Portal Middle High School will celebrate the opening of its new track and field complex with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 16, at 4:30 p.m. The event will take place at the complex, located adjacent to the Portal football stadium behind the school, which is located at 27245 U.S. Highway 80, in Portal.
This is the first time in school history that Portal Middle High School has had a dedicated track and field facility. Students, faculty, families, community members, and Portal alumni are invited to attend and mark the milestone with the school.
The Portal track and field teams began training on the new complex earlier this winter in preparation for the spring season. They hosted their first ever home track meet at the facility on Saturday, March 15.
Prior to the construction of the complex, student athletes practiced on the football field and in the school’s parking lots. The new facility not only provides a proper training ground, but it also provides expanded physical education opportunities.
“This track is and will be a great resource for our students,” said Justin Chester, Portal’s athletic director and assistant principal. “We even hope the elementary school will be able to use it for field days or other events.”
The complex was funded by revenues from Bulloch County Schools’ fourth Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST IV), which was renewed by registered voters on Nov. 7, 2017, to fund identified capital improvements to school district facilities. James W. Buckley & Associates led the project’s design phase, and construction began in May 2023, led by Pope Construction. The total investment for the project was $4.6 million.
Portal has four track and field teams with boys’ and girls’ teams for both its high school and middle school students. Track and field coaches for the teams include Tendai Haggins, Cliff Hubbard, David Seigler, Jalen Williams, and Jason McEachin. In December, Haggins was named the Georgia Coach of the Year for Boys Track & Field by the Georgia High School Athletic Association.
Despite not having a home facility until this year, Portal’s track and field athletes have earned several region and state titles. Its varsity girls team is the 2024 defending region champions, and they were region runner ups in 2023. Hailey Scott is the 2024 State Champion in the 400 Meter Dash. Other recent accolades include the following:
• Hunter Martin - State Champion (2022, 2023) 200 and 800 Meter Adaptive Wheelchair and State Runner-Up 2024
• Amir Jackson - 2024 State Champion, Long Jump• Amir Jackson, Kasen Evans, Charles McNeal, Marcus Smith - 2024 State Champions, 4x200 Relay• Rashonda Khalil - 2024 State Runner-Up, Long Jump• Charles McNeal - 2024 3rd place in state, 200 Meter Dash• Alycia Hagins - 2024 4th place in state, High Jump• Kasen Evans - 2024 4th place in state, 400 Meter Dash• Gina Hogan - 2024 8th place in state, 800 Meter Run• Savannah Arnett - 2024 2nd place in state, 3200 Meter; 5th place in state, 1600 Meter• Uniqua Mosely - 2014 and 2016 100 Meter Hurdles State Champion
For more information about the ribbon cutting, contact Portal Middle High School at (912) 842-8320.