Beynon at the Surface of World-Class Track Venue at the University of Georgia

Bulldogs’ new track facility is a dream come true that’s built for championship speed.

As the University of Georgia (UGA) prepares to host the Spec Towns Invitational (April 9-11), its first home meet since 2023, recent championships and accolades have fueled a rising momentum around the program. The school’s brand-new, $59.8 million Track & Field Complex, which features Beynon Sports track surfacing and will host the invitational, is a shining reflection of that success.

While the new facility held its ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony in February, an equally meaningful celebration occurred over a month earlier. The men’s and women’s track teams started 2026 with a tour of the 34,700-square-foot complex, conducted by Josh Brooks, J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics, Caryl Smith Gilbert, Director of Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, and Karim Abdel Wahab, Associate Head Coach (Sprints, Hurdles).

For Beynon, moments like these, when athletes take their first steps on a facility’s new track system, always serve as an important reminder of those who benefit from all the hard work that made it a reality. That sentiment was further emphasized by Brooks, who spoke to what the development meant for future track and field aspirants.

"This facility is more than just the athletic department and more than just our city; this will be tremendous for our community," he said at the dedication. "That means that every young boy and girl in Georgia can dream and have the opportunity to compete on this track. This will be a facility that so many will get to love and cherish and use."

Adding to the track’s significance is the inclusion of a plaque in memory of Mike Smoak, a Beynon team member for over 15 years. Smoak, who was Director of Southeast Sales and dedicated to helping hundreds of schools and surrounding municipalities improve their athletic facilities, passed away early last year. Born in Atlanta, he was a UGA student and played football for the Bulldogs, making Beynon’s role in the new complex one that would have meant a great deal to him.

Smoak played a key role as part of a Beynon team that has collaborated with and nurtured relationships with an impressive list of DI schools to which UGA can now be added. When it comes to the Bulldogs, that level of impressiveness has been notable, especially since the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships, where the men and women both finished second.

UGA Building a Championship Legacy

Following their indoor title, the women won the program’s first SEC Outdoor Championship since 2006, which was immediately followed by their first-ever national outdoor title. The latter took place at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field, a World Athletics Class I Certified Facility that has used Beynon track systems since 1995 and hosted dozens of record-breaking performances.

2026 has already seen the Georgia women capture the program’s second indoor national team title. That win set up Smith Gilbert's recent naming as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Women's Coach of the Year.

The record-breaking potential of Beynon track surfacing, combined with the excellence displayed by Smith Gilbert’s teams, will provide immediate excitement at Spec Towns Track—the name of the new complex’s nine-lane 400-meter track. She spoke to that sense of anticipation at the February ribbon-cutting.

"This is an exciting time for Georgia track and field with SEC and NCAA team titles coming last year, records at the highest level falling already this year, and current and former Bulldogs not only competing professionally and internationally, but bringing medals home to Athens and their homes," Smith Gilbert said. "I am confident this trend of success will only continue to flourish in the years to come, and I am beyond excited that memorable moments will be made at this incredible new home for the Georgia track and field family."

In addition to the main track, the facility boasts one of the premier throwing areas in the country, featuring two shot put rings, two discus and hammer throw rings, and four javelin runways. There are also five 100-meter indoor warm-up lanes under the grandstand, six 110-meter outdoor warm-up lanes outside the backstretch, along with a turf training area and a 110-meter training hill.

Following the Spec Towns Invitational, the venue is scheduled to host the Torrin Lawrence Memorial (May 1-2) and the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) State Track Meet (May 11-14). The UGA venue is also expected to emerge as a regular host of other elite regional competitions.

In addition to UGA and Oregon, other DI schools with Beynon Sports track systems include:

• University of Texas
• Texas Tech University
• Auburn University
• University of North Carolina
• University of Tennessee
• Florida State University
• Oklahoma State University
• University of Michigan
• University of Illinois
• University of Kansas