER for their additions to this list. I have also added listings of exceptional dirt tracks (good, bad or just plain interesting situations) at the bottom of this page. You are also welcome to add to the list. My most recent attempts have been to add the approximate dates of the construction and resurfacing of these tracks, the number of lanes each has, the straightaway length (which is the best way to calculate the severity of the turns, a short straight=a wide turn) and now pictures (some mine, some from the school). Possibly soon to come, altitude--I was given some readings by Jim Hanley, a geographer who carries an altimeter with him. Any additional help will be welcome. If you don't see a comment, either I don't have the information or I forgot to post it.

Certain tracks have restricted access to the public. Obviously all tracks restrict access during events and practices, just as they (all-weather facilities) all limit the length of your spikes to 1/4" or less. Some have anything from threatening signs, to high barb wire fences, to overzealous security patrols guarding them. I tend to ignore them and manage to get in, but then because of my audacity I've personally been escorted out of several facilities (none worth using now), while trying to do a workout, yet I was not bothered on the Olympic Track in Atlanta (during the Olympic Trials, part of its short life, R.I.P.). But on the other side, I was once thrown across the hood of my car "feet back and spread 'em" because the campus rent-a-cop at one local J.C. (dirt track) couldn't figure out why someone would be running on the track in running clothes (at, odd for me, 3 in the afternoon). These are the things you have to do to participate in our sport. Most tracks baracade themselves so wheeled vehicles can't get in, you may have to search for the one way in (look for chained gates that leave just enough play for a small runner to squeeze through--football players and throwers, forget about it). I will place a ! before any tracks I know of serious access problems, followed by a note on the problem, particularly those located on private property. Of course, I've been known to hop a fence, so I don't consider such a small obstacle to be significant. I've been told that all publicly funded tracks and other athletic fields (those at public high schools and colleges) must allow for public access (by a court decision for the AYSO some twenty years ago). I'd like to quote the precedent case number or section of the code--anybody (lawyers in particular) with a little help here? The exception is, you cannot be on campus when school is in session or during a practice--and always be courteous. It may be hard to find but supposedly there should be a way in. I am certain that there are facilities where I have been unable to find that way in, but it makes me feel a lot better about jumping somebody's public fence. I've concluded a serious track runner has to develop the technique for jumping a chain link fence.

There are now Mapquest Aerial Photos attached to most of these tracks. Since going through all that effort, it has become inconsistent at best. Some areas get updated photos (though Rim of the World, which starred in so many of the fire aerials of late 2003 is shown now under a mound of snow). On occasion, Mapquest (now an AOL-Time/Warner Company) has seen fit to impose new restrictions. If you want to access their service as a pre-defined location, you must enter your AOL screen name. Its yet another way corporations have reared their evil head to reduce the freedom of the internet. Rather than removing the location entirely, I'll leave it to your option to play their game. If you don't have or don't want to get a screen name, here's a way to cheat. Use "trackpics" as your screen name and "trackinfo" as the password. It is real slow to authenticate. Many of the pictures I have directed you to have now gotten garbled by their system, zooming and centering functions do not work and if you try to go to a new location, it continues to take you back to the original angle of your first request. This is not my fault, Mapquest is falling apart. To get a map to the location, just go to the street map option on each Mapquest page and back out to show more area.

I am now starting to add pictures of the tracks as I get around (though I also see many at night). The new pictures slow the loading of the page, so I'm in for a new redesign. If you click on some of the pictures you'll see a bigger view or a source for more angles. If you have a picture that effectively shows a track, please send it or a link to me.

I am also adding a listing of the locations of DIRT tracks by county, then city. Not all counties are covered--I haven't been everywhere, nor have I taken the time to type all I know yet. I haven't taken the detailed notes as I have for the All Weather Tracks, but since I know where so many are, I have posted the information to impart what I do know. Feel free to supplement. See the link just after the county name.

At the bottom of this page you'll find "The Bottom 10," the ten worst tracks in the state. Unfortunately I will also take nominations to add to the list. My latest addition is the little award you see to the left, which goes to tracks that were formerly on the Bottom 10 list but have now been improved. I guess you don't really want your facility to fall into the disrepair necessary to qualify for this award, but I do want to reward the facilities that have really gotten it together and have done such a major improvement to their location.

Press here to return to the index.

Most tracks have to accomodate high school and/or collegiate meets and are marked metricly but some were constructed in imperial distances and use offset lines to calibrate. For people who are unfamiliar with the standard markings on a track, I have created my explanation of those marks, with a tour of one well marked track and a separate page for hurdle marks. According to the high school rule book, a painted line is acceptable for high school competition, so that explains why so many high schools fail to have a legal (USATF Rule 62--2" raised curb) track. Unfortunately by USATF rules, you have to have the curb and comply with all the other specifications of a meet to set a record. So if you intend anyone to set a record at your meet, get a curb. In regards to this curb question I have been given several explanations. First, most of the major manufacturers seem to be talking their clients OUT of installing a curb. Their expressed excuses (that I will rebut) are 1) that curbs are a liability issue; 2) that the metal in the curbs are a target for thieves to recycle and 3) that curbs effect drainage. 1) might be true, but curbs exist on open public tracks all over the place, almost all high school dirt tracks have solid, raised concrete curbs, and have never been a liability issue in those cases. Many tracks have what would be legal curbs on the outside of the track, where it is unimportant. If it is an issue for a track with a removable metal curb, remove it when necessary (see San Francisco State where they use the stadium for graduation right after track season) then replace it. 2) is just stupid. Look at how many tracks have metal curbs and how many of them have been stolen? There are more tracks that make the loose metal available by removing the railings and storing them in the open (and I will note, the ones I see leaving the metal railings piled up but still aren't having them stolen, the railings just aren't doing the job they were purchased for. If it is an issue, you do not need to use metal in the curb, only the dimensions and location are specified, not the material. Concrete is common. 3) again is just stupid. Who cannot figure out how to build concrete to allow drainage--I see curbs with breaks for drainage on many dirt tracks. If a broken curb doesn't work for your aesthetic, stick little pipes through the concrete at track level. I have been contacted by a manufacturer who installs a drainage system that looks like it will work well with a track. See their website at sportsedge.net. Before you build a track wrong, meaning without following proper specifications, please get in touch with me so I can offer some suggestions.

