KINGSTON, R.I. – Oct. 23, 2026 – The University of Rhode Island’s championship-winning track and field programs now have a new home on the Kingston Campus. The University celebrated the new facility—which features an Olympic-caliber design—with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 21.

“These are championship-caliber student-athletes who deserve championship-caliber facilities,” said URI President Marc Parlange. “Recognizing the moment as more than a facility opening, Parlange said, “This is about giving our student-athletes the resources they need to compete at the highest level.”

A large audience of URI students, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters, local and state elected leaders, and members of the Board of Trustees joined in the celebration, which marked a major milestone in a series of $65.8 million upgrades to athletic facilities at URI.

URI men’s track and field head coach Trent Baltzell highlighted the exceptional quality of the facility.

“What you see in front of you is beyond what we coaches were imagining during the initial design process,” he said. “From a functionality and meet management perspective, this track and field facility has no equal in this region of the country.”

The complex features a nine-lane track, multiple jump runways, including two long/triple jump runways with four sand pits, two pole vault runways with four pole vault boxes, and two high jump areas. Adjacent to the track is a separate facility for hammer, javelin, shot put, and discus throwing.

The facility also includes an aluminum bleacher grandstand and a press box with an accessible lift. The complex also includes a new digital display scoreboard, a dedicated track storage facility, a restroom building that will be shared with the soccer facility, and a new lands and grounds support building.

The facility is in a traditionally windy part of the URI campus. And while one might think that would be less than ideal for sports in which winning times and measurements are determined by the smallest of margins, Baltzell explained why the wind will be an advantage, not a disadvantage.

“The track is oriented in a south to north fashion, which coincides with the primary wind direction,” he said. “Athletes are going to move faster when having a wind at their backs. Sprinters, hurdlers, pole vaulters, long jumpers, and triple jumpers are going to love competing at URI. And, if the wind happens to be heading south, like it is today, that’s no problem—we can turn all events around in the opposite direction.”

Among those who are excited about the new facility was Laurie Feit-Melnick, who’s been the women’s track and field head coach since 1992. Feit-Melnick succeeded Lauren Anderson, URI’s first women’s track coach, who was also present for the ceremony.

“This is not just a tremendous addition for our current and future athletes, but for the entire athletic department, the URI community and the state of Rhode Island,” said Feit-Melnick. “This will be the first of many events we host. We look forward to hosting the Atlantic 10 Conference outdoor championships, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League high school state meet, and the Rhode Island Special Olympics, in addition to camps and clinics at this phenomenal facility.”

On April 3, 2027, URI will host an outdoor track and field meet for the first time in 32 years. The Rams will welcome teams from other Rhode Island colleges and universities to Kingston for the Ocean State Cup.

Lily Saul and Adam Melnick, two fifth-year student-athletes, represented URI’s championship women’s and men’s track and field teams.

“This facility will have an incredible impact on the future of URI track and field,” said Saul, who is from Montoursville, Pennsylvania. “It will help us continue to develop as athletes, compete at a higher level, and attract talented student-athletes who want to be part of a program that is investing in its future. I am excited to see the records that will be broken, the accomplishments that will be celebrated, and the memories that future generations of Rams will make here.”

Having grown up in nearby Narragansett, Melnick expressed how much the new facility will mean to track and field athletes in Rhode Island.

“To have a world-class facility right here in our own backyard is a tremendous opportunity for athletes of all ages,” said Melnick. “This is something I would have loved to have as a young athlete.”

Representing the URI Board of Trustees, Matt Lenz thanked elected leaders and donors for their support.

“The University has incredible momentum, and with the continued support of our state leaders and donors, we will continue to unlock the full potential of URI,” said Lenz.

Parlange also expressed the University’s appreciation for the efforts of state elected leaders. “This project was made possible because of the vision and support of so many,” he said, “including our state leaders, Governor McKee; Speaker Blazejewski; Senate President Lawson; our South County delegation-Senators Sosnowski and DiMario, and Representatives Fogarty, McEntee, and Tanzi; and former Speaker Shekarchi and the late Senate President Ruggerio.”

State Representative Kathy Fogarty commented on URI’s positive momentum and continued improvement to campus facilities.

“Within the last few months, we held an underwater ribbon cutting ceremony as part of the multi-phase renovation of the Narragansett Bay Campus, a ribbon cutting for the new fine arts building, and the track and field facility,” said Fogarty. “These improvements strengthen the university by attracting talented scholars and athletes to a campus that’s already one of the most beautiful in New England.”

“We take great pride in Rams athletics, and we want all students to have access to world-class facilities, whether they are competing at the highest levels, pursuing personal fitness, or anything in between,” said Senator Sue Sosnowski.

Vice President and Director of Athletics Pat Lyons thanked everyone involved in the fundraising, planning, and construction of the new facility.

“We look forward to showing off this outstanding facility every chance that we get,” said Lyons. “This facility is truly what makes the state of Rhode Island and the University of Rhode Island so special.”

Lyons, Parlange, and others also thanked Peter ’97 and Jocelyn ’00, M.S.’22 Sherman for their donation. As student-athletes at URI, Peter threw the hammer and Jocelyn threw the javelin. Their gift, made in memory of their friend and teammate Stephen DeMinico ’98, will go toward naming the hammer and javelin area.

The ceremony concluded with the crowd cheering on the URI mascot, Rhody, who broke through the ribbon in slow motion to the theme song from the movie “Chariots of Fire.”