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‘Preparing for the Best’ with Ryan Whiting

(March 8, 2012 - Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images Europe)

In an event that the USA has dominated for several years now, one would think it would be difficult for a young newcomer to crack into the rankings.  Ryan Whiting proved it could be done.  Against the likes of fellow Americans Adam Nelson, Reese Hoffa, and Christian Cantwell, Whiting has risen the bar amidst a world-class field. Competing for Arizona State, he graduated with two NCAA Indoor Shot Put titles and one NCAA Outdoor victory.  He was an All-American eight times in the shot-put and discus and set a collegiate indoor shot put record (21.73 meters / 71 feet, 3 ½ inches).  Since graduating from college with a degree in engineering, Whiting has gotten married and moved back to Pennsylvania, where he grew up.  He resides near Penn State University in order to attend grad school and continue to train.  His most recent accomplishment has been winning the IAAF World Indoor title with a best mark of 22.00 meters (72-2 ½).  He is no stranger to the rings of Hayward Field and, like so many other athletes, is looking forward to coming back to TrackTown USA for the Olympic Trials this summer.

 

What is your best track memory from past meets at Hayward Field and Eugene or your highest finish here?

I would say my fondest memory of Hayward Field was making my first outdoor World Championship Team last year.  My highest finish in Eugene was at the 2010 NCAA Championships, where I topped off my collegiate career by winning my first discus title and my fifth shot put title — coming 3 centimeters from the collegiate record.

What most impressed you about the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2008?

It is always amazing to me how welcoming the people of Eugene are for track meets.  At the Trials the locals were wonderful and managed to fill the stadium every day!

Are there any changes from previous meets at Hayward that you hope to see for the Trials?

The only thing I want to change from my last Trials experience at Hayward is to be one of the three who leave after the competition with a ticket to the Olympics.

As an athlete, what do you foresee to be the biggest challenge in your experience in Eugene this summer?

In U.S. shot putting, there is no sure thing. We easily have the most competitive field of any event to be contested this summer.  It will be a challenge, but right now my ONLY goal is to make the 2012 Olympic team.

Aside from your competition, what are you looking forward to most about the Trials this summer?

Track Town Pizza.

Being that the Shot Put gets a lot of attention at meets all over the world, how does competing at Hayward compare to other places in terms of fan support/enthusiasm?

Shot put is definitely one of the up and coming events in track and field.  I have always loved competing at Hayward, it is easily one of the most supportive crowds I have encountered!

Are you planning on getting here early or staying after your event to watch the meet and hang out at the festival?

I am planning on getting to Eugene about 4-5 days before the meet to train and get used to the small time change.  Unfortunately right when I am done competing I will be leaving and (hopefully) going home to begin my preparation for London.

Do you have anything specific you like to do when you come to Eugene for meets (favorite restaurants/bars, etc.)

I love Track Town Pizza. That all-you-can-eat pizza for lunch is a tough deal to beat for a shot putter.  I also used to always go to Villard St. Pub, but last time I was there it was gone.

Have you heard anything about the London Pub, the SuperBlock exhibits/vendors, the live performances, etc. being planned for the meet?

As of yet I have not heard of any of that.  It is my fault as I am pretty single-minded in my goal of making the team at this point.

 

 

March 8, 2012 - Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images Europe

By bridget on March 29, 2012
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials, Athlete Profiles, future of track & field, IAAF World Championships, NCAA Championships, News, Preparing for the Best, Team USA, TrackTown Thursday.

TrackTown Thursday | ‘Preparing for the Best’ Spotlight with Bridget Franek

Welcome to the first week of the ‘Preparing for the Best’ blog series. Our inaugural entry features TrackTown12 blog correspondent and Oregon Track Club Elite athlete Bridget Franek.

Here’s a short rundown on Bridget:

2008 was Bridget’s first time competing at a U.S. Olympic Trials.  That year, she was a star-struck sophomore at Penn State, and was overwhelmed by the huge crowd and the competition.  Since then, she has accumulated valuable experience at the elite level. She placed 3rd, 5th and 2nd (respectively) over the past three years at the USA Outdoor Championships in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase and no longer comes into meets like the Olympic Trials as a stranger to the big stage. In October 2010 she began training with the OTC in Eugene and is proud to call Hayward Field home. Her perspective is a significant one. It provides insight from a newly-professional athlete who lives, trains and works in TrackTown USA, and even had the chance to hear from the TrackTown12 Local Organizing Committee last week about what she can expect at the upcoming Olympic Trials.

