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The following articles were authored by Nathan

Letter from Vin Lananna after his time in London

 

Members of the TrackTown USA Community:

Today I returned from London and the greatest athletic contest in the world where many outstanding athletes from Oregon brilliantly represented their countries. In the 10k’s, Oregon alum Galen Rupp broke new ground for American distance runners by grabbing the silver medal behind training partner Mo Farah and Sally Kipyego showed incredible toughness in her silver medal performance. Galen, Mo and Sally are back again to challenge the best in the world in the finals of the 5,000 meters.

Looking like a seasoned veteran through all of the qualifying rounds, Matthew Centrowitz finished the competition with a gutsy race in the finals of the 1,500 meters. Nick Symmond’s strong finish and time of 1:42.95 was an incredible personal performance in the best 800 meter final ever. University of Oregon alumni Becky Holliday, Brianne Theisen, Rachel Yurkovich, Zoe Buckman, Cyrus Hostetler, Andrew Wheating and OTC Elite athletes Geena Gall, Bridget Franek and Jesse Williams were all strong and competitive in their respective events. And Keisha Baker will join the list of tough competitors representing TrackTown USA as she takes to the track today as part of Team USA’s Women’s 4×400 meter relay.

Ashton Eaton’s gold medal performance not only proclaims him as the World’s Greatest Athlete, it speaks volumes to the history, legacy, and authenticity of TrackTown USA. Harry Marra, Mark Rowland, Coach Gags, Dan Steele and Alberto Salazar, the U of O staff, the OTC and our entire TrackTown community can stand up and sing the national anthem during tonight’s decathlon award ceremonies and take pride in all that this moment represents.

As the 2012 London Olympic Games wind down we will continue to celebrate the performances of the Oregonians that have competed and performed so valiantly, and I am vividly reminded of our collective goal “to revitalize track and field in the State of Oregon” that began in July 2005, and was embraced by our entire community. Our hope was to bring together our collective resources and provide the spark that would ignite the passions for our sport in our country. Early on we started with sparks from the University of Oregon’s successes at the Pac-10’s and NCAA’s. We added kindling by hosting great meets at Historic Hayward Field and by bringing the world’s greatest athletes to train in our community. And now Ashton Eaton’s gold medal performance has taken our sparks to a flame and turned a flicker into a raging inferno.

As our TrackTown USA flame burns as brightly as ever, “What’s next for our community?” We are bringing the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships to our community and the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships to our country and our collegiate and post-collegiate programs will continue to build on the momentum that we have created. We must continue to seize the day and provide the fuel to feed the flame.

Today when Ashton stands atop the podium with the Olympic flame in the background, remember it started with a spark from you. Enjoy this moment, keep the fire burning and congratulations to our great athletes who represent us so capably!

Best regards….//v

 

 

By Nathan on August 10, 2012
This entry is filed under Uncategorized.

TrackTown12 Photo Tribute

The London Olympics are in full swing, which means TrackTown12 was finishing up a month ago.  One of our wonderful photographers Dave Thomas, and his team of Alice Thomas, Benjamin Brayfield and Rachelle Hacmac from Maui Total Visual, put together a tribute video of photos that captured the energy and great performances of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials – Track and Field. So in between all the Olympic coverage, check out this video and get inspired for all the great Olympic track and field action to come.  Also, stay tuned for more photos and videos of all the great action from TrackTown12!

 

By Nathan on July 31, 2012
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials and tagged , , .

Monday Matters | TrackTown12 New Look and Spectator Information

There are only 17 days before the U.S. Olympic Trials – Track and Field and we want to make sure that you the spectator are prepared for your time here in Eugene.  We have recently updated our Spectator Section of our website with some useful information.

- Get around TrackTown USA with the City of Eugene Map
- Do you know how you are getting to Hayward Field? Here is the Spectator Parking & Shuttle Information, including a Shuttle Map.
- Now that you are at Hayward Field, use the TrackTown12 Map to get yourself around the entire event.
- Before you enter the Festival Gates, here is a list of Prohibited Items that aren’t allowed in.
- Have some free time and want to get a run in. Check out TrackTown’s awesome trails using the TrackTown USA Runner’s Map.
- If you still need tickets, take a look at the Competition Schedule and buy your tickets now!

