Everyone has their favorite place to compete but what is really the best facility in the state of Virginia. MileStat used a unique ranking system based on a number of factors and ranked ten of the best facilities in the state of Virginia. Check them all out here!
Here is how we calculated these rankings:
First we ranked each facility in eight different ways including the types of meets they have hosted and things related to the overall perception of the building and track. Once we ranked them we then attributed points to that ranking, first place in a category gets 10 points then it counts down to 0 points for 11th place. Once all of these were added up we ranked the facilities. These include both indoor and outdoor facilities since we wanted to have at least 11 decent facilities in this list. This also goes without saying that these 11 facilities are some of the best in the entire state and even though they seem to be horrible when ranked against these other facilities, they are very good facilities and I speak for many people that are happy that these facilities exist.
The numbers listed in the middle collums below are each venue's rank in each category.
1. SportsBackers Stadium "70"
Richmond, VA
Being centrally located with a decent amount of parking definitely helped this facility earn some points but what helped the most was the reinvestment into the facility over the past few years with a resurfacing being done and the addition of new pole vault and high jump mats. Having these added features allowed this facility to rank as the top facility in the state of Virginia.
Check out how SportsBackers ranked in each category
| Championship Meets | 2 | VHSL Outdoor States/Regionals/ VISAA |
| "Tier 1" Invitationals | 1 | Southern Track / MileStat |
| Quality of Building Facilities | 1 | Stands/Bathrooms/Press Box |
| Quality of Track Surface | 3 | Resurfaced |
| Quality of Field Event Facilities | 2 | All Within Stadium |
| Quality of Equipment (Starting Blocks, Mats, Hurdles, ETC.) | 2 | Mostly New Mats |
| Assessibility (Parking/Location) | 4 | Shared Parking Lots w/ city |
| Records | 3 | State Records |
2. UVA Outdoor Lannigan Field "59"
Charlottesville, VA
This facility is simply a thing of beauty and perfection. If this facility was judged just on its equipment and track then it would be a perfect score across the board. It is the only facility that comes to knowledge that can have two shot put, two pole vault, two horizontal jumps, and two high jump comeptitions going off at the same time in the state. This place is built to host state meets. The only thing holding it back, and it is a big thing is the fact that this facility does not have permanent bleachers or bathroom facilities. It is frankly astonishing that they would spend so much money on this facility and not put in servicable facilities. These type of facilities will likely be added in the forseable future and when they are added be ready to see some state meets here.
Check out how UVA's Track ranked in each category
| Championship Meets | 7 | Too new yo have tallied sig. number here |
| "Tier 1" Invitationals | 3 | Dogwood Track Classic |
| Quality of Building Facilities | 6 | No Bathrooms and only temporary stands |
| Quality of Track Surface | 1 | New |
| Quality of Field Event Facilities | 1 | World-Class |
| Quality of Equipment (Starting Blocks, Mats, Hurdles, ETC.) | 1 | Also World-Class |
| Assessibility (Parking/Location) | 2 | Ample Parking |
| Records | 8 | Too new |
3. Boo Williams Sportsplex "48"
Newport News, VA
This facility earns its points by being the go-to place during the indoor track season... and it doesn't hurt that it has hosted states since it opened. The surface is definitely seeing the effects of this use and of course having a basketball court in the middle of the track doesn't help. Parking isn't the best but if this facility saw a little bit of reinvestment or added a banked surface then this track would move way up this list.
| Championship Meets | 1 | Perennial Indoor State Venue |
| "Tier 1" Invitationals | 3 | Atlantic Coast Invite |
| Quality of Building Facilities | 8 | Shared Space |
| Quality of Track Surface | 8 | Worn |
| Quality of Field Event Facilities | 4 | All organized except TJ runway |
| Quality of Equipment (Starting Blocks, Mats, Hurdles, ETC.) | 6 | Also slightly dated |
| Assessibility (Parking/Location) | 7 | Shared Lot with AAU |
| Records | 2 | Very Fast |
4. Todd Stadium "47"
Newport News, VA
This venue also has been a perennial state meet venue. It earned its main points though on its accessibility and parking. This facility was made for football which is bad in one sense but great in the other so that it is centrally located and provides ample parking. The resurfacing of the track a few years back has enabled it to hold its position as one of the best outdoor facilities in the state. If it saw some improvements in equipment and maybe had the discus on the infield then this facility would make some big upward moves.
| Championship Meets | 3 | State Outdoor Host |
| "Tier 1" Invitationals | 7 | Conn Madden Relays |
| Quality of Building Facilities | 5 | Football Stadium |
| Quality of Track Surface | 4 | Resurfaced |
| Quality of Field Event Facilities | 11 | Throwing venues in worst locations |
| Quality of Equipment (Starting Blocks, Mats, Hurdles, ETC.) | 6 | Below-Average |
| Assessibility (Parking/Location) | 1 | Ample Parking |
| Records | 4 | Also Fast |
5. St. Christopher’s Fieldhouse "44"
Richmond, VA
Though it has hosted so few major meets outside of its large invitational and the VISAA state championship, St. Chris' Fieldhouse is still definetly one of the best facilities in the state. Not being over-used means this facility still has quality equipment and little to no wear on the surface itself. The only real knock on this facility is that it lacks any parking. If this facility had more parking then it would be the best indoor track in the state.