What was the most unexpected thing you heard at the TrackTown12 meeting last week?

Bridget: I was excited to see the proposed layout of Hayward Field and the surrounding areas (or, as everyone called it, the “Super Block”).  I am always amazed at how they fit everything into such a small space.  It seems like the set-up will be similar to 2008, but different than in 2011, due to the Fan Festival. The athletes will still have plenty of room in the warm-up areas though, and overall, it looks like there will be a good flow from entering the grounds, to check-in, warm-up, and competition.

What do you think will be the biggest difference for you from the 2008 Trials to this year?

Bridget: Personally, last time around was more about survival and gaining experience for me.  It was only my second year competing at a USA [Senior] National Championship event, and I was still very wide-eyed about actually lining up next to girls that I had looked up to throughout my young running career.  This year, having had experience on an even larger stage (at the past two World Championships), the Olympic Trials should hopefully feel a little more routine.  I am also excited to have the added benefit of Hayward feeling more like my ‘home’ track this year.  And it will be really fun to have all the people I’ve met here in Eugene around for support and encouragement.

What are you looking forward to most about TrackTown12?

Bridget: Obviously, I am planning to make the finals in the steeplechase and baring that happens, the most anticipated point of the meet for me will definitely be that race.  Anything can happen in a meet like this, and when you put so much time and energy into preparing for ONE moment it can be INCREDIBLY stressful. When it’s over, well, good or bad, it’s incredibly freeing.  Optimism …  that’s the name of the game right now.

As a spectator, what are you looking forward to most?

Bridget: I LOVE track meets like this! Especially now that I have been more and more absorbed in this world and I recognize and know many of the other athletes personally.  It is  just so fun for me to have gotten to know them over seas, between meets, on shuttles, at meals, in the training rooms, etc.  Watching them preform after that brings a whole new dimension to the sport for me.  Even though there are many differences between athletes of different events (throwers, jumpers, sprinters, distance runners, etc.), there are things that we all share. PASSION for the sport is one.  Everyone at this level has it but there are so many different ways it is expressed.  I love seeing that expression come out in competitions like the Olympic Trials.  Of course, I am also really excited to have so many friends come to town.  Even though I haven’t lived here that long, I am proud of Eugene and all the awesome reasons why it’s called TrackTown USA. I can’t wait to show it off to people who I know will appreciate it!

More info on Bridget:

OTC Profile

Bridget’s Personal Website

Twitter: @blfranek

By Becky on March 1, 2012
This entry is filed under Athlete Profiles, TrackTown Spotlight, TrackTown Thursday and tagged .

TrackTown Thursday | Lauren Fleshman wants you to be a dreamer

The Oregon Track Club held its annual dinner this past Tuesday inside the The Club room at Autzen Stadium for its ever-growing membership. About 350 of the club’s 1,800 members were in attendance.

The first part of the program included new president Bill Kelly leading the club updates and Tom Jordan updating the group about the Prefontaine Classic.  The second part of the program featured Vin Lananna giving a look into what to expect for 2012 and beyond as TrackTown USA becomes an internationally known track and field venue. Lananna also brought up his Oregon staff and athletes Travis Thompson and English Gardner.

OTC Elite coach Mark Rowland talked about the 2011 accomplishments of his team and highlighted the world-medal winning performances of Jesse Williams, Ashton Eaton and Sally Kipyego (Watch OTC Elite 2011 Highlights).

Tuesday’s keynote speaker was OTC Elite athlete Lauren Fleshman and her motivating message was for everyone be a dreamer. Fleshman, who resides in Eugene with her triathlete husband Jesse Thomas, said she has been a lifelong dreamer and without it, she wouldn’t not be where she is today.

“When you’re a dreamer, heart break and failure come with the territory,” said Fleshman. “But I can definitely tell you it is still worth it, because it is a way of living that is that is both moving and memorable.”

