Prentice Gudgen Track

Home of the 2010 MIAA Outdoor Championships

The Pittsburg State University outdoor track & field facility bears the name of PSU’s legendary track coach and athletic director Prentice Gudgen.

Gudgen served high school and collegiate athletics in Kansas as a coach, official and administrator for over 50 years.  He was head coach at PSU for 16 years, during which time the Gorillas dominated many competitions throughout the Midwest and won five conference titles in a six-year span (1953-58).

Gudgen was instrumental in establishing the outstanding tradition that Pittsburg State now enjoys in track & field.  The PSU men’s team has won 39 conference titles (37 outdoor, two indoor) during its 86-year history, while the PSU women have won 12 conference titles (eight outdoor, four indoor) in their 28 years.

The polyurethene track, which was poured in April of 1989, was funded through many private donations and a special fundraising jog-a-thon.

New long jump, triple jump and pole vault runways were installed in the stadium prior to the start of the 2003 season.  New javelin and shot put stations also were installed on campus that year.