The University of Georgia held a dedication ceremony on February 18, 2026, for its new Track and Field Complex on South Milledge Avenue in Athens. The $59.8 million facility, funded by private donations, replaces the 1965 Spec Towns Track and features advanced amenities for athletes and the community. Speakers highlighted its role in supporting Georgia's track program and hosting major events.
On February 18, 2026, members of the University of Georgia and the UGA Athletic Association gathered to dedicate the new UGA Track and Field Complex, a 37-acre site spanning 34,700 square feet. Located on South Milledge Avenue across from the Jack Turner Family Complex, the facility includes the nine-lane, 400-meter Spec Towns Track named after 1936 Olympic gold medalist Forrest “Spec” Towns, who coached at Georgia. It features infield areas for long jump, triple jump, and pole vault; premier throwing zones with two shot put rings, two discus and hammer throw rings, and four javelin runways; five 100-meter indoor warm-up lanes under the grandstand; six 110-meter outdoor warm-up lanes; a turf training area; and a 110-meter training hill. The grandstand seats 2,500, expandable to 4,033, with added press box, concessions, and observation deck.
The complex replaces the previous Spec Towns Track built in 1965 near Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall on Lumpkin Street, which will become a football facility. Funded entirely by private donations, it cost $59.8 million and includes indoor medicine and throws training, cross country facilities, and a half-mile loop. UGA President Jere W. Morehead cut the ribbon and stated, “Our world-class athletes deserve nothing less than world-class facilities, and... the new Track and Field Complex certainly lives up to this lofty standard.” Athletic Director Josh Brooks emphasized community impact: “This means every young boy and girl in Georgia can dream and have the opportunity to compete on this track.”
Coach Caryl Smith Gilbert, director of track and field, noted recent successes including SEC and NCAA titles, saying, “I am confident this trend of success will only continue to flourish.” Sprinter Kaila Jackson, a 10-time All-American, added, “I don’t think we realistically imagined that we would have the opportunity to run on the track while still on the roster.” Former coach Lewis Gainey praised the technology: “I don't think there’s a track anywhere in the country that can match what [Georgia athletics has] done here.”
The facility will host the Classic City Invitational on March 7, Spec Towns Invitational April 9-11, Torrin Lawrence Memorial May 2, 2026 GHSA State Championships May 11-14, and SEC Outdoor Championships in 2027. It opens to the public weekdays from 6 a.m. to noon, excluding athletic events.