Watch her whole speech below.

For Lauren’s endeavors outside of running,  check out the following links. Picky Bars | Believe I am | Ask Lauren Fleshman

Just in case you need more motivation, here are some quotes about being a dreamer.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”  – Eleanor Roosevelt

“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable” – Christopher Reeve

Be sure to be in the stands to watch many dreams come true as athletes chase after their dreams of being an Olympian during TrackTown12, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field. Get your Tickets.

To get a sneak peek of your favorite athletes competing this weekend, check out the Millrose Games, with headliners like LaShawn Merritt; the Flotrack Husky Classic, with Ashton Eaton and many other Pacific Northwest stars in attendance; and the USATF Classic in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with the likes of Galen Rupp and Jill Camerena-Williams highlighting the field.

By Nathan on February 9, 2012
This entry is filed under TrackTown Thursday and tagged , , , , , .

TrackTown Thursday | The Old Pad, TrackTown Athletes and other Tidbits

On Tuesday (January 31st, 2012), we kicked off our first of five “TrackTown Tuesday” events for the public at the Old Pad in South Eugene.  Excited fans packed the former establishment where legend Steve Prefontaine had worked, leaving some eager ones standing and some even sitting on the bar floor.

The night started with Associate Athletic Director of Track and Field and Co-Chair of TrackTown12, Vin Lananna, addressing the crowed and included talks from Oregon junior sensation Jordan Hasay, Oregon senior Luke Puskedra, and Oregon Track Club Elite athletes Cyrus Hostetler and Sam Chelanga. Each athlete talked about their hopes for the upcoming year and were very thankful for the Hayward faithful, who fill the stands every track and field meet.

Mike Higgins of SportsOne Inc., in Portland, presented some information about how TrackTown12 will be “Bigger, Better and Funner.”  To help with the “Funner”,  a representative of Deschutes Brewery discussed a beer garden they are  calling the “Base Camp for Beer Fanatics” in the festival area.

The night was capped off with the winner of the KDUK & KFLY TrackTown12 Power Anthem Contest, Little Rascalz, performing their song “Run this Town”.  Although they were performing for a slightly older crowed than their used to, the young gentleman were able to put on quite the show.

In case you missed this one, join us Tuesday March 6th for the second “TrackTown Tuesday” at the Hilton Garden Inn in Springfield.  If you want to hear what the Lananna and the athletes had to say, please watch the video below.

 

Looking forward to the weekend, Oregon Track Club Elite High Jumper Jesse Williams, fresh off his victory at the US Open in New York, jumped across the Atlantic for a couple meets in Europe.  On Saturday, Williams will be jumping in Arnstadt, Germany at the 36th annual Hochsprung mit Musik (High Jump with Music). This unique event is an indoor high jump only event and allows each athlete (Men & Women) to have a song of their choice play while they jump.  Check back next week to for the results.

As we are underway with the 2012 track and field season, don’t forget to purchase your All-Session tickets to the U.S. Olympic Trials – Track and Field.

TrackTown12 | Best : Meet : Ever

By Nathan on February 2, 2012
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials, News, TrackTown Thursday and tagged , , , , , , , , , .

TrackTown Thursday | The US Open, Texas A&M Mondo Challenge on tap for this weekend

A big weekend in track and field is upon us as we get further along in the 2012 Olympic year.  Indoor meets are spread all across the country with events in New York, Boston, Pennsylvania, Arkansas,  Texas and Washington. We are expecting some great results and will be following the meets this weekend closely, especially those competitions that have close ties to TrackTown USA.

New on the winter schedule this year is the USATF US Open held in New York City inside the Madison Square Garden.  The MSG has long been one of the premiere venues for sports and entertainment, and the return of track and field for an indoor meet there will be sure live up to that.  The US Open also kicks off USATF 2012 Visa Championship Series.  The meet begins at 6:58pm this Saturday, January 28th and will broadcast the following evening on ESPN2 from 7:00-9:00.

Oregon Track Club Elite athlete and Eugene resident, Jesse Williams, will begin his 2012 indoor season in the MSG as the reigning World Champion in the high jump.