See my editorial on Track Maintenence.

Legend to the layout--here's what I know:

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Alameda County

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Berkeley High School	1994	Yes	No
Martin Luther King and Channing Way Southwestern Eurotan	South	6 92m	Aerial photo
University of California, Berkeley Edwards Stadium	Resurf. 1999	Yes	Adjustable
Bancroft and Oxford Yellow. There is a warm up lane inside of the curb. This has to be the ugliest color I have ever seen on a track (I guess they were trying for Gold, as in Golden Bears). But my opinion could be wrong, this was awarded as an Outstanding Track Facility by the USTC&TBA, an industry association. ! At night, this is effectively closed with gates and concrete walls. Southwestern Martin ISS	South	8 92m	Aerial photo

Chabot Junior College	Resurf 2001	(No)	Adjustable, Inside
25555 Hesperian Blvd. North Entrance North of the 92 Freeway They have the curbing and the inner line has been drilled to mount it, but it has been removed and is sitting along the fence outside of the track--and it looks like its been there a while. Perhaps they put it in place when a meet is important. Steeplechase finishes the opposite direction. Cal Track Premier Polyurethane	South	9 99m	Aerial photo

Granada High School	2002	Yes	No
Wall St. south of Stanley Blvd. Spectra Turf Spectratrack SP	North	9 m	Aerial photo

Newark Memorial High School	Resurf. 1998	No	No
Cedar Blvd. off Central Ave. ! This is a security fortress, difficult, but not impossible to get into. Note: the unattended sprinkler system and bad drainage has done more damage to the track than any runner. I'll note yet again when I visited, the sprinklers were running and flooding the entire track like they apparently (from the water stains) have been for years. The wall in background of the picture is a dominant feature on the northeast end of the track. Southwestern Eurotan	Northeast	8 90.5m	Aerial photo

See my editorial on Track Maintenence.

Merritt Community College	February 2003	Yes	Yes, Inside
East end of the campus, off Campus Drive which is off Redwood Road between the 13 and Skyline. Mondo	South	8 88m	Aerial photo

Piedmont High School		No	No
End of El Cerrito Ave., south of Oakland Ave.	North	7 87m	Aerial photo

Amador Valley High School	2002	No	No
Santa Rita Road (Main Street) just north of Stanley Blvd.		8	Aerial photo of dirt track

Foothill High School	2003	Yes	No
Foothill Road and Muirwood Dr.		8	Aerial photo of dirt track

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Butte County

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Contra Costa County

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Alhambra High School	Resurf. 1999	Yes	No
E St. west of Alhambra Ave. This is up the hill, way behind the school. Southwestern	South	9 100m	Aerial photo

Campolindo High School	Resurf. 1997	No	No
Campolindo Dr. and Moraga Way Black This old Black and White photo is all I can find of the track so far.	East	6	Aerial photo

Miramonte High School	1996	No	No
Estabueno Dr. and Moraga Way	Southeast	6	Aerial photo

College Park High School	June 2001	No	No
Viking Dr. and Norse Dr. Just south of Diablo Valley College Cal Track Cal Trax IMS	South	9	Aerial photo of dirt track

Diablo Valley College	Resurf. 1998	Yes	Yes, outside
Golf Club Rd. west of Contra Costa Blvd. An AW track has been here since the 1970's Southwestern Eurotan	South	9	Aerial photo

Contra Costa Community College	1998	Yes	Yes, Outside
Mission Bell Dr. and El Portal (Broadway South) Southwestern Eurotan	South	8 93m	Aerial photo

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Del Norte County

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El Dorado County

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Fresno County

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Buchanan High School	Resurf. 1999	(Yes)	No
W. Nees Ave. and N.Minnewawa Ave. Big fancy stadium, seats over 8,000. Track has some noticible repairs made to west turn (which feel softer than the rest of the track). Apparently removes the curb, the previous time I saw it, curb was missing, but during a track meet it was there. Also has start lines marked for 40y and 65m. Southwestern Eurotan	Southeast	9 93m	Aerial photo

Clovis High School		No	No
Fowler Ave. and Barstow Ave. Wide turns. Not in the football stadium (north of it). Blue Zaino	East	9 72m	Aerial photo

Fresno Pacific University	2000	Yes	Adjustable Outside
East Heaton Ave. and S. Winery Ave. Wide Turns. I calculate the straightaways at 73m Southwestern Eurotan	South	9 73m	Aerial photo

Roosevelt High School	Resurf. 2001	No	No
Barton and Huntington They replaced the old rubber asphalt with a new AW surface and converted it from Imperial to metric--with the tell tale extra lane in the first turn (see also Clovis West, Mt. SAC, Hancock and West Valley College). A nice facility but does show a residual crack in lane 3 from the previous badly worn track. This is so markedly improved it has been removed from the worst tracks list entirely.	South	9 100m	Aerial photo

Sunnyside High School		No	No
East Kings Canyon Road and South Peach Ave. ! Has spike topped fencing surrounding much of the track though there are some tall chain link portions.	East	9 93m	Aerial photo

Reedley College		Yes	No
Manning & Reed Ave. formerly Kings River Community College--Reedley residents hated that name so they changed it back to the original name for better civic identification. No the track is not broken in pieces as the aerial photo indicates. Black.	West	9	Aerial photo

Reedley High School	1999	No	No
W. North Ave. and N. Hollywood Replaced a banked dirt track Southwestern Eurotan	South	9 100m	Aerial photo

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Humboldt County

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California State University, Humboldt	Resurf. 2001	No	Yes
Harpst Street Called the Redwood Bowl this track has large covered stands	North	6	Black & White Aerial Photo

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Imperial County

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Kern County

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Bakersfield College		Yes	Yes
Mt. Vernon and University ! The razor wire fencing makes this quite difficult to get into. Finish line offset more than 10m.	Northeast	9	Aerial photo

Liberty High School	2001	No	No
Has an inner curb that raises the track. Jewetta Ave. and Brimhall Road.	South	8	Aerial photo

Editorial: The poor people of Bakersfield. They have two excellent facilities and both of them are barricaded behind high, barb wire topped fences. What a complete disservice to the local runners of the community. I don't know about the new track at Liberty High School--hopefully they are more reasonable.

