Community effort leads to new jump pits at Superior H.S.

Long before school and the spring track season were put on hold, gears were in motion to refurbish the jump pits at Superior High School.

They’d served their needs and school maintenance can only repair them for so many years before it makes sense to do it correct. But was there a budget? Who could do it and would be willing to give the school a break in

costs?

“This was a project that kept being put on the back burner,” said Byron Quinlan, Superior School Athletic Director. “We’re still on Cloud 9 with our new gym floor and new basketball hoops but it was time to look at other needs for athletics. We wanted to clean up our existing long and triple jump area and reconfigure the space for better use,”

Track coaches Jaime Toivonen, Chris Quinlivan, April Quinlan, Erik Johnson and Josh Reese were excited but reserved as they didn’t want to get their hopes up in case the project went south. Snow was still on the ground when the discussion went into drive and tangible results started happening.

Byron Quinlan approached Darin Haskins of Haskins Excavating and Rusty Parkin with White Resources Group, Inc. and they jumped all over it!

Students from Jeff Schultz’s construction class came on board to help and were able to gain some hands-on knowledge about concrete working (forming, pouring and finishing) while providing service to to Superior High School.

From the first shovel full of dirt in early March to the finished project, it took just two weeks.

“The border around the new pits will allow us to better maintain the sand for our jumpers which will really benefit us in the future when we host track meets. But we had also added another runway to free up space for our pole vaulters and jumpers which will allow them to be able to practice or compete at the same time,” said Quinlan.

Things were all ready for the season to begin, but then came the coronavirus.

So, it appears the 2020-21 school year will have the honor of practicing and competing on a new course that came to be from kind-hearted businesses and student volunteers a year earlier.

“Honestly, Darin and Rusty along with John Peterson and Laddie Nakosane with White Resources Group did an outstanding job with the project, and with teaching our students,” said Quinlan.

The school covered the cost of concrete and sand.

“We (Superior Schools) sure appreciated all their efforts on this project!” Quinlan said.