“I’m excited to compete again. I want to back up last year’s season with a good result in my first competition,” Williams said. “It’s always a little nerve-wracking because it’s the first meet, but I’ll be ready.”

Other stars  competing include Bernard Lagat, David Oliver, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter, Christian Cantwell, Adam Nelson, Dawn Harper, Kellie Wells, Tiffany Ofili Porter, and Lolo Jones.  Former Duck pole vaulter, Becky Holliday is also set to compete.

For a list of all the athletes that have confirmed that they will be at the US Open and the events they are competing in click here | 2012 US Open Athletes

Get minute to minute updates by following the USATF Twitter @USATrack_Field and join the Twitter conversation with #USOpenMSG

Other Local athletes will head to College Station, Texas for the Texas A&M Mondo Challenge inside the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium. The two-day meet begins Friday, January 17th with a short evening session and continues with a full day of action on Saturday.   A large contingent of the University of Oregon’s Track and Field teams will be on hand, as well as, former Duck and the indoor men’s heptathlon world record holder, Ashton Eaton. Eaton is scheduled to compete in the Olympic Development Long Jump on Friday evening and the Olympic Development 400-meter and 60m hurdles.

Returning for the Ducks will be NCAA pentathlon record holder, Brianne Theisen (Read Today’s Register-Guard Article on Theisen by Curtis Anderson). For more Duck coverage heading into this meet, check out the release at GoDucks.com.

Texas A&M Mondo Challege: Accepted Entries | Results

Finally, a little closer to TrackTown USA, the University of Washington Invitational will be taking place Friday and Saturday.  The Oregon State Women’s Distance Program, Portland State and the University of Portland are among the numerous teams that will be competing in Seattle. Check out FloTrack’s Coverage of the UW Invitational.

Check back Monday for a recap of all the weekends events.

By Nathan on January 26, 2012
This entry is filed under TrackTown Thursday and tagged , , , , , , , , , , .

TrackTown Thursday | Let the 2012 Events Begin!


We only needed two weeks of 2012 to begin what will be a great year for Track and Field. Most notably is the U.S. Olympic Trials – Marathon to be held in Houston this Saturday.  The men will take off from the line at 8:00 a.m. local race time and the women will follow shortly at 8:15. You can watch Oregon Track Club Elite athletes (based in Portland) like Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher race on NBC from 12:00 p.m. PST (3:00 EST) – 2:00 PST (5:00 EST).

Here are some Marathon Trials links:

The Official U.S Olympic Team Trials – Marathon Houston – Houston 2012

Follow Houston 2012 on Twitter @HoustonMarathon

RunnerSpace Coverage of the 2012 Marathon Trials – Watch video interviews and more.

FloTrack Coverage of the 2012 Marathon Trials - Mile to Mile Updates for Men | Women

The Indoor season is also underway and the University of Oregon is heading out of TrackTown USA to compete in a couple different areas.  Part of the team is headed out to Nampa, Idaho for Blue and Orange Opener at the Idaho Center hosted by Boise St.  Others will be in Seattle for the University of Washington Indoor Preview.

GoDucks.com Weekly Release 1/11/12

FloTrack’s coverage of the 2012 UW Indoor Preview

RunnerSpace’s coverage of the 2012 UW Indoor Preview

By Nathan on January 12, 2012
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials, future of track & field, News, Team USA, TrackTown Thursday.

TrackTown Thursday | 12 Days of TrackTown

On the 12th Day of TrackTown, My True Love Gave to Me:

12 Olympic Medals – (Well actually 13) By 10 former Oregon Track and Field Athletes. Watch the video of Joaquim Cruz’s gold medal 800-meter race in the 1984 Olympics.

11 NCAA Championships – Hosted at Hayward Field (’62, ’64, ’72, ’78, ’84, ’88, ’91, ’96, 2001, 2010 & scheduled to host in 2013).

10 Dec Events – 2012 will be the 100th year of the modern decathlon. The two-day contest will also kick-off the Olympic Trials.

9 Days of Running…………and Jumping……….and Throwing at TrackTown12. Starting with Hammer time on June 21st and ending July 1 with the Men’s 200m Final.