Taft Union High School		No	Stationary Inside grass
San Emidio and 10th Streets Blue. Open 24 hours, lit until midnight, aren't small towns great? Steeplechase has grass runway. ! has barricades .	South	9	Aerial photo

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Kings County

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Lemoore High School	1998	No	No
Highway 198 & Lemoore Ave. This track really is colored Purple. Southwestern Eurotan	West		Aerial photo

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Lassen County

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Los Angeles County

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Los Angeles County Dirt Tracks

Honorable Mentions

Agoura High School	August 2001	No	No
Thousand Oaks Blvd. at Argos St., 1 block East of Kanan Blue. This track has an extra 9th lane about 1 1/2 feet wide filling the space from lane 8 to the fence. At least it gives them somewhere to put the soccer bench and hurdles--don't try to run this lane. ! Has barricades but I haven't seen them used--it is nicely lit at night.	South	8 100m	Aerial photo

Arcadia High School		No	No
Duarte west of Santa Anita Host of perhaps the best mid-season High School Invitational in the country, yet they have to conduct it with cones in place of a curb.	West	9 100m	Aerial photo

These two tracks are barely 1/4 mile apart but are technically in different cities.

Azusa Pacific University		(Yes)	Stationary
Citrus Avenue at Foothill, Azusa I had reported there was no curb, apparently the metal curb is removed out of track season and is replaced each year. Entrance to the track is over a bridge from the parking lot.	East	8 86m	Aerial photo
Citrus College		Yes	Adjustable
Barranca north of Alosta, Glendora ! They have high fences and/or razor wire around most of this track--quite dangerous Stadium website link with photos. Southwestern/Zaino	East	9	Aerial photo

Beverly Hills High School	1999	No	No
Olympic Blvd, 1 block East of Century Park East This is a square track, meaning 4 normal circumference turns and 4 distinct straightaways. There is an unused 9th lane on sprint straight. Southwestern Eurotan	South	8	Aerial photo

Calabasas High School	2002	No	No
Mullholland Hwy, east of Parkway Calabasas	East	6 97m	Aerial photo

California State University, Dominguez Hills (Home Depot Center)	May 2003	Yes	Adjustable, inside
Perimeter Rd. north of University Drive The new Olympic Training Facility. Dual start/finish lines though south seems to be the primary the first international invitational meet used the north. Relays and Steeplechase finish south. !Security is high right now, and gates are still locked. Mondo	North/South	9 82m	Aerial photo

Gahr High School	1995	No	No
Artesia and Studebaker Finish line offset 10m. No fudge room here, the edge of the surface ends at the lane line of lane 9, the exposed subsurface has a lip in some places. Southwestern Seal Flex	South	9 92m	Aerial photo

Centennial High School	2002	No	No
El Segundo and ! High spiked fencing makes it difficult to get into. Inner curb raises the track. This is another imperial track built in the new millenium. Since we "officially" no longer conduct meets in imperial distances and haven't since the 70's, building this as an imperial track was an expensive act of stupidity. The old 220y straightaway still exists and was paved in the AW installation.	South, Imperial	9 96m	Aerial photo

Compton Community College	2003	Yes	Inside, Adjustable
Santa Fe and Alondra Beautiful new track with complete facilities for everything. The stands next to the track are condemed and fenced off. The one visible drawback to this location is their apparent inability to grow grass.	South	9 100m	Aerial photo

Compton High School		No	No
Oleander and Cocoa, one block north of Alondra Blue It is nice to take this off the Bottom Ten. They have resurfaced the formerly damaged, repair pocked track. In the process, they removed the formerly legal curb. ! High spiked fencing makes it difficult to get into.	North	8 100m	Aerial photo

Culver City High School	January 2001	No	No
St. Nicholas Ave. east of Braddock Dr. Installed the first week of 2001 Southwestern	South	8 100m	Aerial photo of dirt track

Hawthorne High School	2002	No	No
Sundale and Broadway near Inglewood and El Segundo An inner curb raises the track. Sprints/Hurdles run on backstretch where the chute is. Finish line offset 10m.	North	8 100m	Aerial photo of dirt track

Inglewood High School	January 2002	No	No
Between Inglewood and Cedar, Kelso and Hillcrest Separate location not on the High School Campus. Extra space (like a half a lane) next to the stands on straights and part of the north turn (narrowing to nothing at a concrete box at the center).	South	8 102m	Aerial photo of dirt track

Morningside High School	November 2001	No	No
107th St. and Yukon ! New, imposing spike fences protect the track in this notorious neighborhood--the school grounds are not protected in the same manner.	East	8 100m	Aerial photo of dirt track

Lawndale High School	2002	No	No
Inglewood and Marine Formerly this location was called Lloyde High School. They then closed High School, turned it into an Adult Education Center and removed the original track. This new track is a different location. The previous turf area here was pockmarked with all sorts of holes and weeds. The new turf is remarkably smooth, natural grass. Lots of construction still going on here. ! Imposing fences guard the campus	East	9 100m	Aerial photo of location

Leuzinger High School	2002	No	No
Avis and Rosecrans (1 block west of Prarie) Long 109m straights, thus short, tight turns ! Imposing fences guard the campus	East	8 109m	Aerial photo of dirt track

California State University, Long Beach	Resurf. 1999	Yes	Adjustable H, Inside
Atherton entrance, near The Pyramid I'm told they are now locking this at night, otherwise this is a very friendly place. An AW track here dates at least to the 70's. They have barriers, but I have never seen them in place. Southwestern Eurortan	North	8 98m	Aerial photo

Long Beach City College	1991	Yes	Yes, kept in storage
Lew Davis Street and Clark ! Locked behind fences (that are difficult to climb because of the slats in the chain link holes) with nasty "No Trespassing" signs. Stadium management says the public is not welcome here. Due to be resurfaced in 2002 (I never heard if it occurred). Steeplechase finishes in opposite direction. Concrete curb. Southwestern Martin ISS	South	9 91m	Aerial photo 35 ft.

