Tsukuba University's track in Tsukuba, Ibaraki may lose its certification from the JAAF as an officially-certfed facility due to wear and tear on the track surface and other shortcomings. The track is used to hold meets for local high school and junior high school students, but without official certification the future of these meets would be in question. The university is seeking funding of over 30 million yen [~$230,000 USD] in order to update and maintain the city's only certified track.
Track certification is divided into four categories that determine the level of competition that can be held at a facility. Certification depends on factors such as the number of lanes, seating capacity, and presence or absence of a warmup track. The Tsukuba University track is certified as a level three facility, meaning it is suitable for regional competitions.
Built in 1973, the Tsukuba University track is one of only eight certified facilities in the prefecture of Ibaraki. It is mostly used for the university track team's practices and for sports education, but an estimated 3000 to 5000 local junior high, high school and corporate league runners also take part in the Tsukuba University Time Trials series of meets held seven times a year. Japanese national records have been set there, and women's javelin throw NR holder Haruka Kitaguchi 25, competed there last May just two months before winning her historic bronze medal at the Oregon World Championships.
According to university officials, in preparation for renewal of the track's certification, which takes place once every five years, after examining the facility in 2021 the JAAF gave them a list of 30 problems including lane width, track surface, turf and sand quality, which would make it ineligible for recertification. The university made efforts to meet JAAF demands and aimed to complete renewal of the facility by the end of March last year. But although half the items on the list have been ticked off, work on the other fifteen, including adjustment of lane widths for the runways used in the long jump and pole vault, has not yet started due to budget constraints. In order for the track's certification to be renewed all work must be completed by the end of March this year, but that is expected to cost another 33.33 million yen [~$255,000 USD]. A university official commented, "The university cannot cover that budget outlay by itself."
If the track's certification is not renewed, performances there will not be recognized as official marks. The nearest alternative is in Ishioka over 20 km away. Tsukuba University track and field team representative Ryoka Ikeda, 22, commented, "If we can't have meets here anymore then local students won't have anywhere in the city to run official times." The city government has plans to build an official track and field facility, but that will not finished until 2027.
As a result, last November the university began fundraising efforts to pay for the remaining renovations to the existing facility. The "Tsukuba Futureship" fund was set up as a platform through which to receive independent funding contributions and can take donations of a minimum of 1000 yen [~$7.50 USD]. As of Jan. 11 the fund has collected 14 million yen [~$107,000 USD]. The university plans to continue efforts until its fundraising target of 30 million yen is reached. "We hope that the list of contributors will grow beyond just our alumni and alumnae," an official commented.
translated by Brett Larner
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