Hokie Club
The Johnson-Miller Track Complex serves as the outdoor home for the Tech men’s and women’s track and field teams. The complex allows for the training of outdoor track and field events and for their meets. The facility sits adjacent to Tech's Rector Field House, which houses the indoor track, and is another piece in Virginia Tech’s commitment to a top-tier track and field program.
Built in 1997 at a cost of $1.89 million, the venue is named after Stuart Johnson and Jack William Miller, Jr., two former Tech track stars from Richmond, Virginia, who contributed financial support for the building of the track complex. Johnson, Tech’s “Mr. Track” in 1952, was the first man elected to the Virginia Tech Hall of Fame solely on his records in track and field. Miller was co-captain of the 1953 track team. Johnson ran the 440-meter sprint, 220-meter sprint and the mile relay, while Miller competed in a number of events, but his specialty was the mile.
Originally, the track surface featured a Mondo surface, which is identical to the Mondo-surfaced track used in Atlanta’s Olympic stadium during the 1996 Olympic Games. In 2010, the Tech athletics department installed a new surface called the Beynon Tuned BSS 1000. The BSS 1000 is an IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) certified surface that allows athletes to perform at their highest level while training or in competition. This surface is durable enough to resist the roughest weather and the toughest competition and requires no advanced maintenance.
Tech’s outdoor oval track consists of eight 42-inch lanes. Tech’s school colors, burnt orange and Chicago maroon, are featured on alternating lanes.
The complex also includes a pole vault pit, long and triple jump areas, steeplechase lanes and areas for the shot put, discus, hammer throw, javelin and high jump events. For sprints, 10 lanes have been placed in one stretch at the south side of the track. In addition, Tech uses the state-of-the-art Finish Lynx timing system for accurate results. A nine-foot berm on the south side of the track ultimately will be terraced to provide seating.
“Our facilities enable us to attract and develop the highest level of talent available,” Tech director of track & field and cross country Dave Cianelli said. “This will enable our program to reach the elite rankings at the conference and national level.”
The outdoor track is one of 20 of its kind in this country, while the indoor track is one of five of its kind in the U.S. It has been the hosts to numerous meets, including the Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championships from 1998-2000.
“Based on my years of coaching and traveling, I believe our facilities rank with any in the country,” Cianelli said.
DIRECTIONS | Johnson-Miller Track Complex
350 Beamer Way
Blacksburg, Va. 24061
From the north or east
Take Interstate 81 south to exit 118B, following US 460 west to Blacksburg.
From the south
Take Interstate 81 north to exit 118B, following US 460 west to Blacksburg.
From West Virginia
Take Interstate 77 south (West Virginia Turnpike) to exit 9. Exit and turn left onto 460 east. Follow 460 east to Blacksburg.
Once in Blacksburg
Use the 460 bypass around the downtown area. Follow 460 bypass to Exit 6 Southgate Drive (Va. 314). Take the second exit at the first roundabout to stay on Southgate Drive. At the second roundabout, take the first exit to stay on Southgate Drive. At the traffic signal, turn left onto Beamer Way. The Johnson-Miller Outdoor Track will be immediately on the left.