Since Los Angeles is so large, look for the general district notation. Also, many of the small cities listed in Los Angeles County fit in between areas of the monstorous Los Angeles City.

Note: Many Los Angeles area tracks were created as training facilities before the 1984 Olympics. USC, CSLA, CSUN, Birmingham, SMCC, ELAC, LASW and Rancho Cienega to name a few.

! Ahmanson Training Center	2000	No	No
83rd and Osage. Westchester/LAX area This is the Police Training Academy and not open to the public. I am not sure of the distance of this rectangular track (four straightaways, two shorter than the others), it is definitely shorter than 400m. There are three painted lines but so far I can make no sense of the distance between start/finish lines. There is a notable peak (thus an incline and decline) in the middle of each straight (all four). Lots of additional AW areas surfaced (obviously for police training purposes, not running). Southwestern Eurotan	East	4	Aerial photo

Banning High School	2002	No	No
Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Normandie--Wilmington/Harbor area For no explainable reason there are 6 and a half lanes to the end of the far straight--the extra half lane does not have calibrated lines. Then as the turn starts the track sprouts the remainder of the 7th lane and half of the 8th with a calibrated start line--the poor guy in lane 8 has less than 18 inches until the home stretch where there are 8 full lanes. Finish line offset 10m. There is plenty of pavement all the way around the track to have added all the lanes. Decent night lighting from the adjacent building. Southwestern	South	6	Aerial photo of dirt track

Birmingham High School	Resurf. 1989	Yes	No
Victory and Balboa--Van Nuys/Valley area ! Very friendly to runners until it closes, then it is locked behind multiple tall fences (weekends and after 10 p.m.) Originally built in 1982. ! Has barricades but rarely uses them. Southwestern Rekortan	East	8 97m	Aerial photo 725 ft.

Brentwood School	2002	No	No
Sunset Blvd. and Barrington Place--Brentwood Area (hills north of West Los Angeles) There is a dirt warm up lane around the outside, wide enough for two more lanes. Obviously the width was due to economics at this small private school. ! High security at this campus. Full time guard to keep you away and they are serious. Finish offset 8m.	South	6 98m	Aerial photo of location

California State University, Los Angeles (CSLA)	Resurf. 1991	(Yes)	Stationary Inside
Southwest corner of the campus near 10/710 interchange--East L.A. area They apparently remove the curb outside of the track season. The stadium recently underwent some renovation though the track was not affected.. Steeplechase finishes in the opposite direction. Southwestern Rekortan	North	8 98m	Aerial photo 480 ft.

California State University, Northridge (CSUN)	Resurf. 1995	Yes	Adjustable, Outside
South of Lassen, Lindley and Halsted--Northridge/Valley area I have a photo layout of this track as I explain how a track is marked. See the whole article. Southwestern Martin ISS Repairs by Zaino	South	9 100m	Aerial photo

Chaminade High School	1998	No	No
Chaminade Ave. off Strathmore--West Hills/Valley area 373.4m makes for some strange calibrated start lines scattered along the home stretch. The lane lines are blue here to match school colors. Southwestern Eurotan	East non-standard	6 81m	Aerial photo

East Los Angeles College (ELAC)	1982 redone 2003	No	Adjustable Inside
Caesar Chavez Blvd./East L.A. area Technically this is in Monterey Park. The previously criticized, badly damaged track here has been removed and replaced with a beautiful new track with fake grass infield. Mondo	West	8 99m	Aerial photo 300 ft.

Harvard-Westlake High School	1989	No	No
Coldwater Canyon S. of Ventura Blvd. Studio City/Valley area This is a nice facility, with signs inviting the public to use it--that's wonderful. I had criticized that part of the first curve was cut off to widen the access road--a runner in lane 6 had a lane about 6 inches wide to start in. That has been improved. A noticible seam has been added and the lane has been widened to almost two feet, still not standard, but usable (lane 6 widens and narrows several times around the track). There are some hollow sounding sinkholes under Lane 6 (6m after start line) and Lane 1 (10m after start line), but then I might be sensitive, I heard the same effect under the street outside the school. There is a seventh lane on the sprint straight.. Southwestern Eurortan I will guess the repairs are by Zaino	North	5.5 98m	Aerial photo

Loyola High School		No	No
Venice and Normandie, just west of downtown Blue. Extra long straightaways and narrower turns	West	6 108m	Aerial photo

Occidental College	1983	Yes	Adjustable Inside
Campus Rd. and Westdale--Eagle Rock area near Glendale and Pasadena Extra wide turns and short straightaways. It has been resurfaced since its original installation. After track season, the curb and steeplechase are kept in storage. ! Instead of barricades, they apparently place hurdles and steeplechase barriers on the track to force runners to the outer lanes. Security patrols frequently for unauthorized usage outsides of normal hours.	North	8 66m	Aerial photo 550 ft.