Continue to check back to TrackTown12.com for updates, including highlights of the Festival and Entertainment lineup.

TrackTown12 New Look
As you can see with the website, TrackTown12 has recently launched it’s new creative look for the U.S. Olympic Trials – Track and Field.  Headed by Creative Director Tyler James from AMH Brands, the new look can be seen on the website, our social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter & YouTube) and in different displays around TrackTown USA, including billboards and street banners.

Here are some of the banner’s that are up now!

 

Example of the billboards put up around  TrackTown.

Get ready for the Best Time Ever!

By Nathan on June 4, 2012
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials, Monday Matters and tagged , , .

Monday Matters | Oregon sweeps the 2012 Pac-12 Championships

(Phil Johnson / TrackTownPhoto.com)

There may not have been a better two days in TrackTown USA than what we just had for the 2012 Pac-12 Championships this past weekend, especially in mid May. During a month that could have just as easily brought 50s and rain, this weekend instead saw lots of sun, 80-degree temperatures, and  a nice tailwind for the sprints and jumps. Combine that with the great crowd and amazing performances, and Hayward Field showed why it is like no other track and field venue in the country.

The Men and Women of Oregon proved their dominance in 2012  with a stellar day of finals to capture a history-making sixth and fourth straight titles respectively.  The men had to go against the form charts for their victory, highlighted by wins from Elijah Greer (800), Johnathan Cabral (110 hurdles), Sam Crouser (Javelin) and Dakota Keys decathlon victory from last weekend.  The rest of their 140 points came from a great depth of athletes who scored in 18 of the 21 events.

The Duck Women made history with 200 1/2 points scored, over 70 points ahead of second place Stanford. UO claimed the 4×100 relay, 100 and 200 (English Gardner), 400 (Phyllis Francis), 800 (Laura Roesler), 1500 (Jordan Hasay), 10k (Alex Kosinski), Triple Jump (Lauryn Newson) and last week’s heptathlon by Brianne Theisen.  In the 200 and the 800, not only did Oregon claim the victory, the Ducks’ swept the top 3.  In the 200, Gardner led Francis (2nd) and Newson (3rd), while the 800 was won by Roesler, followed by Becca Friday (2nd) and Claudia Francis (3rd). Newson won the Triple Jump in only her second time competing in that event. Combining that with her 100 and 200 finishes, and a leg of the 4×100 relay, Newson was the highest individual scorer of the event with 26.5 points.

Other notable highlights from the weekend were Arizona’s Brigetta Barrett’s victory and near misses at the collegiate record in the High Jump; Stanford’s Chris Derrick gutsy race in the men’s 5k and Arizona State’s Jordan Clarke, who dominated the throws and was the men’s high-point scorer.

Full Results of the 2012 Pac-12 Championships PDF | HTML

Pac-12 Championships Links:

UO Women with their fourth straight title  – Register Guard

Duck Men use a never quit mentality to achieve their sixth straight crown – Register Guard

Ducks trampled the form charts and competition to sweep the meet – Oregonian

Photos:

The Oregonian Photo Essay Day 1 | Day 2

The Register Guard Slideshow Day 1 | Day 2

Phil Johnson & TrackTownPhoto.com

Rick Russel Photography Day 1 | Day 2

The Daily Emerald Day 1 | Day 2

Pac-12 Conference Slideshow

Videos:

Runnerspace.com Interviews

The Oregonian Interviews

You can catch Fox Sports Networks coverage of the Pac-12 Championships this week on your local station. Click here for a detailed listing of all the times it will air.

 

By Nathan on May 15, 2012
This entry is filed under Monday Matters and tagged , , , , .

‘Behind the Scenes (Mic)’ with the Voice of Hayward Field, Paul Swangard.

In order to create the Best Time Ever at TrackTown12, a lot of time and coordination is being spent on the run of show for each day inside Hayward Field.  Everything besides the results is carefully planned, including, among many things, the opening ceremonies, award ceremonies, and TrackVision video content. One other key elements for the run of show during the U.S. Olympic Trials  – Track and Field lies with the individuals behind the public address microphone.  Luckily for TrackTown USA, we have one of the best around. Paul Swangard, a long-time track and field announcer at Hayward Field, has a growing reputation as one of the premiere announcers in the sport, and for the first time will be one of the lead announcers for the Olympic Trials during TrackTown12.

