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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 , , .

‘Preparing for the Best’ with Leonel Manzano

 

Photo Courtesy of Phil Johnson

The marquee event at many track meets has traditionally been the infamous men’s mile. Within this domain, Leonel Manzano has become a household name. Known for his tenacity and fight despite his small stature, he exploded onto the national scene as a freshman for the University of Texas by winning the 1500 NCAA Outdoor title in 2005.  Since then, his accolades have continued to rack up, with numerous records and titles in individual as well as relay events. He finished his collegiate experience as a nine-time All-American and four time NCAA Champion. His international experience started while still a college junior, when he made the USA National team and traveled to Osaka, Japan to compete in the IAAF World Championships. This would give him valuable experience for the following year in which he represented his country at the 2008 Olympic Games. He has placed in the top three at USA National Championships the past five years.

What is your best track memory from past meets at Hayward Field and Eugene?
LM: My first track memory in Eugene was when I was a freshman at the University of Texas. I had never really been out of the state and when I came to compete in Eugene I was blown away on how great the fans were!

Highest finish here?
LM: I won my race as a freshman, I believe it was one of the Oregon invites.

What most impressed you about the Trials in 2008?
LM: What impressed me the most about the Trials in 2008 was the amount of participation from the Fans and the International TV coverage.

Are there any changes from previous meets at Hayward that you hope to see for the Trials?
LM: I think it would be great if they could have live music while we ran. Other than that I think it would be hard to make the meet better.

As an athlete, what do you foresee to be the biggest hassle/challenge in your experience in Eugene this summer?
LM: I think the biggest hassle would be the travel. Eugene is great but sometimes the flights into and out of Eugene are very limited.

Aside from your competition, what are you looking forward to most about the Trials this summer?
LM: The one thing I really look forward to is the excitement of the fans inside Hayward Field. There is a lot of energy and the fans are very knowledgeable.

Are you planning on getting here early or staying after your event?
LM: I am arriving about two days before my event. I am trying to be as focused as possible. At the end of the day it is a job and I have to do it to the best of my ability. Hopefully no distractions for me this time around. But maybe things will change afterward.

Do you have anything specific you like to do when you come to Eugene for meets (favorite restaurants/bars, etc you always eat at, places you like to stay)
LM: I like to go to Dutch Brothers Coffee in the morning and there is an organic burrito place I really love. The name escapes me.

To find out more about Leo and to follow his racing schedule this spring, go to his links on the web:

Website:  http://runleo.com/

Twitter: @leomanzano

Facebook: Leo Manzano Fan Page

 

By bridget on April 12, 2012
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials, Preparing for the Best and tagged , , , .

‘Behind the Scenes Spotlight’ with Sasha Spencer Atwood

Our last few blogs have been centered around one of the most important aspects of TrackTown12 and that is the Athlete Experience. Go back and read The Athlete Experience hits the Road or ‘Preparing for the Best’ Spotlight with Bridget Franek.  The majority of our planning and efforts have been going to this, with the hopes that each athlete will have an amazing experience. It comes down to a collaborative effort between the Local Organizing Committee, USATF and the USOC; but today’s spotlight is on one former athlete who is making sure the current athletes will be taken care of at TrackTown12: Sasha Spencer Atwood.

Sasha joined TrackTown USA in October and currently serves as the Project Manager of Marketing & Athlete Services.  She returned to Oregon, where she grew up and attended North Salem High, after getting married in May of 2011.  Prior to move back to the Northwest, Sasha worked in show business, on the sets of hit movies like The Blind Side and Joyful Noise.  Most importantly for the athletes, she spent much of her life in their same shoes. Sasha competed at Georgetown from 1997-2001 and followed that up with an eight-year professional career in the 800 meters, while running for Nike. On February 27th, Sasha and her husband, Luke, welcomed their daughter, Eden, into the world. We caught up with her just a week after Eden’s birth.

How has your time as an athlete influenced your role with athlete services?

Sasha: There are so many details that go into hosting an event like the Trials.  At times the logistics of it all can get overwhelming, but when I find myself getting caught up in them I try to step back into my memories of competing at the previous three Olympic Trials.  I picture myself and fellow athletes walking into the scenario and key in on the points that were most important to us.  I try to use this experience to inform the decisions I make, as well as to give first-hand input on plans being made by other committees.

Other than taking care of little Eden, what is the most important task you are working on?