Rancho Cienega Park, Jackie Robinson Stadium	Resurf. 1997	No	No
Rodeo Road east of La Brea--Crenshaw District Frequently lit at night (lots of soccer in the infield). Southwestern Eurotan	North	6 85m	Aerial photo

Ribet Academy	2002	No	No
San Fernando Rd. at the 2 Freeway, Glassell Park area 330.3m broken back track with the sharpest corners I have seen on a competitive track--the turns add about 2-3 seconds to a 400, in other words not suitable for competition. 12m offset finish line needed (because the sprinters need room to stop). Some marks on the track must be mismarked. Pronounce the name in your best basso profundo and you will know why the team mascot is the Toads. Atlas	East Non-Standard	5 106m	Aerial photo

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	Resurf. Nov. 1999	Yes	Adjustable Inside
Sunset Blvd. east of Gayley--Westwood area Dates at least to the 1970's. Replacing Rekortan which resurfaced in 1991, 1995 and 1999. The new installation reshaped the track, widening the turns significantly. See the website. Southwestern Martin ISS	South	9 77m	Aerial photo 375 ft.

University of Southern California (USC)	Resurf. 1999, 2001	No	Adjustable Inside
McClintock entrance from Jefferson Throughout most of the year, the curb is not on the track. Apparently when the school has their own home meets, they put it down but most other outsiders are not so privledged. Finish line offset 10m. With west orientation, sprints are run reverse down the homestretch (from relay zone to relay zone due to the offset). Steeplechase finishes in opposite direction The building of this nice cozy stadium, that seats maybe a few thousand, shows the demise of track and field. Through the 1980's, meets were held in the L.A. Colliseum before crowds in the tens of thousands (I've seen pictures of 50,000 plus watching the USC vs UCLA dual meet). It is not possible to have 50,000 here, but it is not an issue because we don't have the demand to seat that many--even at a major championship meet like the PAC-10 (held here in 2003). Due to be closed in late May 2004 for major consturuction (subterrainiun mechanical installation in the infield). Southwestern Rekortan	West	8 98m	Aerial photo 175 ft.

Warner Pines Apartments		No	No
Owensmouth and Erwin (Woodland Hills area) This is a weird one for me to list but remarkable that an apartment complex has a track at all. This is a small square, just over 92y (19 laps to a mile) AW surface (about the size of the tennis court next to it). That is an artificial putting green in the middle of the track. There is a sign posted saying it is 17.5 laps to a mile but I measured and it is shorter than that--it would be murder to run fast on this one. This complex is surrounded by two layers of security fencing--it is amazing I got in with the camera and measuring tape.		0 98 feet	Aerial photo

Lynwood High School	August 2001	No	No
Imperial Highway ! There seems to be a security guard at the school 24-7, but on my latest visit, I was not even questioned as I walked straight in (maybe looking old helps here). Cal Track Cal Trax IMS	West	9 100m	Aerial photo of dirt track

Malibu High School	Sept. 2001	No	No
Morning View opposite Ebbtide Way. 1 block up hill from Pacific Coast Highway and the famous Zuma Beach. Go in the driveway and go to the end of the parking lot. Track is east, up hill above the basketball courts. Finish line is offset 10m.	Northeast	8 98m	Aerial photo of dirt track

Pepperdine University, Ed Stotsenberg Track	Late 1980's	No	No
West entrance uphill off Pacific Coast Highway Named for the beneficiary, a top Masters runner and Santa Monica Track Club athlete #1. Before the AW surfacing, this is where they taped the early 1970's Superstars competitions. For most of its existence, the school had no track team. ! Entrance to campus facilities requires campus activity "Crest" card. Also has barricades but I've never seenthem in use. It is easy to walk in to the track up the steep hill. Night lighting is excellent. Security does occasionally check people on the track, or maybe just me because I look too old to be a student. The outside curb is legal, which is unimportant because the inside is not, but this discounts the liability argument. Note: the track is not bent as it appears in the Mapquest aerial photo.	West	8 100m	Aerial photo

Mira Costa High School	2003	No	No
Peck St. 1 block north of Artesia There is a tenth inner jogging lane, separated from the main track only by a line made wider by yellow paint. Finish line offset 10m.	East	(9) 100m	Aerial photo of dirt track

Cerritos College	Resurf. mid-1990's	Yes	Stationary Inside
Studebaker entrance at Falcon Way, south of Alondra or East entrance on Alondra Blue. An AW track has been here since the 1970's, was resurfaced in the mid-90's) 9L Frequent host of many meets including the annual CIF State meet, the National Championships and the most succesful meet I've ever hosted. ! Campus rent-a-cops don't like the public on campus, your car will attract their attention. Recently I noticed I can feel the lane lines as I step on them (as though they are a higher point on the track). Perhaps the center of the lanes is collapsing slightly like DeAnza have. They are planning on a resurface in the near future. To show you how my information goes, I got a report that the resurface was completed except for the lines. I visited it after and it is the same old track.	North	9 94m	Aerial photo 70 ft.

Ambassador College	Early 1970's	No	No
St. John and W. Del Mar Blvd. On top of the parking structure. This is 6 laps to a mile, about 293 yards. Old Astroturf infield, weeds grow in the long jump pit. The surface seems incredibly thin. ! Signs indicate you should have permission to use the track at this private college, though it is not hard to hop the fence. Security does patrol the campus regularly. 7 lanes on sprint straight.	East non-standard	6	Aerial photo

California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech)	1999	Yes	Stationary Outside
California west of Lake ! Entry frequently is controlled by an attendant--you have to enter through the gym. Check in to campus facilities requires a campus activity card. Finish line offset 10m. 8 lanes on sprint straight.	East	6 100m	Aerial photo 750 ft.

