IC News

The dedication marked the culmination of long-held hopes realized through focused planning, generosity, and persistence. Alumni Mike Egan ’84 and Tracy Egan ’84—whose gift made the project possible—were joined by their children and grandchildren for the opening remarks. Alumni and current Bombers later took the first relays on the new surface, and, a few minutes later, past and present Ithaca track athletes gathered in front of the bleachers for a rousing, “Bombers on three!”

After more than a decade, IC’s outdoor track and field programs have a home again: a top-flight, iconically blue facility engineered for performance and striking in its design, built for training and competition, with the added benefit of serving campus wellness and community connection.

Aaron Bouyea, director of intercollegiate athletics, described the complex as both a milestone and a promise: “This track gives our student-athletes a place to train, to compete, and to dream, right here on our campus.”

The Egans’ gift grew from a chance conversation at a 2022 NCAA playoffs football game. After reading about the college’s plans to update the football stadium, Mike Egan ’84 approached Bassett with a simple question: “Where’s the track?” That question led to introductions with then men’s track & field head coach Jim Nichols and a partnership with Vice President for Advancement Laine Norton—and Cornish embraced the idea, championing it from the first conversation to the finish line, making the Egan Family Track & Field Complex a reality.

The weekend’s dedications began a day earlier with the unveiling of the Susan Bassett ’79 Press Box overlooking the track, honoring the recently retired athletics director, whose leadership elevated Bomber athletics to new levels of excellence. President La Jerne Terry Cornish praised both Bassett and donor Bob Berry ’70, whose generosity funded the structure, noting Bassett’s record of championship titles and her role in raising the visibility and distinction of IC athletics. Cornish lauded their shared commitment to “creating spaces where achievement can be witnessed, celebrated, and remembered.”

Bassett reflected on the work that turned a long-discussed idea into a facility the college can be proud of. “When Ithaca College decides to invest, expand, improve, and build,” she said, “we do things the right way. A project of this magnitude takes time, careful planning, the right combination of donors, leadership, institutional alignment, and patience.”

She wrapped with a familiar refrain: “Lots of sports in action this weekend, so let’s hear it—Go Bombers!”

From the first whistle to the last horn, Saturday moved at a championship pace. Football dropped a hard-fought 19-14 matchup to Union, while the No. 15 volleyball team notched back-to-back wins, men’s soccer battled Clarkson to a draw on Senior Day, and men’s and women’s swimming and diving kept their strong early-season form with commanding performances. Across every venue, Bomber programs showed depth, grit, and the kind of competitive spirit that defines Homecoming weekend.

Between events, the tailgate lots were packed with alumni tents and parents of current players trading updates between kickoffs. Geoff Green ’96, a former Bomber linebacker, was there with his wife Jennifer Green ’97, MS ’98; their son Jake ’27 was later on the field—also at linebacker. The family makes the trip from northern Virginia for every home game. “We love Ithaca,” Green said. “There’s a resonance about it that if you don’t know, it’s hard to understand—but once you get here, you know. We love the school, we love the town, we love the people.” He nodded toward a cluster of former teammates. “It’s the blend where athletics meets music, where my wife was a PT major, and buddies of mine are now on ESPN. There’s so much diversity in the direction you can take your life from here—it sits with you your whole life. It’s such a thrill to be back.”