Training is a year-round commitment for University of Pennsylvania student-athletes.
Right on Track
A generous gift from Jay Alix, W’77, will support the construction of a new indoor track & field facility, the first of its kind in greater Philadelphia
Published: April 15, 2022
For decades, Penn’s track and field athletes trained outdoors, undeterred by rain, snow, or extreme heat. There were winters when the team shoveled snow at Franklin Field just to get on the track. Those days will soon be a distant memory, thanks to a $17.5 million gift from Jay Alix, W’77.
His gift will allow construction to begin on this long-planned indoor track and field facility. Once complete, the new track & field center will be the only collegiate indoor facility of its kind in the greater Philadelphia region.
Alix’s commitment complements a lead gift from Jane Ott, W’87, and David Ott, W’85, and will name the Jay Alix Throws Area in the new Jane and David Ott Center for Track & Field.
The planned 73,000-square-foot structure will be located adjacent to the existing Hollenback Center near the South Street Bridge. Designed specifically for track and field, it will include a six-lane, 200-meter banked track; an eight-lane sprint track; dedicated areas for field events; and seating for spectators during competitions. Construction is slated to begin in late summer, 2022.
For Alix, this gift is personal. “My time at Penn was made all the more memorable by training and competing as a thrower, often in inclement weather. Track and field is an incredibly diverse sport and serves as an ideal platform for students to develop the teamwork and leadership skills that will serve them far beyond their college years. Investing in these talented student-athletes is more important than ever. I am pleased to help launch this new facility into construction. It will build on Penn’s legacy of track and field achievement to create an even brighter future for Penn athletes.”
Tamara Grahovac, C’23, goes the distance in the triple jump.
Olatide Abinusawa, C’23, competes in shot put.
Sprinter Camille Dickson, C’21, races to the finish line.
High jumper Demitri Whitsett, W’21, sails over the bar.
The planned Ott Center will offer countless benefits to Penn’s track and field athletes. “This modern venue will not only allow us to attract elite scholar-athletes but will also serve as a home for Penn’s cross country and track & field teams,” said Steve Dolan, James P. Tuppeny/Betty J. Costanza Director of Track & Field/Cross-Country.
Alanna Shanahan, C’96, T. Gibbs Kane, Jr., W’69, Director of Athletics and Recreation, sees the impact through an even wider lens. “We are so thankful to Jay for his generosity to this project. With new, state-of-the-art facilities like the Jay Alix Throws Area in the Ott Center, Penn Athletics is elevating its profile nationally while expanding the experiences we offer our scholar-athletes. In addition to inspiring excellence for Penn’s track and field athletes, the Ott Center will also have a positive impact far beyond athletics, serving as a welcoming hub for recreation and wellness for the greater Penn and West Philadelphia communities.”
Additional naming opportunities in the new facility are available. Please contact Tim Folan, Senior Associate Athletics Director, to learn more: (215) 573-0315 or tfolan@upenn.edu.
