UPDATE: A crew brought in by Field Turf, King Sports Construction, arrived before 10 a.m. this morning to begin work on cleaning up the track at Wayne Jamison Field. The group is shown  above starting their work at around 9:30 a.m. today.

 

ORIGINAL: Despite being entirely covered, it doesn’t appear as if the track at Wayne Jamison Field or the artificial surface at the complex suffered any significant damage as the result of the flooding that hit the area Monday, according to Bridgeport High School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Matt DeMotto.

 

What that means is that the annual Harry Green Invitational will take place as scheduled on Saturday. The track meet is the biggest home meet of the year for the Indians and has turned into one of the biggest in the state.

 

While the track appears to be fine, it will be getting work done on it today. The receding flood waters left a relatively fine coat of dust on the six-lane, all-weather surface. DeMotto said a crew from Field Turf, who will also be back Monday to look at the artificial surface, will handle the cleaning of the track.

 

“There’s what looks to be a layer of dust on the track. I definitely wouldn’t say there’s a mud or debris issue,” said DeMotto.

 

The company will be bringing in a special device to clean the track off. It will have a brush apparatus on the front of it to gently remove the thin silt-like material without damaging the surface.

 

DeMotto is hoping Field Turf also reports the turf is in good shape. During his own inspection earlier this week and again on Wednesday, DeMotto said there’s nothing apparent – as far as damage – and there doesn’t appear to be much as far as left over residue from the receding waters.

 

“On the fibers of the turf you can see that it’s dirty, but not real think. Nothing is caked on,” said DeMotto. “It’s not thick and I think we’re lucky in that regard.” 

 

The artificial surface, although not used during the track meet events, is used by the track athletes. They stretch, gather and relax on the infield during the hours-long meet. Because of that DeMotto checked with Field Turf about other concerns beyond damage to the surface.

 

As the leader in artificial playing surfaces, addressing fields that have flooded is not a first for them, DeMotto said. In fact, he said they were quick to address the concern and nearly as quick to schedule a crew to visit Bridgeport.

 

“My first concern was what about the sanitary conditions. Field Turf told us that ultra violet radiation will take care of that problem and an hour of sunlight will kill microbes, which we got (Wednesday) already,” said DeMotto. “Kids want to lay down and stretch and that’s the concern. We’ve been told by the experts at Field Turf that there will be no microbes if we get that ultraviolet time and we’ve already had it.”

 

According to DeMotto, he said the Field Turf representative explained the process of how it worked to kill microbes. He said the representative cited a Penn State University study as they key reason they are comfortable with having the meet move ahead.

 

“If we thought it was going to be unsanitary then we would not be having a track meet,” said BHS Principal Mark DeFazio.

 

DeMotto also said despite seeing aerial and other photos of the flooded field he was optimistic the turf would be in good shape. And it had to do with the product.

 

“We spent extra money for (the turf) and our rubber pellets are cryogenic, which means the process of making them means they’re more dense than water so they will sink in the water and not float,” said DeMotto. “Most of what the turf is on that field is rubber and not the fibers you see.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Matt DeMotto looking over the track that is slightly discolored from a fine layer of material left from the departing flood waters, while he checks the rubber pellets that look to be in good shape as well despite the field being under water for hours on Monday.