Pasadena City College	1999	No	Adjustable Inside
Del Mar Blvd. and S. Sierra Bonita Ave. 9 lanes for sprints. ! They usually keep this track locked, patrol often and have No Trespassing signs posted. Southwestern Eurotan	East	8 100m	Aerial photo

Cal Poly Pomona	Resurf. 2001	No	Adjustable, Outside
Temple Ave. & University Recently resurfaced because the previous (ancient) track was ruined by constant watering. I previously complained, the lane markers were badly faded apparently washed away because the track is flooded every night by sprinklers. This used to be a 7 lane track that finished south. The new track now features two sets of lane lines. 6 green lanes of NCAA width lanes on both straightaways and 8 white lanes of less than high school width lanes all the way around. Backstretch starts up the straightaway and finishes in the (old) chute that includes a portion of the old surface. Every time I've been here, it reeks of reclaimed water and the sprinklers are running, still flooding the new track and track equipment. ! This poor track once was once labeled "Not for Public Use" I didn't see the sign this time but I still did have to jump the fence (along with six others).	North	6/8 97m	Aerial photo

Diamond Ranch High School	1999	No	No
Diamond Ranch Drive west off Philips Ranch Road (also called Chino Hills Parkway) just south of the 60 freeway !There is a security guard posted to keep people off this public school campus	West	9 100m	Aerial photo of construction

Pomona Pitzer College	Resurf. 2001	(Yes)	Adjustable, Inside
4th and University, Claremont--go east on 4th until it ends, turn left into the parking lot. Track is down a long pedestrian path between the football field and baseball field. See the interactive tour of the track. ! Barricades out frequently in first two lanes.The metal curb is removed out of track season and is replaced each year. Blue. Wide turns. See Claremont Mudd Scripps above. Southwestern Martin ISS	North	8 85m	Aerial photo

Webb School	2003	No	No
School entrance on Baseline just west of Towne Ave., Claremont Track is waaaay up the hill behind the school. The inner curb raises the track. 8 lanes on the sprint straight, but no chute past the finish line, instead the extra lanes start into the turn and then stop. !This is a private school with a guard at the gate. This school was saved but involved in the Fire of 2003, see pictures and story. Southwestern Eurotan	South	6 100m	Aerial photo of dirt track

Alvarado Intermediate School	Old	Yes	No
Desire Ave. south of Colima Road 5 narrow lanes of paved track, with a concrete curb and a fence (on the inner curb line) all the way around the track. Calibrated start lines	East	5	Aerial photo

Santa Monica City College	Resurf. 1999	No	Adjustable, Inside
16th and Pearl Originally Mondo, the new resurfacing replaced the 1983 surface where the Olympic Marathon started in 1984. I haven't seen this elsewhere, the javelin runway is clearly painted across the lanes. ! has barricades, though I have never seen them in place. Seems to be open 24/7. Southwestern Rekortan	South	8 84m	Aerial photo

Southgate Junior High School	2000	No	No
Southern Ave. & San Miguel St.-1 block west of Otis St. Square 6-lane track, There are no start or finish lines after being there for several years. It seems a little long maybe because it isn't measured correctly, maybe just because the turns are tight. Southwestern Eurotan	No start or finish lines	6	Aerial photo

College of the Canyons	Resurf. 1994	Yes	Stationary inside slice
Valencia Blvd. and Rockwell Canyon There is a 9th lane squeezed next to the stands on the sprint straight, though it is frequently used for storage. Southeast entrance is now apparently open to the public and friendlier than in the past. There is a jogging lane inside of the curb. Southwestern Martin ISS	South	8 92m	Aerial photo

Mt . San Antonio College (Mt. SAC)	Resurf. 1999	Yes	Adjustable Inside
Temple Ave. east of Grand Ave. ! Has been locked the last several times I have passed by when there wasn't a meet going on. Steeplechase finishes in the opposite direction. This is another track, modified from imperial, with the extra lane in the first turn. Southwestern	North	9 98m	Aerial photo during resurfacing 700 ft.

Walnut High School		No	No
Pierce and Puente Zaino	South	9	Aerial photo

Oaks Christian High School	2000	No	No
off Via Rocas One of the nicest (unknown) facilities I've seen but they have no 400 hurdle marks. The 110H (blue) and 100H (yellow) are marked to run in the reverse direction down the straightaway, but they have backed the start line into the finish line chute and offset each to use the last 9 hurdle marks--meaning there are two color coded finish lines at odd places near the end of the last 4x100 relay zone. ! Track is now locked and a full-time security guard patrols to keep people out.	West	9 100m	Aerial photo

Whittier College	2000	Yes	Adjustable Inside
Its a bit hard to locate this track. Around the southeast corner of the Whittier College Campus is a driveway that leads up a canyon--you'll find the track just past the baseball field.	North	9	Aerial photo

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Marin County

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Mendocino County

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Merced County

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Monterey County

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Nevada County

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Orange County

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Orange County Dirt Tracks

Brea-Olinda High School		No	No
Wildcat Way north of E. Lambert Has a few ripples in it--as in it is not flat, particularly about 10-20 meters before the finish--they have apparently tried and failed to fix these. But then the problem seems to have been caused by them trying to run something under the track after it was constructed. I had reported they had a legal curb here, and the inner concrete curb is raised slightly, but it never comes close to the 5 cm (2") in the rule book. ! Has barricades, though I have never seen them used.	North	8 98m	Aerial photo

Orange Coast College	2001	Yes	Adjustable, inside
Fairview Rd., south of Baker St. (south of 405) The south turn has an extra lane, you would think from the conversion from imperial to metric. But it wasn't--they simply mismeasured and had to reconstruct a new location for the curb. A concrete inner curb raises the track for excellent drainage. ! Has barricades and uses them. Southwestern	South	9 99m	Aerial photo of construction

Cypress College	Ancient	No	No
Orange and Holder This track's surface is eroding away. The lines have largely worn off, several places have worn through to the pavement below and rubberized pieces of the track come off on your shoes more than any track I've been to recently. Once was 10 lanes on sprint straight (old lane lines still visible on the chute). Rubber Asphalt	South, Imperial	9 100m	Aerial photo

California State University, Fullerton		No	Adjustable, Outside
State College and Yorba Linda The steeplechase barriers are stationary, but water is adjustable. Steeple also finishes in reverse direction. This is another place where the outside curb is legal, which is unimportant because the inside is not, but this discounts the liability argument..	East	8 86m	Aerial photo

