Eugene Hosts Track & Field Trials
Athletes Compete For a Spot on U.S. Olympic Team at Hayward Field
This year, the U.S. Olympic Trials for Track & Field will be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon for a record fourth time, branding the city as Track Town USA.
Beginning June 27th, the top track and field athletes from around the United States will compete in Eugene, for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. According to USA Track & Field, more than 1,000 athletes will compete at the nation's largest championship. These premier athletes will then go on to represent Team USA in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Eugene 2008 Trials
Eugene and the University of Oregon are proud to host what USA Track & Field considers the "country's most prestigious pre-Olympic event". Track and Field events at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials include:
- High Jump
- Long Jump
- Hurdles, 110m Hurdles
- Shot Put
- Discus Throw
- Javelin Throw
- Pole Vault
- Hammer Throw
- Pole Vault
- Triple Jump
- 3000m Steeplechase
- 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m
- 20 km Race Walk
Tickets for the Olympic Team Trials are onsale now. Yet, free events are available to visitors at Hayward Field. The Eugene 08 Festival will be held just outside of the track oval, with jumbo video screens, food and entertainment. A track clinic for kids will also be held during the U.S. Olympic Team Trial event at Hayward Field. The event will run through July 6th, coinciding with the dates of the Oregon Bach Festival.
This year Eugene, known as Track Town U.S.A. will be host to the U.S. Olympic Trials in Track & Field for a record fourth time. The prior years were 1972, 1976 and 1980. The first event in 1972, included world-renown runners, such as the University of Oregon's own Steve Prefontaine. Prefontaine went on to represent that United States at the Summer Games in Munich later that summer.
Prefontaine at University of Oregon
While running for the University of Oregon Track & Field team, Prefontaine held a record 7 NCAA titles . During his career, he broke 14 American records, including some of his own. Until his death in 1975, Steve Prefontaine held every U.S. record from the 2-mile to the 10K. In honor of this famous UO athlete, the Nike Prefontaine Classic is held each May at Hayward Field.
Hayward Field History
Hayward Field was named after the University of Oregon's first head track coach, Bill Hayward. Hayward coached the team from 1904 until 1947, one of the longest coaching careers at the university. Hayward Field was first used as a football stadium in 1919.
Oregon Track Club
The Oregon Track Club is helping make the 2008 event successful. The club first started in 1958, when head coach Bill Bowerman, formed the club in order to provide summertime activities for area track and field athletes. Bill Bowerman is also known as one of the co-founders of Nike. The club was first formed as the Emerald Empire Athletic Association, later in 1965 the name changed to the Oregon Track Club. The Oregon Track Club now helps finance the University of Oregon track program, organize events and sponsors the annual Prefontaine Classic.
To view the "Countdown to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field", visit the Eugene 08 Hayward Field website.
Further reading:
Click on the link to read more about notable University of Oregon alumni.