Photo from Lundquist College of Business

 

Swangard grew up in Eugene as a track and field fan. He attended South Eugene High and holds both his Bachelors and MBA degrees from the University of Oregon.  When Swangard isn’t behind the mic, he is serving as the the Managing Director of the James H. Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at University of Oregon’s Lundquist College of Business.  We recently caught up with Paul to give us some ‘behind the mic’ insights as he prepares for the Olympic Trials.

A little Swangard History…When was your first Hayward experience and when was your first time behind the mic?
PS: I was born in Eugene in the late 60s and grew up a track fan in TrackTown USA. My parents viewed spring meets at Oregon like a daycare center. We’d be dropped off before the first event and spend the entire day at Hayward Field. I still have a shoebox of autographs from the 1980 Trials and a lot of great childhood memories. After some success sprinting at South Eugene, I was lucky enough to be asked to walk on at Oregon in the mid 80’s but lasted only a season. Later, I transitioned into a career in sports broadcasting and was asked to audition for the Hayward PA job in the early 90’s after Wendy Ray stepped down. It’s hard to believe I’m approaching 20 years in the role but it’s been a great run so far!

What is the Hayward Field experience like from the booth?
PS: It’s controlled chaos in the booth. I’ve always said it is like being a ring master at a circus doing our best to keep the crowd in tune with what is going on and providing perspective on how well the athletes are performing. The sight-lines are good though the television platforms can make announcing the jumps a bit of a challenge. What is great about being in the booth is we are all fans of the sport and are all focused on delivering a great experience for the fans and for the athletes regardless of affiliation.

Looking back to Eugene08, in your opinion, what made it so special?
PS: I think Eugene08 was both a great track and field meet and a great event. That was the difference as the organizers sought to elevate the Trials into a broader entertainment experience. People came to be a part of it with or without a ticket. I think they’ll elevate it again in 2012.

You have announced meets all over the country, how do the other experiences and venues compare to Hayward Field?
PS: Each venue has its own distinct personality.  I’m biased to Eugene only because its home and the spectators always seem to be the most educated and understand the role they play in supporting the athletes. The magic of Hayward Field is as much the fans as it is the venue. Still, I’ve enjoyed the chance to announce in other venues and look forward to doing more in the future.

Do you prepare for the Trials differently than any other meet you announce?
PS: I’ll be teaming up with Garry Hill (editor of Track and Field News) to announce the Trials. We’ve now worked several meets together (Pre, USATF Championships, Pac-12 Championships) so I think we have a good chemistry. With two “voices” it allows us to do a lot more homework and we’ll be able to give each event full coverage. In some meets there is almost too much going on to keep track of, but at the Trials all of the athletes deserve to be on stage.

What are you most excited about this year during TrackTown12?
PS: This is actually my first Trials as one of the lead announcers. In 2008, the late Scott Davis (longtime Pre Classic and Mt. Sac Relays announcer) and Garry Hill shared the microphone. I did the opening ceremonies, some interviews on the Festival stage and the hammer events outside the stadium. Turned out I was announcing the men’s hammer at the same time as that legendary Men’s 800m finish. Never heard Hayward Field louder but didn’t actually see the race! This time I get the best of both worlds. I will be in Portland to announce Hammer Time at the Nike campus and then join Garry in calling all the events in the venue. I’m just excited to be able to have a role in staging a great event and being one ingredient to the atmosphere of TrackTown USA.

You may have seen this video before, this time close your eyes and listen to the passion and excitement from Paul Swangard!

By Nathan on May 7, 2012
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials, Behind The Scenes and tagged , , , , .

Monday Matters | Follow Your Favorite Athletes

The U.S. Olympic Trials – Track and Field take a lot of work and preparation for many individuals.  As a Local Organizing Committee, we have been working hard for years to make TrackTown12 the Best Meet Ever.  The athletes have also been  putting in a lot of time, sweat and effort to get themselves ready.  For some athletes that means working hard to get a qualifying mark and for those who already have it, it is making sure they are ready, come June 21-July 1, to perform at their best.  We want TrackTown12.com to be the website you come to get all your Olympic Trials information, including information about your favorite athletes who will be Eugene this summer.

