The facilities at the University of Tennessee are among the best in the nation, and Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium serves as yet another example of that fact. The eight-lane oval with a Rekortan surface, situated in the heart of campus, is named after the Knoxville business leader whose generosity paved the way for its early development. The stadium, meanwhile, was named after the LaPorte Family of Elizabethton, Tenn., and Houston, Texas, in November 2005 for the family’s generous contributions toward enhancing the overall ambience of the facility.

The storied venue underwent major renovation in 1992 to improve its practicality and appearance. Those alterations, combined with a resurfacing project that took place in the fall of 2002, ensured that the Big Orange venue continued to rank among the country’s best. More renovations are in store this year, in anticipation of UT playing host to the 2010 SEC Outdoor Championships.

Three primary changes were made to the facility in ’92: the moving of the start/finish line to the south side of the track to best utilize favorable wind conditions, the addition of 2,500 temporary bleachers, and the redesigning and resurfacing of several field event areas. In the spring of 2001, the impressive Thornton Athletics Student Life Center was added, enhancing the skyline on the southeast corner.

In 2003, thanks to the LaPorte family, the property was altered in a positive manner once more in preparation for the Southeastern Conference Championships. A state-of-the-art Daktronics video timing board was installed on the east end, a concessions/storage building and bleacher seating were added to the south side, and cosmetic touches were made by paving areas adjacent to the track, remodeling the timing booth, replacing old fencing and utilizing decorative landscaping. Upgrades also include a new entry gate as well as brick columns and wrought iron fencing around the premises.

Tom Black Track has been the site of several prestigious meets through the years, such as the 1993 and 2003 SEC Championships, the 1994 and 2005 USA Track & Field Youth National Championships, the 1994 USA Track & Field Championships, the 1995 NCAA Championships, the 2006 NCAA Mideast Regional and the 2002 and 2007 AAU Junior Olympics.

On an annual basis, the facility is home to a variety of dual and invitational events, as well as the Sea Ray Relays, which are sponsored by a local boat manufacturing company.

Get a Bird's Eye View
An overhead shot of Tom Black Track with Neyland Stadium, the Tennessee River and downtown Knoxville visible at the top of the photo.

Runners Take Your Mark

Located in the center of campus, diagonally across Volunteer Boulevard from Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium, the William B. Stokely Athletics Center has served as the home of University of Tennessee track & field indoor practices and meets. Since 2008, the Lady Vols have had the facility at their full disposal for in-season track & field workouts, as the basketball team, with the construction of the Pratt Pavilion, no longer needed Stokely as a back-up option to Thompson-Boling Arena for practice.

Dedicated in 1958 as the UT Armory Fieldhouse with a seating capacity of 7,000, it was later renamed in honor of the late William B. Stokely Jr., whose generosity resulted in renovations that brought the total number of seats to 12,700. Prior to the 2000 track & field season, the floor of the Stokely Center was completely replaced, providing the Lady Vols with a much-improved training and competition surface.

Since those refurbishments took place, 10 facility records were broken by women, including seven in running events. The most recent marks to be updated were in the 55-meter hurdles and the 20-pound weight throw. Lady Vols Celriece Law and Ariel Brooks improved those standards to 7.70 seconds and 65 feet, 4.75 inches, respectively, during the 2006 season.

In addition to track & field, the arena portion of the building is also the site of Lady Vol volleyball practices and had served as a back-up practice site for the Tennessee women's and men's basketball teams. Stokely was the primary competition and practice facility used by both the men's basketball team (1967-87) and Head Coach Pat Summitt's eight-time national champion women's squad from 1976-87.

The building also continues to house some of the administrative support offices of the UT Women's and Men's Athletics Departments as well as Army and Air Force ROTC. For the past 33 years, many of the women's athletics offices have been housed in Stokely. Those still operating in the building include athletic training, compliance, event management, media relations and strength and conditioning as well as the coaching staffs for golf, rowing, softball, track & field and volleyball. Adding to the structure's list of virtues is the location within of the largest women's-only weight room facility in the nation as well as a state-of-the-art training room. Both gems are located on the east end of the SAC.

See the sprint lanes.

See the whole indoor facility.