8 Lanes on the Track.

7 -9 and 1/4 – Oregon Track Club Elite Athlete Jesse Williams’ Personal Best and Hayward Field Record. Set at the 2011 USA Championships in TrackTown.

6 Outdoor Titles -  The UO Men have five and the UO Women have one.  Also, the men have one indoor and six cross country titles,  while the women have two of each.

5 OLYMPIC RINGS – And the number of Olympic Trials hosted in TrackTown (1972, 1976, 1980, 2008, 2012).

 

 

 

 

Sub 4 Minute Miles – The Pre Classic has seen more Sub 4 minute Miles than any other American invitational track meet. Click Here to see the full list.

3 Coach Bills (Hayward, Bowerman, Dellinger).

 

2 Bowerman Winners (Galen Rupp ’09 & Ashton Eaton ’10).

And a Historic Hayward Field.

 

Happy Holidays from TrackTown USA. See you in 2012!


By Nathan on December 22, 2011
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials, Athlete Profiles, NCAA Championships, News, Team USA, TrackTown Thursday, U.S. National Championships and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

TrackTown Thursday — Bowerman Award winners announced in San Antonio

Wednesday evening at the USTFCCCA conference in San Antonio, Florida State’s Ngoni Makusha and Texas A&M’s Jessica Beard were crowned 2011 winners of the Bowerman Award.

The night’s emcee Lewis Johnson invoked the spirit of the award’s namesake — legendary University of Oregon coach Bill Bowerman — and Hayward Field in his closing comments: “Back in his day, Bowerman coached many great collegiate athletes, and over 30 athletes to the Olympic stage; and it’s only fitting that his likeness will be there at Hayward Field in June of 2012 to watch over the Olympic Trials, and approve America’s team that will head to London for the summer Games. … Congratulations to our six finalists and the winners Jessica Beard and Ngoni Makusha, Bowerman would have been proud of all of you tonight.”

Watch the full replay here.

Watch more video of Bowerman Awards & USTFCCCA Convention on flotrack.org

The Bowerman Award is in its third year of existence. Past winners were Ashton Eaton and Queen Harrison in 2010, and Galen Rupp and Jenny Simpson in 2009.

In other news, the excitement is continuing to build for the U.S. Marathon Trials, which will take place in Houston on January 14, 2012.

Ryan Hall and Desiree Davila have predicted record-breaking times.

By Becky on December 15, 2011
This entry is filed under Athlete Profiles, future of track & field, NCAA Championships, News, Team USA, TrackTown Thursday.

TrackTown Thursday | The Official TrackTown12 Power Anthem Contest is Underway.

Calling all musicians, singers, songwriters, bands, or fans of TrackTown USA who happen to own a guitar (or other musical instrument), now is your chance to become part of Olympic Trials history.

Local Eugene radio stations, KFLY and KDUK are holding the Official TrackTown12 Power Anthem Contest, which is running from now until December 22. All you need to do is create a 30-60 second audio or video “audition” of your version of a power anthem that celebrates the sport of track and field, and Eugene’s reputation as TrackTown USA.

The Grand Prize winner will receive two eight-day passes to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field, which takes place at Historic Hayward Field from June 22-July 1. The winning songwriter/band will also have opportunities to perform their anthem at various TrackTown12 events. For more details on how to submit your rendition, head to 101.5FM KFLY Oregon’s Real Rock.

We are excited to see and hear what you all can come up with, but hurry, you only have three weeks to enter. EVERY SECOND COUNTS!

For some needed inspiration, watch a couple past TrackTown-event-related raps by Matt Barnhart of runnerspace.com.

2008 Olympic Trials Recap Rap (Starts at 00:44)

2011 TrackTown US Championships Rap Recap

And for more of a Power Ballad, we in TrackTown will never forget Sebastian Bach’s Oregon Duck Ballad he performed on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Show before the BCS National Championship last year.

By Nathan on December 1, 2011
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials, Contests, TrackTown Thursday and tagged , , , , , , .

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

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!

By Becky on November 23, 2011
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials, Athlete Profiles, Butte to Butte, future of track & field, IAAF World Championships, News, Prefontaine Classic, Team USA, TrackTown Spotlight, TrackTown Thursday and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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