Construction will begin in August to revitalize the Jack Osborne Track Complex thanks to more than 140 donors who contributed $1.1 million to a Hastings College Foundation fundraising campaign co-chaired by Justin Osborne and Tamisha Rose-Osgood ‘06.
Osborne is a member of the College’s Board of Trustees, and Rose-Osgood is a 2006 graduate, track and field record holder and a member of the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
“It is amazing to see this much support for the Hastings College track and field program, and everyone is really excited and looking forward to using the facility when the upgrades are completed,” said Veronica Pinkerton, a graduating senior and member of the Hastings College track and field team. “On behalf of current and future student athletes, thank you to all who contributed to this project!”
The total raised exceeded the original goal, which allows the project to include additional seating, an updated entrance to the facility and additional sidewalks to improve accessibility.
“From project conception and the scope of work through the final push of fundraising, it has been incredible to work with our co-chairs, as well as John Northrop, who was one of our initial supporters and a childhood friend of Jack,” said Chris Clements, Hastings College athletic director. “We were able to raise these funds in about seven months, and I have been amazed at how alumni, friends, and the community have come together to see it through. It’s a great way to honor the late Jack Osborne and the Osborne family.”
Because of these upgrades, Hastings College will host the GPAC conference in April 2025 and will be able to host other high school and college track and field events that will bring visitors to the community.
Planned upgrades include:
- Resurfacing the 400-meter, 8-lane track with high-performance material
- A new long jump runway and two landing pits
- A new discus pad and net system
- A new steeplechase
- Adding concrete and bleachers to seat 500 people
- More than 900 feet of accessible sidewalks
- An updated facility entrance
- Black vinyl perimeter fence around the track itself
“I am excited for improvements on the Jack Osborne Track Complex. They will bring us up to a level that we can host meets and feature our student athletes at their home facility,” said head track and field coach Ryan Mahoney. “The resurfacing of the track and reconstruction of our steeple pit is much needed for the health and safety of our athletes. The addition of extra long and triple jump pits and runways, along with an additional discus ring, will provide more room and competitive spaces for our athletes in practice and meets. The addition of fencing and permanent stands brings us up to a standard that is needed to compete at our level.”
Honoring the late Jack Osborne ‘63
The track and field complex is named after the former College trustee, Hastings business owner, community supporter, record-breaking athlete and Hastings College legacy John C. “Jack” Osborne, who passed away in 2018.
Osborne lettered in football at Hastings College, but his specialty was on the oval, as he was a record-setting track competitor. In his junior and senior years, he placed in at least one event in every track meet he participated in. He won multiple events at Nebraska College Conference meets during his career and, in 1962, set the College’s broad jump record with a leap of 24 feet, 4 and 1/2 inches — a record he held until 2005.
He was inducted into the Hastings College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990 and, for his long service to and support of the College, was inducted into the Pro Rege Society in 2007.
Hastings College is a four-year residential college that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. Discover more at hastings.edu.