Fullerton College	1982	Yes	No
E. Berkeley Ave. north of Chapman I found three stationary barriers, but no water jump. Southwestern Martin ISS	East	9 100m	Aerial photo

Golden West College	Old	No	Stationary, inside
Gothard & Center This is an old, rubber asphalt track. Scheduled for resurfacing (it needs it). Badly worn inner lanes (lane lines disappearing). Extra lane line from the conversion from imperial is in the south turn (the one shown in the picture). Rubber Asphalt	North	9 100m	Aerial photo

Huntington Beach High School	1996	No	No
Main St. and Yorktown This track has double lane lines sprint straightaway. The narrow lanes (white=36") get them 9 lanes around the track, while the wide lanes (blue=41") are necessary for hurdles. I believe they actually have two widths of hurdles to accomodate the differing lane widths of long and short hurdles. Southwestern	East	9 98m	Aerial photo

Irvine High School		Yes	No
Walnut and Yale Black. The inner two lanes, plus the 100m start and some finish area have been repaired, the seam quite neatly concealed in the lane line.	South	8 100m	Aerial photo

University of California, Irvine (UCI)	Resurf. 1999	Yes	Adjustable, Inside
University to California, left on Bridge Blue. Here's a link to the stadium's web site. The legal curb frequently seems to be missing from the east turn--it gets in the way of the High Jump and Javelin but it invalidates records set under such conditions. Southwestern Martin ISS	East	8 90m	Aerial photo

Saddleback College	2002	Yes	Adjustable, Inside
Avery Parkway east of I5 They reoriented the finish line and added the curb when they resurfaced this facility. The steeplechase barriers are stationary, even though the water jump is adjustable--caused a disaster when a women's and masters steeplechase was scheduled. ! Has barricades and diligently uses them.	North	8 101m	Aerial photo

Santa Margarita High School	1999	No	No
Plano Trabuco and Dove Canyon Blue. ! Fenced campus at this private high school, with regularly patroling guard. Finish line offset 10m The photo to the left (from the school's results page) shows a 100m race started backward on the backstretch. See other meet photos at http://www.ehstf.com/Pictures-Eagle_Invite.htm	East	6	Aerial photo

Trabuco Hills High School	1999	Yes	No
Cordova Rd. and Los Alisos Finish line is offset 10m. Spectra Turf Spectratrack S	East	9 100m	Aerial photo

Corona del Mar High School	1999	No	No
Eastbluff and Vista del Oro 10 lanes on sprint straight. Black	East	9 100m	Aerial photo

Santa Ana College (also known as Rancho Santiago College)		Yes	Adjustable Outside
17th and College, two lights west of Bristol	North	9 100m	Aerial photo

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Placer County

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Riverside County

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Sacramento County

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Bella Vista High School		No	No
Madison Ave. between McKay St. and Kenneth St. Check out the history of the construction of this track, good pictures Southwestern	South	9	Aerial photo (but if you zoom in, you get the old dirt track)

Cordova High School		No	No
Chase Drive thru Hagen Park I've never been here, but I've been told this track is in a terrible state of disrepair. Bad patches, sections worn through to asphalt in the North turn and a contstant puddle from sprinkler flooding in the South turn--during a track meet. Sounds like this is an old track in need of repair.	South Imperial	10	Aerial photo

Sacramento City College (Hughes Stadium)	Resurf August 2003	Yes	Yes Inside Slice
Sutterville Rd. at 24th Street Obviously I had picked up a picture of a different Hughes Stadium or an artist's conception of work they have yet to perform. This is the same track as before, with many pockmarks from repairs made (near the 100m start). Steeplechase finishes reverse. Wide lanes. Start lines for 2M and some other race as yet undetermined.	South	9 100m	Aerial photo

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San Bernardino County

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Boys Republic High School	2001	No	No
Grand Ave. west of 71 Freeway School entrance next to southbound onramp. It has its own entrance off the public park (lot) entrance road. Track is at south end of the school up against the freeway. This is a small private school. Southwestern	South	6 100m	Aerial photo

Rim of the World High School		No	No
28000 Highway 18 at 6,000 feet Watch outer lanes as they pull out an extention from the stands that covers the lane. This whole school was saved from the October 2003 fires, with hours of dramatic aerial coverage with this track as the key landmark. The new, updated Mapquest image shows the location, but covered in snow. Zaino	East	9	Aerial photo

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San Diego County

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Olympic Training Center	1993	Yes	Adjustable, outside
Wueste Road south of Otay Lakes Rd. Waaay east of town, security won't let you in through the athlete's gate, you have to work your way from the front parking lot) This track has the widest sprint straightaway I've ever seen. 12 lanes. It has adjustable steeplechase barriers and I just found the (covered) water jump. And numerous field event facilities, multiple throws rings etc. multiple vault pits etc. Southwestern Martin ISS	West	9	Aerial photo

Southwestern College	Ancient	No	No
Otay Lakes Rd. and H Street Well hidden, unused and one of the poorest tracks in CA. All the inner lane lines are imperceptible, almost no field event facilities. Go south to the sign pointing to the Soccer Field, turn right and continue past the end of the parking lot. Rubber/Asphalt	South, Imperial	9	Aerial photo

Cuyamaca College		Yes	Stationary
Campo Rd. and Jamaca Rd. (technically this is in an area called Rancho San Diego, south of El Cajon--I can't find a specific political name for this location) This has the widest turns I have seen and the straightaways are 75m	Southwest	9 75m	Aerial photo

University of California, San Diego (UCSD)		Yes	Stationary, Outside
Genessee Ave.and N. Torrey Pines Blvd. west of the I-5 There is a warm up lane inside of the curb. The school's website describes the facility as having 8 lanes--I hope the math department is not introducing some new math.	South	9	Aerial photo

