Kent State Field House Fast Facts
Opened: 1990
Features: Mondotrack FTX (6 lanes); full-size artificial turf field
Home of: Indoor Track & Field
Directions to Kent State Field House
The men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams call the Kent State Field House home. The building, which was opened in 1990, is a $6.5 million state-of-the-art facility.
In May of 2014, Kent State University coaches and athletes joined various administrators and donors for a groundbreaking ceremony, celebrating the construction of a $4.5 million dollar addition to the current Field House.
The new building, which was added to the south side of the Field House, now provides locker rooms for field hockey, softball, women's soccer and men's and women's track & field athletes. The building also include coaches locker rooms, athletic training facilities and a new entryway into the Field House.
Currently, located inside the building is a six-lane 292-meter Mondotrack FTX surface track with eight lane straightaway, dual long jump pits, which includes a new elevated long-jump and triple jump runway and landing pit, dual high jump pits, dual pole vault pits, throwing areas including a new Thunder dome throwing cage. The infield of the track features a full-size artificial turf field. In December 2019, the infield underwent a half-million dollar renovation to replace the turf. This renovation has made it possible to install a raised high jump, previously seen only at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Washington.
Other features of the Field House include observation towers for filming and houses a 5,000 square foot weight-training complex used by Kent State student-athletes. Among the weight room features are 66 Eagle Cybex machines. In 2012, the weight room at the Field House was renamed the James Harrison Strength and Conditioning Center in recognition of Harrison's significant donation to the Kent State Department of Athletics.
Due to its versatility, the Field House serves as a practice facility for Kent State field hockey, football, and soccer teams when inclement weather arises. A series of nets can be dropped from the ceiling to divide the field into separate practice areas for multiple users.
During the NCAA outdoor track and field season, Kent State trains at the Kent State Outdoor Track.