One way to do this is to check out Oregon Track Club Elite Steeplechaser, Bridget Franek’s weekly blog, ‘Preparing for the Best’ , where she has some some Q&A with athletes who will be coming to Eugene for the Trials.

Recently added to our website is a section giving you the links to your favorite athletes blog, website and social media accounts.  Here you can find athletes such as Tyson Gay, Sanya Richards-Ross, Lopez Lomong, Lauren Fleshman, Reese Hoffa, Aretha Thurmond and many more.  Head to Athlete Websites for the whole list and sort by event, name, location or club/sponsor.

For a different kind of preparation, be sure to check out the Andrew Wheating and Russell Brown collaboration Behind the Stands to see what two local TrackTown USA athletes do with their spare time.

TrackTown Tuesday

Come out to our next TrackTown Tuesday tomorrow from 7pm-8pm at the Oregon Electric Station.  Sponsored by Deschutes Brewery, Dutch Bros. Coffee, Mercedes Benz/Eugene, Dari Mart stores and Lochmead Dairy. “TrackTown Tuesday” is free and open to the public. Come hear from Ashton Eaton and six-time NCAA champion Brianne Theisen, as will 2008 Olympian Andrew Wheating and the Ducks’ Dakotah Keys and Trevor Dunbar. Click here for More Information.

By Nathan on April 30, 2012
This entry is filed under Monday Matters and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Monday Matters | Oregon Relays Recap

 

Photo Courtesy of Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald

 

High school, collegiate and professional athletes came to TrackTown USA for the Oregon Relays this past weekend for a terrific two days of competition (and weather). Highlighted by personal bests, meet records, top ten marks and even a fastest outdoor time in the world this season, the 2012 Oregon Relays showed that it is becoming one of the premiere events in the country. Click here for the full results of the Oregon Relays.

This weekend also saw some of the best weather TrackTown USA has seen this year, not only did it make for a great meet, but it provided photographers with a great opportunity to get some awesome photos.  Here are a few of the photos taken from this weekend.

Photo Courtesy of TrackTownPhoto.com & Phil Johnson
Photo Courtesy of TrackTownPhoto.com & Phil Johnson

 

Photo Courtesy of Doug Beghtel/ The Oregonian

 

For more photos from the 2012 Oregon Relays, check out the following sites and photographers.

Rick Russell Photography

TrackTownPhoto & Phil Johnson Day 1 | Day 2

Nate Barrett Photography and the Daily Emerald

Doug Beghtel and The Oregonian Day 1 | Day 2

News from USA Track and Field

Today, USA Track and Field Board of Directors announced that they have selected selected Max Siegel to serve as new CEO. He will become the fourth CEO in the organization’s history when he assumes his duties on May 1 as part of a two-year contract. Read the full release from USATF.org

Be sure to get your Tickets to the U.S. Olympic Trials.  Single Day Tickets are on sale now. Buy Yours Today.

By Nathan on April 23, 2012
This entry is filed under Monday Matters.

‘Behind the Scenes’ | Making TrackTown12 a Sustainable Event

Eugene/Springfield, greater Lane Country and the University of Oregon prides itself in its commitment to sustainable practices.  In 2008, our Local Organizing Committee (LOC) earned the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) first award for Sport and the Environment for its environmental and sustainability efforts during the 2008 Olympic Trials – Track and Field and Eugene08. Through a collaboration of City of Eugene staff, Lane County, Lane Transit, EWEB and others throughout the community, the event achieved a 72% recycling rate and many other accomplishments.  We want to build upon the success of 2008 and make TrackTown12 even better and more sustainable.

We caught up with the LOC’s Sustainability Committee chair Ethan Nelson to update us on what the committee is doing to create an even more sustainable event in 2012.  Nelson’s day job is as the Waste Prevention and Green Building Manager for the City of Eugene.

