Furman University, which over the years has claimed a number of Southern Conference titles in track and cross country and hosted a pair of NCAA national cross country championships, announced in April of 2007 the planned construction of a new $2.5 million track house and a new track complex.

The first phase of the project will be a two-story, 6,000-square-foot track house that will be situated atop the hill overlooking the track, off Cherrydale Lane. It will include locker rooms for the men's and women's teams, coaches' offices, a reception area, a warm-up area for athletes, and more.

Attached to the track house will be a new 2,000-square-foot laboratory for the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training faculty.

The new track house also includes subsequent plans to renovate the existing Irwin Belk Complex For Track & Field, install lights, construct bleacher seating for 1,500, erect a press box, and add parking.

"This will help us do things we couldn't do before," said veteran Paladins' head cross country and track and field coach Gene Mullin. The facility construction and improvements announcement came in conjunction with the Asics Blue Shoes Mile banquet held in April at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville. Over 400 alumni and others, including 1972 U.S. Olympic gold medalist in the 800 meters, Dave Wottle, and former Boston Marathon winner Amby Burfoot, were on hand for the eventful weekend that also included the second annual Asics Blue Shoes Mile run. Renown distance runner Alan Webb capped the event, attended by over 3,000 fans, by recording the first-ever sub-4-minute mile on a South Carolina track with a time of 3:57.83.

The brainchild of former Paladin runner Chris Borch '78, the Asics Blue Shoes Mile and related fund-raising efforts have already secured nearly $2 million for athletic scholarships.

"With track," said Borch, "I learned passion. Track is one of the last pure sports. It brings out in us the things that we admire in others."