Butte to Butte - TrackTown USA | Host for the 2012 Olympic Trials

As we embark on the final seven months until the U.S. Olympic Trials begin here in Eugene — and with the Thanksgiving holiday upon us — we thought it was a perfect day to dedicate the TrackTown Thursday blog to what we’re most thankful for here in TrackTown:

1. The Trails – From Pre’s Trail to the Ridgeline and beyond (the city limits that is), there are just too many great running trails in TrackTown to count – which is why we’ll let this link give you all the great details.

2. Hayward Field – It is hallowed ground in the sport of track and field. Just one meet at Hayward has converted many a non-believer into a die-hard track and field fan. Here’s a little glimpse at some recent “good times” at Hayward.

3. The University of Oregon Track and Field Team – What can we say, in TrackTown USA, we love our Ducks!

4. Record-Breakers – From the legendary Prefontaine, to those who came before him, and those who have come since — at events like the annual Prefontaine Classic — record-breakers tend to be as prolific as the rain here in TrackTown USA.

5. The Oregon Track Club – Attend a week-night run, compete in one of the OTC’s summertime All-Comers meets, run the Butte to Butte, or volunteer to work at a Hayward Field meet, and you’ll see just how valuable the OTC is to TrackTown USA.

6. OTC Elite – This group of elite athletes deserves its own number. Eight of them competed at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu. Five were finalists, two were silver medalists (Sally Kipyego and Ashton Eaton), and one (the high-flying Jesse Williams) brought home gold.

7. The Starting Block – This is a fun and popular interactive Kids Zone at Hayward Field, which gives kids of all ages an opportunity to high jump, long jump, shot put, etc. Building track athletes (or fans), one kid at a time.

8. Future Events – Speaking of kids, in July of 2014, the world’s best junior athletes (under 20) will arrive in TrackTown for the IAAF World Junior Championships, bringing an IAAF event to the U.S. for the first time since 1992.

9. Team USA Athletes – Without them, and all the hard work they put into becoming the best in the world, Hayward Field would be a ghost town every June. Get to know Andrew Wheating, Angelo Taylor, Ashton Eaton and Allyson Felix in our TrackTown Spotlight video series.

10. The Olympic Trials – The biggest team trials in the world will take place at Hayward Field, June 22-July 1. It sold out in 2008 and it’s on its way to doing so in 2012! And what better holiday gift to buy that track fan in your life than a pair of tickets to the Trials.

Happy Thanksgiving from TrackTown USA! We hope to see you here in June!

Happy Independence Day!

In TrackTown USA, Independence Day means it’s time for the Oregon Track Club‘s Aquafina Butte to Butte 10K road race. This is a race with a long history. The tradition of a road race in Eugene on the 4th of July started thirty-eight years ago by Geoff Hollister and Tom Ratliffe. It was first called Storm the Butte — a run from the bottom to the top of Spencer’s Butte, a landmark at the southern edge of Eugene. Hollister, one of the first three Nike employees (the others being, of course, Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman) was known for being the guy who drove around to track meets and sold those newfangled running shoes from his trunk. He was also formidable in other realms: they expected maybe 100 people at that first “Storm the Butte” race, but more than 400 started the “race” (which was more like a hike and scramble than a true road race.)

There are many communities around the country with a local road race on the 4th of July (Atlanta’s Peachtree Road Race is probably the largest and most well known) but it is unlikely that any others can boast the storied history of this one. The number of Butte to Butte winners who also happen to be Olympians is in itself incredible – and even more amazing is the number of Olympians who have been beat by some talented up-and-coming local. Olympian Kenny Moore won the first official Butte to Butte, a few seconds ahead of Olympian Mike Manley. Other Olympians who have won: Nick Rodgers, Paul Geis, and Steve Placencia (who still holds the course record of 29:46 set in 1995). The women’s record was set in 1994 by then 24 year old Nicole Woodward in a time of 34:02.

And this year? Here’s some pre-race smack talk from Ian Dobson:

But, since he went on to win the race, his pre-race confidence is warranted. Also an Olympian (at 5000 meters in 2008) Dobson beat out UO’s Danny Mercado in a time of in 30:15.

The women’s race was won by Tanya Zeferjahn from Beaverton in 35:43. She told KVAL:
“I wasn’t out here to try to hit anything in particular,” said Zeferjahn. “I just wanted to win the race and have some fun. It’s a beautiful day. I just wanted to get out in the mix and do something.” UO senior Bronwyn Crossman was second in 36:57.

TrackTown Thursday – 10 Things to Be Thankful For in TrackTown USA

Monday Matters – 4th of July, 2011

Happy Independence Day!

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