| Championship Meets | 5 | Only VISAA |
| "Tier 1" Invitationals | 3 | St. Chris Invitational |
| Quality of Building Facilities | 4 | Fairly New, Lacking Space |
| Quality of Track Surface | 5 | Not necessarily worn but not new |
| Quality of Field Event Facilities | 5 | Cramped into space |
| Quality of Equipment (Starting Blocks, Mats, Hurdles, ETC.) | 4 | Quality equipment |
| Assessibility (Parking/Location) | 11 | No Parking |
| Records | 6 | Decent records considering so few meets are held here |
6. Virginia Tech’s Rector Fieldhouse "42"
Blacksburg, VA
What more is there to say then this is where National Records come to die? This track is truly one of the fastest in the entire nation, it was only made to host world championships... The only real downsides for this facility are the facts that it hosts few meets aside from its big invitational and that it is located in a fieldhouse solely suited for football. If this track were in a place with bleachers and made for track then it would have a big number one next to its name.
| Championship Meets | 9 | Rarely any |
| "Tier 1" Invitationals | 2 | Virginia Tech Invitational |
| Quality of Building Facilities | 10 | Not track friendly |
| Quality of Track Surface | 6 | 19 year old Mondo Surface |
| Quality of Field Event Facilities | 9 | Not built for track |
| Quality of Equipment (Starting Blocks, Mats, Hurdles, ETC.) | 6 | Moderate |
| Assessibility (Parking/Location) | 3 | Ample parking within walking distance |
| Records | 1 | This is the place national records come to die |
6. William & Mary Outdoor "42"
Williamsburg, VA
| Championship Meets | 9 | Collegiate Venue so few champ meets |
| "Tier 1" Invitationals | 7 | Colonial Relays |
| Quality of Building Facilities | 3 | Overall, quality facility |
| Quality of Track Surface | 2 | Fast and Distance Friendly |
| Quality of Field Event Facilities | 7 | Spread out locations |
| Quality of Equipment (Starting Blocks, Mats, Hurdles, ETC.) | 3 | Collegiate Quality |
| Assessibility (Parking/Location) | 6 | Satelite Parking |
| Records | 9 | Few if any |
6. CNU Outdoors "42"
Newport News, VA
| Championship Meets | 9 | Collegiate Venue so few if any |
| "Tier 1" Invitationals | 7 | Captain's Classic |
| Quality of Building Facilities | 2 | Very new and high tech |
| Quality of Track Surface | 7 | Slightly Worn |
| Quality of Field Event Facilities | 3 | All relatively close |
| Quality of Equipment (Starting Blocks, Mats, Hurdles, ETC.) | 5 | Decent for College |
| Assessibility (Parking/Location) | 8 | Not in the most driver friendly corner of campus |
| Records | 7 | Decent records |
9. CNU Indoors "32"
Newport News, VA
| Championship Meets | 8 | Not allowed anymore |
| "Tier 1" Invitationals | 3 | CNU's Indoor Invitational |
| Quality of Building Facilities | 7 | Basketball Facilitiy, Weird Bleachers |
| Quality of Track Surface | 9 | Aging surface |
| Quality of Field Event Facilities | 8 | Weird Infield |
| Quality of Equipment (Starting Blocks, Mats, Hurdles, ETC.) | 6 | Collegiate Quality |
| Assessibility (Parking/Location) | 10 | Not Very Assessible |
| Records | 5 | Historically Fast |
10. Tolsma Indoor "23"
Lynchburg, VA
| Championship Meets | 5 | Current host to multiple state championships |
| "Tier 1" Invitationals | 7 | No major invitationals |
| Quality of Building Facilities | 11 | Somehow this track is connected to a movie theatre and cafeteria... like via a short walk down the hallway |
| Quality of Track Surface | 10 | Slightly worn, odd shaped, few lanes |
| Quality of Field Event Facilities | 10 | blocked by collums and nets |
| Quality of Equipment (Starting Blocks, Mats, Hurdles, ETC.) | 6 | Decent level of equipment |
| Assessibility (Parking/Location) | 5 | Ample parking but a decent walk |
| Records | 11 | Very hard to set a record here |
11.Harrisonburg High "22"
Harrisonburg, VA
| Championship Meets | 4 | Current host of 3A/4A Outdoor States |
| "Tier 1" Invitationals | 11 | None |
| Quality of Building Facilities | 9 | High School |
| Quality of Track Surface | 11 | High School, more multi-use track |
| Quality of Field Event Facilities | 6 | Decent field event facilities, located relatively close |
| Quality of Equipment (Starting Blocks, Mats, Hurdles, ETC.) | 6 | Very good for a high school |
| Assessibility (Parking/Location) | 9 | Not built for large major events |
| Records | 10 | No history so very few records |