Mira Costa College	1994	Yes	Yes, inside
Barnard Dr. uphill east of College Blvd. Finish line offset 20m Concrete Curb.! Usually locked behind barb wire fences. Southwestern Eurotan	South	9	Aerial photo

Westview High School	2002	No	No
Camino del Sur and Torrey Meadow Dr. A brand new "State of the Art" facility with a fake grass infield. It is in the middle of the Carmel Valley, effectively out in the middle of nowhere west of the I-15. Lots of dead end roads and construction leading to this new area yet to be developed. But with this impressive new high school, watch out. Spectra Turf Spectratrack ISP	Northeast	8 100m	Aerial photo of location (I think)

San Diego State University (SDSU)	March 2000	(Yes)	Adjustable Inside
Montezuma and Campanille, La Mesa Newly installed Mondo with a parking garage under it. This is the same location of the old track, but that was removed for the parking structure. While I visited, the curbing was removed and sitting on the side--during a USATF championship meet that would require it. ! Effective fence and parking garage below works like a moat. Track website link Mondo	East	8	Aerial photo

Palomar College	old	No	No
W. Mission Rd. east of N. Las Posas Rd. Signs indicate track is unsafe to run on. Its in poor condition but it didn't seem that bad to me compared to some others without such a warning--see bottom of this page. There are lots of cracks and the lane lines are only barely perceptable. There is a seam from one resurface effort to a more worn section, through the inside of lane 3 almost all the way around the track. Nearby CSU, SM is much better. Rubber/Asphalt	East Imperial	6	Aerial photo

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San Francisco

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City College of San Francisco	1997	No	Yes (barrier in storage)
Eldton, North of Ocean Ave. Enter through North gate near fieldhouse. ! When I visited, it was locked while they are busy tearing out the infield, I'll guess fake grass is now installed here. See a picture. Southwestern Martin ISS	South	9 98m	Aerial photo

MacAteer High School		No	No
Portola and O'Shaugnessy Shows some signs of wear (bubbles and missing chunks in a few spots). Finish line offset.	South, Imperial	8 103m	Aerial photo

San Francisco State University	Resurf. 2001	(Yes)	(Adjustable inside )
In the center of the campus--at 19th Ave. and Holloway When I visited, the curb was missing but I met the track coach John Johnson who told me it was removed for the graduation ceremonies and will return for track season. That might explain some of the others. He also told me the west gates to the stadium have never been locked and he supports open runners who come out and use the facility (with, of course, due care). He had just padlocked the throwing cage because the soccer players were abusing it for a goal. See the coach to get in. They also have an off site, up hill hammer practice area. Steeplechase equipment is currently missing but the Adjustable is coming before track season 2003. 10m offset finish line. Southwestern	East	8 87m	Aerial Photo

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San Joaquin County

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San Luis Obispo County

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San Luis Obispo County Dirt Tracks

Arroyo Grande High School
Was reported to be starting construction--I saw nothing in May 2003

Morro Bay High School
Was reported to be starting construction in July 2001, when apparently a new curb was put in for a 9 lane dirt track. A note: The curb is not 400 meters or 440 yards, they mismeasured when it was built. I hope they fix this before laying an all weather track. But no sign of an AW surface as of July 2002

California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo (CPSLO)	Resurf. 2001	Yes	Adjustable, Inside
Grand Ave. and Slack Street Finish line offset 10m	South	9 97m	Aerial photo

Cuesta College		Yes	Adjustable, Inside
Highway 1 at Hollister Ave. (waaay out the west end of town) This is a great success story. Once one of the worst tracks in the state, they have completely redone this track into a first rate facility, reversing the finish line in the process. While the picture shows no curb, there was a nice metal curb in place when I visited.	East	9 85m	Aerial photo

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San Mateo County

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Santa Barbara County

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Santa Barbara County Dirt Tracks

Carpinteria High School	1999	No	No
Foothill Rd., East of Linden Ave. Southwestern Eurotan	East	9 94m	Aerial photo

Cate High School	2000	No	No
Casitas Pass Rd. at Livingston Canyon Rd. They claim the longest Long Jump pit--a jumper could jump 35' (not likely) and still be in sand. Finish line offset 10m.	South	6 100m	Aerial photo

Dos Pueblos High School		No	No
Cathedral Oaks Rd. and Alameda Ave. East of Glen Annie Rd., Goleta area Black	South	9 100m	Aerial photo

San Marcos High School	2002	No	No
San Giordiano and Turnpike, North of Hollister Cal Track Cal Trax MS	South	8 100m	Aerial photo of the old track

Santa Barbara City College	1998	Yes	Adjustable Outside
Cabrillo Blvd. at Loma Alta Possbly the most beautiful stadium location in the world. The beach and harbor are immediately across the street. Decent night lighting. Due to prevailing wind they run sprints backward. Due to be resurfaced soon. They have installed a new fake grass infield and moved many of the field event runways in the process. The new fake grass prevents some events from being held there, particularly javelin. Since all events cannot be held, this stadium no longer qualifies to host the major events it had been known for. Editorial. ! Has enormous barricades that need a support pod on track. Some idiots have dragged the pod across the track which has left the most damage of anything. Southwestern Eurotan	West	9 90m	Aerial photo 20 ft.

Santa Barbara High School	Old	No	No
Anapamu and Olive Essentially pavement, very little rubber. Wide turns, the stands arc around one turn as if for baseball (maybe decades ago) but no backstop. Stairs block the outside lanes. Rubber/Asphalt	East Imperial	6 55m	Aerial photo

University of California, Santa Barbara	Resurf. September 2003	Yes	Adjustable Inside
Just inside the West Entrance from Isla Vista The roots of the adjacent row of Eucalyptus trees creates a beautiful windbreak and shade, but also leave a mess of leaves on the track. The roots of those trees uprooted the previous track and a new one had to be installed. 9 lanes on sprint straight.	Southeast	8 99m	Aerial photo