‘We don’t want to delay track resurfacing’

Northern Marianas Sports Association executive director Tony Rogolifoi doesn’t want to further delay the resurfacing of the Oleai track and field facility to avoid the rainy season, which usually starts in June.

Rogolifoi added that getting the facility back to its Level II certification from the International Association of Athletics Federations is their top priority.

“Further delay would cost us. We don’t want to delay this project because we’re trying to avoid the rainy season. Renovating this facility is our top priority this year,” Rogolifoi told SaipanTribune in an interview yesterday.

Rogolifoi said that he is in constant communication with NMSA vice president Kurt Barnes regarding the project. Barnes is off-island, but is expected to return to Saipan this week

“I’ve been communicating with Kurt through email and he still needs to go through the documents that we submitted to Northern Marianas Housing Corp.,” the NMSA executive director added.

Bubbles that deformed the Oleai track oval can be seen around the decade-old facility. Northern Marianas Sports Association is working to have the track regain its Level II certification from the International Association of Athletics Federations. (Jon Perez)

NMSA has completed all the paperwork required by the NMHC, which will later give the clearance to begin the project.

“We already gave NMHC the figures and they will inform us immediately on how to proceed with the project.”

Rogolifoi said that NMSA is hoping to begin the bidding process by mid January with the winning contractor tasks to remove the old track surface and replace it with a new one.

“Once we get the clearance, renovation of the track will go in full swing. And hopefully renovation will start by March or earlier,” said Rogolifoi.

At least two months are needed for the actual process of putting the adhesive and laying out the track. The winning contractor needs to make sure the adhesive dries accordingly before putting down the new track surface.

A Community Development Block Grant from NMHC is funding the resurfacing of the track, which continues to have black patches and bubbles forming on the decades-old facility.

Rogolifoi, in an earlier interview, said that they would stick with the amount given for the project by carefully monitoring their expenses to avoid going beyond the money appropriated. NMSA, which declined to divulge the amount of the project for now, wants to make sure there won’t be any discrepancy on the figures they submitted to NMHC for a smooth bidding process.

Once the resurfacing project is completed, NMSA aims to open the track facility by May in time for several events organized by Northern Marianas Athletics, which is planning to bid for the hosting rights for the 2017 Micronesian Athletics Championships. The new track oval, which will have a light blue color and not the usual pinkish-red hue, will also serve as one of the facilities when the CNMI hosts the 2021 Pacific Mini Games.