Looking back to Eugene08, the event was given the Sport and the Environment Award by the IOC, what was so special in terms of sustainability about Eugene08?
EN: The 2008 experience garnered the attention of the IOC because of one thing…..TrackTown USA being green.  This event didn’t just do a green piece or focus on one or two aspects, it was about the entire performance of the event, the integration with the local community, and showing off to the world what being in TrackTown USA is about.  The team that came together to support the event was wide spread and dedicated to the vision of sustainability.  This was the aspect that pulled in the IOC, and what made up their minds was the performance elements.  Eugene08 provided over 400 free bike valet parking each day, had over 50,000 people shuttled via public transportation, reduced the need for on-site diesel generators by upgrading the power infrastructure at Hayward Field, was 100% renewable energy supported, had over a 60% recovery rate for waste generation, had over 40% of all food provided from a local source within 150 miles, provided free tickets to youth and families, and supported the All-Comers meet during one of the dark days.  Eugene08 didn’t just do a track and field meet, it was an experience for all involved.  And it was done with a mind to reducing our impact on the earth and increasing the positive impact to the community.

How are the preparations in making TrackTown12 sustainable coming along?
EN: Excellent.  The Sustainability Committee has been meeting for over 18 months and working on a wide variety of approaches. We are getting down to the wire here and finalizing all of the sustainability related activities in collaboration with the rest of the LOC.

Are there any new sustainable practices being implemented into TrackTown12?
EN: Yes. In addition to all of the activities identified above, which we are focusing on improving our performance in 2012, the new key items include: adoption of a sustainable procurement policy and tracking the sustainable elements of the top ten purchases for the event, BP is calculating the carbon footprint of event transportation and providing offsets in conjunction with their Target Neutral campaign, local food vendors will be tracking local foods and using all compostable materials to integrate with the City’s Love Food Not Waste program, there will be nutritional labeling for vendors foods to help fans/athletes make informed choices. There is also an increased focus on providing support services to alter-abled attendees with the intent of creating as inclusive an environment as possible; Nike has provided $100,000 to run youth and track development activities throughout the event, and we are working with the Council for Responsible Sport to attain the first ever sustainability certification of a multi-day event in North America.

What will it take to reach the levels that were attained in 2008?
EN: Focus, teamwork, and clarity of purpose.  But what is really cool about some of the sustainability aspects of the program is the fact that fans get to drive the success.  Without their involvement in our waste diversion efforts, we won’t make our goals.  So look out for a variety of new fan engagement elements that will be highlighting the event’s efforts and how fans can make a difference.

What you excites you most about what your committee is doing for TrackTown12?
EN: We have been working on creating a system where sustainable events can become the norm and not the exception.  There is a lot of momentum for this right now with collegiate athletics, professional teams, and hallmark events.  We are supporting efforts with US Olympic Committee and our local Lane County Sports Commission.  It is a legacy element, to use a track analogy, we are working hard to hand the baton to the next leg of the race, while making sure they are well set up for a win.

By Nathan on April 10, 2012
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials and tagged , , , , , .

Monday Matters | Big week on tap for TrackTown

The beginning of April means a couple things here in TrackTown USA, the Willamette River is still high and the rain will continue to come down.  However, today for this first Monday in April, the sun in shining and it’s a warm 65 degrees as we are gear up for an action-packed week.

TrackTown Tuesday

The third “‘TrackTown Tuesday” event of 2012 kicks off the week at the downtown Eugene Hilton tomorrow night from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Eugene Hilton. Refreshments and appetizers will be provided beginning at 6:30 p.m.  Scheduled to speak are Oregon Track Club Elite’s Jesse Williams and Russell Brown and University of Oregon athletes Johnathan Cabral and Becca Friday.

Sponsored by Deschutes Brewery, Dutch Bros. Coffee, Dari Mart stores and Lochmead Dairy, “TrackTown Tuesday” is free and open to the public. Those who come will get to hear the athletes speak on their hopes for the outdoor season, and will have the opportunity to ask them questions.

Come on out and bring a friend.

Single day tickets on sale Friday

For those unable to attend all eight days of the U.S. Olympic Trials, and have been waiting for individual day tickets to go on sale, good news, the on-sale day is just about here. Friday, April 6 at 9am PT is the first chance for the public to buy single-day tickets.  Buy tickets online or you can call the ticket office at 1-800-932-3668.

