The eight-lane synthetic 400m track at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) is almost completed following a two-month delay caused by drought conditions.

The track, which was constructed by German-based specialist BSW-Regupol, was originally scheduled for completion at the end of February.

 

A section of the eight-lane synthetic 400m track at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies.

When the Observer visited the UWI last Saturday, workmen were busy colouring the track surface in blue.

The track was gifted to Jamaica's triple Olympic and World championship gold medallist Usain Bolt last December.

The track, which will be utilised by athletes from UWI, Racers Track Club and IAAF High Performance Training Centre, will be handed over to Usain Bolt in a ceremony on April 30.

Regupol is the company that constructed the blue track for this summer's 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany, where Jamaica secured a record 13 medals -- seven gold, four silver and two bronze.

On November 11, 2009, a 20-year agreement was signed by UWI's principal, professor Gordon Shirley, and president of the Racers Track Club, Glen Mills, as the institution moves to pair sporting excellence with science to establish itself as the premier facilitator of sports development in the region.