With the Big South Competetion looming April 17, the already-small men’s and women’s track and field team at UNC Asheville has suffered major injuries to three of its athletes.

What’s more, several members of the team are blaming UNCA’s outdated outdoor track as a contributor to stress fractures, according to a report in The Blue Banner, the school newspaper.

The injured athletes include seniors Emily Mase and Jon Harmon, each suffering stress fractures; and sophomore Natalie Pearson, who pulled a hamstring during warmup several weeks ago. Pearson also missed most of last season with hamstring problems.

Mase, who originally was diagnosed with tendonitis, eventually requested an X-ray that showed a stress fracture.

The usual recovery period for a stress fracture is four to six weeks.

The previous head coach, Dean Duncan, reportedly believed the asphalt outdoor track was causing stress fractures and moved a number of the team’s practices to UNCA’s grass-covered soccer field or to local high-school tracks that have joint-friendly surfaces.

Underneath UNCA’s track, which features a thinning surface, is concrete.

UNCA is planning to eventually replace its track, but no timetable has been set.