Don’t know what day you would like to attend? Take a look at the schedule and click around each day to see what events will take place each day.  Everyday will provide great track and field action, so if you’re looking at the schedule and you realize you’d like to attend everyday, all-session passes are still available!

There is nothing like the experience you will get from being inside Historic Hayward Field, so get your tickets before they are gone.

Pepsi Invitational

On tap this Saturday is the Pepsi Invitational featuring the men’s and women’s teams of Oregon, Texas A&M, UCLA and Washington at Hayward Field.  It will be a fun day of track and field and the competition will be something you won’t want to miss. Texas A&M’s men and women have won the last three outdoor championships — with the women’s title coming over the Ducks each of those three years.  Events will begin at 10:15 am.

We will have more details and a full schedule of the Pepsi Invite as this week unfolds.

TrackTown April Fools

Lastly, our friends at Track Focus created a video worth watching about Russian long jumper Darya Klishina and her decision to end her jumping career and train for competitive long distance running in TrackTown USA.  Enjoy!

By Nathan on April 2, 2012
This entry is filed under Monday Matters and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Monday Matters | TrackTown USA’s Youth are all weather fans

On the second day of spring this year (March 21), the Oregon Preview arrived at Hayward Field with a little rain, snow, sun and wind — all of which are fairly typical for a spring day in Eugene.  But when it came to getting an opportunity to run around with University of Oregon and Oregon Track Club Elite athletes, the kids of TrackTown USA didn’t seem care what the weather was like.  They showed up regardless of the conditions, excited to get instruction from some of their heroes.  The 2012 free youth clinic gave the 5-12 year-old crowd a chance to hurdle, long jump and throw the turbo javelin.  Afterward, the kids and their families stayed around to watch the athletes compete in the first outdoor meet of 2012.

That won’t be the only opportunity for our youth to be engaged with TrackTown USA. Coming back to the U.S. Olympic Trials this summer will be the Youth Starting Block in the TrackTown12 Festival.  We recently caught up with Starting Block organizer and City of Eugene Senior Recreation Program Supervisor Kim McManus to fill us in with what we can expect from the Starting Block and other youth activities during TrackTown12.

First off, how did the Free Youth Clinic go this year?

McManus: We had about 100 youth attend the clinic and it was an amazing day!  Early that morning, we were not sure if the snow would keep folks away.  But, this is TrackTown and the kids came.  As it turned out, the clouds parted for the clinic and we didn’t see any of the rain, snow or hail that we saw later that day.

How are the preparations for the Starting Block at TrackTown12 coming along?

McManus: We are EXCITED!  Thanks to our partnership with Nike and TrackTown12, the Starting Block will be better than ever.  We are providing hands-on experiences for youth that will include racing, hurdles, high jump, vertical jump & more.  We will of course have our popular Track Fan booth where we can make buttons to support our athletes.

Is there anything new to the Starting Block this time around?

McManus: New this year is a mini-Starting Block for our 5-and-under crowd.  It will be a great way for parents to let them move around safely and have some fun.

How else can the youth get involved with TrackTown12?

McManus: Youth Leadership Camp. We have selected 100 high school youth to attend our Youth Leadership Camp.  These youth will work with the Meet Operations crews and hear leadership presentations from professional athletes, coaches and Nike staff.  We selected youth from around Oregon – from a variety of city populations, a few from around the nation and one student from China.

Oregon Track Club’s annual All-Comer’s meet returns to the Trials this June, but will be a bit different as well.  We will provide the youth events starting at 1:00 p.m. on June 26; ages 12 and up will begin at 5:00.  We are hopeful to have some adaptive exhibitions as well.  It will be an exciting day for the community to get their chance to shine at Hayward Field.

Winter Workouts

If you are wondering how athletes in TrackTown were able to workout last week when Hayward Field was covered with snow, allow OTC Elite’s Russell Brown (Twitter) and Andrew Wheating (Twitter) to show you.  Also check their other videos at Behind the Stands

Snowday from Behind The Stands on Vimeo.

By Nathan on March 26, 2012
This entry is filed under Monday Matters and tagged , , , .

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