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Ragin’ Cajuns Track/Soccer Facility
Sited just west of Cajun Field, the Ragin’ Cajuns Track/Soccer Facility is one of the most picturesque and modern facilities in the South. Bordered by beautiful southern longleaf pines on two sides, the eight-lane, 400-meter facility seats approximately 5,000 and contains a 24-seat air-conditioned press box for media coverage. The infield was redone in the spring of 2005 to provide a 75’ x 120’ soccer field complete with Hybrid Bermuda grass.
The facility was dedicated on Aug. 28, 2005 before the soccer team played to a 1-1 draw vs. Tulsa. The Cajuns played two full seasons of soccer at the facility prior to hosting the 2006 Sun Belt Conference Soccer Tournament in November of that year.
The soccer benches have a Plexiglas cover complete with a cooling system.
The soccer field also doubles as a warm-up area during track meets. In addition, the facility has a 30-foot tower for filming and has sufficient lighting to host matches in the evening.
An additional Javelin runway and shot ring were recently added outside of the facility, along with a satellite weight room for the convenience of on-site training for athletes. Along with the aforementioned is a newly renovated Discus and Hammer circle, complete with a new I.A.A.F. certified Hammer and Discus cage. The track, which was resurfaced in March of 2005, has been hailed as one of the fastest surfaces in the South.
The facility also features a fully-automatic timing system and an electronic scoreboard with indicator boards for all events.
The facility has been utilized for a number of championship events. In 1991, it played host to the USA Track & Field National Age Group Championships and has hosted Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2006 and 2007. In addition, the facility has played host to numerous Louisiana High School Regional Championships.
Immediate future plans for the facility include the addition of multiple Long Jump and Triple Jump pits, which will allow UL the capacity to host even larger college and high school meets.
Long term goals for the program are to begin raising funds to upgrade the Track & Field facilities. Included in the plan is a multi-story facility which will be a first class venue. The new facility will consist of offices, meeting rooms, locker rooms, a team lounge, a training room/weight room, several storage and equipment rooms and a deck patio area for viewing pleasure. The location of the facility is planned to be in the northwest corner of the existing facility, where the Shot Put competition is presently conducted.
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