Sasha: One thing I am finding to be true is that very few of the tasks we are working on are unimportant.  Some things may take longer or be more complicated to complete, but because athletes are all so different, you never know what can make or break their experience.  We are working really hard to attend to the details so that the athlete experience is seamless and stress-free, even in the little things.  The biggest piece on my plate right now at TrackTown12 is finalizing the athlete transportation plans.  Getting where they need to go when they need to be there is a huge part of an athlete being able to feel relaxed and prepared to do their best.

At home I am working on figuring how to sleep in only a semi-reclined position with a newborn on my chest. I just can’t bear to put her in the bassinet!

What is the experience you would like the athletes to have when they arrive in TrackTown USA for the Olympic Trials?

Sasha:  I want athletes to be able to take for granted that everything is going to run smoothly.  As an LOC, I want us to have anticipated the needs and concerns of the athletes and have plans in place to address them before the first competitor touches down.  I want them to feel welcome and know how excited we are to have them here in Eugene again.  They don’t call this Track Town USA for nothing!  I hope that all of our enthusiasm translates into the preparations we make for them and the energy they feel coming from the crowd.

 

By Nathan on March 6, 2012
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials, Monday Matters and tagged , , , , , , , , .

Monday Matters | Happy Birthday Geoff Hollister!

**Update Tuesday 2/7/12 10:45am** The University of Oregon released a statement about the passing of Geoff Hollister, who was part of the “Men of Oregon” starting in 1965 and lettered as a steeplechaser in 1966 and 1968.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of a great friend not only of the University of Oregon, but of the entire running community,” said Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna. “Geoff was not only a visionary, but also one of the indelible spirits in our profession.

To read the rest of the statement, click over to goducks.com

**Update 4:15pm** Since posting this blog Monday morning, the sad news came about Geoff Hollister passing away after a long fight with cancer.  Our condolences go out to his wife Wendy and the rest his family. His influence on our sport and the track and field community goes unparalleled.  TrackTown USA is what it is today, largely, because of the him. Thank You Geoff. Rest in Peace.

Geoff Hollister, Man of Nike & University of Oregon, RIP – by Larry Eder of RunBlogRun

Geoff Hollister, an original Nike employee and former University of Oregon track runner, dies – by Allan Brettman, The Oregonian

Happy Birthday Geoff!

This past Friday (February 3rd), the University of Oregon track team and Oregon Track Club Elite members stopped to dedicate their workouts to the very influential and esteemed U of O Alumnus Geoff Hollister.  Mr. Hollister played a pivotal role in the success and growth of Nike with his business expertise and a true understanding of the core goals Bill Bowerman wished to build the company on.  Their objective was to encourage America to get excited about running by helping athletes chase their athletic dreams.  The company provided material and financial assistance by producing and selling state-of-the-art equipment and Hollister was their first salesman.  During the first few years, he could be found at track meets and road races throughout Oregon selling running shoes from the back of his car. The other way Nike planned to help athletes was through the support of the community and team environment.  Mr. Hollister, along with Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight were the ‘Founding Fathers’ of the American running team, Athletics West which has evolved into what is now the Oregon Track Club Elite.   Though currently fighting a long, hard battle with cancer, he has continued to be an advocate for Bill Bowerman, Nike, and all things running.  To learn more about his life and journey, check out his personal account in the video interview below.

Buy his autobiography, Out of Nowhere!

The beautiful weather on Feb 3rd drew many runners to Hayward Field and many of them took a moment away from training to participate in a video ‘Birthday card’ for Mr. Hollister!

Happy Birthday Geoff from TrackTown USA!

Weekend Recap

This weekend saw another crop of Indoor Meets and stellar performances.  Most notably, Oregon runners Matthew Centrowitz, Russell Brown, Mo Farah, Galen Rupp and former OTCElite member Ben Bruce laced up for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. Centrowitz and Bruce raced a tough field in the Mens 3k placing 7th (7:46.19) and 9th (7:59.10), respectively.  Brown, Farah, and Rupp appeared in the Mens Mile.  Rupp ran 3:57.10 for third place immediately followed by Farah and Brown who crossed the line in 3:57.92 and 4:00.79.

Oregon Track Club Annual Dinner

Tuesday night will be the annual Oregon Track Club Dinner and Annual Meeting.  It is set to take place at 5pm in Autzen Stadium and will feature a small program including TrackTown USA updates and Prefontaine Classic meet information. There will also be representatives from the University of Oregon Track Team and the OTC Elite  to summarize how preparation is going for upcoming events.  OTC Elite Runner Lauren Fleshman will be the events keynote speaker.

By bridget on February 6, 2012
This entry is filed under Monday Matters and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , .

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 – 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , .

TrackTown Spotlight: Angelo Taylor

Meet one of the greatest athletes in the World – Hurdler/Sprinter Angelo Taylor- Three Time Olympic Gold Medalist.

Angelo Taylor is the gold medalist in 400 meter hurdles from the 2000 and 2008 Olympics Games. He also was a part of the gold medal winning 4×400 meter relay team in 2008 Olympics. In this short video, you get to see Angelo “off the track” and hear why he loves TrackTown USA, when he knew he wanted to be an Olympian and things that are important to him off the track.

By Cyrus on November 10, 2011
This entry is filed under 2012 Olympic Trials, News, Team USA, TrackTown Spotlight, Uncategorized and tagged , , .

TrackTown Thursday News

USA Outdoor Championships begin next Thursday

One week from today, TrackTown USA will welcome the 2011 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and the 2011 USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships to Historic Hayward Field.

So — who’s going to be in TrackTown to compete?  Well, the full list of entries can be found on the USATF website, but here are a few highlights (we’ll focus on the women this week — on Monday we’ll start a rundown of  qualifiers in the men’s events.)

In the sprints:

100 meters

Carmelita Jeter, Marshevet Myers, and LaShaunte’a Moore  have the fastest qualifying times in the Women’s 100 meters.  But UO favorites English Gardner (who is only a freshman and may choose to compete in the US Junior’s competition) and Amber Purvis have also met the “A” qualifying standard of  11.42.  Allyson Felix has also qualified.

200 meters

In the 200 meters, Allyson has also qualified with a leading mark of 22.03 – well below the “A” standard of 23.25.  Other qualifiers include Kimberlyn Duncan, Jeneba Tarmoh ofTexas A&M, Consuella Moore and crowd favorite Sayna Richards-Ross.

400 meters

In the Women’s 400 meter race, twenty five women have dipped below the qualifying mark of 52.50.  Qualifiers are Allyson Felix (again – it is not yet clear which race(s) she will compete in), Francena McCorory, Jessica Beard and Debbie Dunn.  Sanya Richards-Ross also has qualified for this distance.

Middle Distances:

800 meters

In the Women’s 800 meters, the qualifying mark of 2:05:00 has been been met  by Alysia Johnson, Phoebe Wright, and Maggie Vessey with the top three qualifying times.  OTC Elite’s Geena Gall and UO’s Laura Roesler have also qualified.

1500 meters

Top qualifiers Christin Wurth and Erin Donohue will race against other 1500 meter qualifiers such as Morgan Uceny and Anna Pierce .  UO favorite Jordan Hasay has also met the qualifying mark of 4:15:50.

Distance Races

5,000 meters

Molly Huddle  mark of 14:44.76 is the fastest qualifier, but Nike/ Oregon Track Club Elite runners Shalane Flanagan, Lisa Koll,  Amy Begley, Kara Goucher and Lauren Fleshman may have somewhat of a hometown advantage in this talent stacked race.

10,000 meters

The question for the 10,000 meter race is always who will run the 10K and who will stick with the 5K – and will anybody try to double?  Those questions are still open, but the following women have qualified in the 10,000 (as well as the 5,000): Shalane Flanagan, Jennifer Rhines, Amy Begley, Desiree Davila and Lisa Koll.  Jennifer Simpson has also met the “A” standard of 33:40:00.

Tomorrow, we will update you on the women’s entries in the hurdles, heptathlon and all field events.

Add this to your calendar:  Next Wednesday, the City of Eugene begins the countdown to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field with a “Year out Event“  Downtown Eugene from 6 – 9 p.m.  Please join us!

 

By Rita on June 16, 2011
This entry is filed under News and tagged , .

Monday Matters – April 18, 2011

Another OTC Elite Athlete Qualifies for Nationals

OTC Elite’s Jesse Williams was flying high this weekend at the Mt. Sac Relays. He cleared 2.34 meters (7 feet, 8 inches) on his first attempt – which equaled his outdoor lifetime best.  It also ensured his qualification for the U.S. National Championship meet which will be held at Hayward Field June 23-26, 2011 and also put him over the IAAF World Championships ‘A’ Standard of 2.31.  And — it is the world leading mark for the year in the high jump.  You can check out a video of his performance on the OTC Elite website.

In June, Jesse will defend his 2010 title and  work to secure a spot on the US National team that will compete at the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea at the end of August.

Jesse has lived in California and North Caroina, and moved to Eugene to train with the OTC Elite and Coach Cliff Rovelto.  For more on Jesse, check out Curtis Anderson’s article in the Register Guard.

 

By Rita on April 18, 2011
This entry is filed under Athlete Profiles, Monday Matters and tagged , , , .