Lueza Gelb, wife of Bruce ’45, cuts the track dedication ribbon. PHOTO/Ian Morris

This past Saturday, May 19th 2007, marked a new chapter in the on-going tradition in Choate Rosemary Hall Athletics. Finally, after years of watching neighboring schools install new composite tracks, Choate has a gorgeous track of its own. The Bruce ’45 and Lueza Gelb Track and Field Facility was finally christened this past weekend. The event was the athletic headline of Alumni Weekend, and it showed. Many dignitaries attended the event such as former Olympic Athletes Otis Davis, James E. Fuchs, Lindy J. Remigino, and Victor Frank. Many Board-Members and other distinguished participants also attended.

The dedication itself was a spectacular event. Athletic Director, Ned Gallagher, was the emcee of the dedication on the same day his Varsity Tennis team participated in the New England Tournament. He did a brilliant job. Before the ceremonial ribbon cutting occurred, many people spoke. The ceremony started off with a Choate Track Alum and former captain, Nikisha Pitter Alcindor ‘96 singing a stirring rendition of the National Anthem. After that, all of the former Olympic athletes who attended the event spoke briefly on the importance and meaning of having a beautiful Track facility that this school now owns. The lead donors were also introduced and were gratefully thanked for all the help they provided the school. Finally, just before the ribbon-cutting occurred, the Chairman of the Board, Herbert Kohler, once again sincerely thanked Bruce and Lueza for all their help and dedication to not only this project but to Choate Rosemary Hall as a whole. To “put the icing on the cake”, Mrs. Lueza Gelb had the honor of being the one to cut the ribbon marking the opening of this beautiful new facility.

The facility will be used for many different events. The track will have eight lanes, in an oval that goes 400 meters around. Within the oval there will be a natural grass field used by many teams. Finally, just next to the track will be a separate field that will host a host of Track and Field events, such as the long jump and pole vault. The track however has yet to be filled with the concrete surface, but this will be completed within the next several weeks. The track and the natural grass field within it will normally be used by field hockey teams in the fall, obviously by the Track teams in the spring, and may also possibly host lacrosse teams during the spring season. The real beauty of the track is that it is not only a major upgrade for several of Choate’s teams, but it is a major upgrade to all the facilities. Other athletes can use the new track to run laps and get in tip-top shape, or people who are just looking to get outside for a nice walk can use the track as well. Anyone in the Choate community can take advantage of this new state-of–the-art facility.

The impact this new facility will have on Choate will last for many generations to come. It will improve Choate’s image both athletically and aesthetically. “Hopefully we will be able to host The Founders League Tournament for Track and Field either next year or in 2009,” said Gallagher. The new track comes as a blessing for not only athletics at Choate but also for the community.