There’s no place like home.

However, the NIU track and field team is without a true home this year, even with the new track inside the $36 million Convocation Center.

The Huskies have no scheduled home track meets. The problem is not because of the track, but rather that there was no runway built for the long and triple jump events.

A runway includes a sand pit and ample room for the participants to run. Right now, NIU plans to build portable runways to accommodate field events. Because of all the events scheduled at the Convo Center, it is most convenient for things to be portable.

“Everyone knows it’s not running ideally,” assistant coach Dave Jennings said. “But, we know what we have to get done, and we’re working with it.”

According to associate athletics director Robert Collins, no home meets were scheduled this year because they did not know when the track would be completed. When the schedule was made, the track was going to be the last thing constructed.

The only glitch concerning the track itself is that it doesn’t have the full eight lanes many NCAA track programs have. NIU still is able to hold NCAA events, but won’t be able to hold National or Regional meets, Collins said.

While delays are common, it is a little disappointing to the team that it can’t take part in the benefits of the Convo Center.

“I think that it should have been ready by now,” freshman jumper Chanel Brown said. “But I understand it will take time.”

The Huskie basketball teams, though, are taking full advantage of what the new Convo Center brings to NIU sports, while the track and field team is only able to practice there.

NIU has had scheduling problems in the past using the Chick Evans Field House and faces similar problems in its new home.

“We all understand track and field is new and not a big money-making sport,” freshman sprinter Erica Meyer said. “But it’s not fair for us to have to schedule our practices around [men’s and women’s basketball] stuff. We feel it isn’t our track.”

On the other hand, track and field coach Shantel Twiggs is not overly concerned about having no home meets.

“Whether or not the home-court advantage is important depends on the team,” Twiggs said. “It’s great for crowd experience. Also, it will be a big advantage in the future as the girls are building character, mental toughness and learning a lot.”

As it stands now, both Twiggs and Collins anticipate being able to hold a home meet in spring 2004.

However, because the Convo Center is used for events besides sports, it appears that the team only will be able to hold one or two meets at the most per season.

This might not bode well with the team because many members were told that they would be competing in a multi-million dollar home.

“I was recruited based solely on the fact that I’d have the Convo Center to compete in,” Meyer said. “They have yet to make runways, and they won’t let us throw in the bowl, so I feel they told us something that’s never going to happen. It’s nice to train in, but it sucks that we have no home meets.”