Historic Ahearn Field House is the setting for the indoor track season at Kansas State. The track, named for legendary coach Ward Haylett, has hosted three conference championships including the 1997 Big 12 Indoor Championships. In a typical year, K-State hosts five indoor events including the Carol Robinson Pentathlon in December.

Ahearn Field House was the product of a 10-year drive by several people, most notably athletic director Mike Ahearn and head men’s basketball coach Jack Gardner. The $2 million-dollar structure opened on Dec. 9, 1950, when the Wildcats defeated Utah State, 66-56. Today, many of the K-State varsity athletic offices, including the track and field offices, are housed in the complex.

The venue is also one of America’s showplace indoor facilities. It houses the natatorium, indoor track, four tennis courts and the K-State volleyball team. The Ward Haylett Track in Ahearn makes it one of the top indoor facilities in the Midwest. It has also been a recent home of the National Junior College Athletic Association Championships, including the 2004 meet.

Ahearn Field House is scheduled for $800,000 in improvements including lighting, track resurfacing and sports medicine upgrades.