History, Legacy & Legends of TrackTown USA

HISTORY

One of the most famous track and field-only facilities in the world is Hayward Field, on the University of Oregon campus. This is hallowed ground for track and field athletes and fans. Built in 1919, the historic venue has hosted numerous NCAA Championships and national championships, dozens of Prefontaine Classics and various other world-class events. In 2014, the IAAF World Junior Championships U.S. debut was here following the USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The U.S. Olympic Trials -Track & Field were hosted at Hayward Field in 1972, '76, '80, 2008, 2012 and 2016. The public may run on the track to compete in this championship arena when the Oregon Track Club sponsors its all-comers meets each July.

It was also here that Nike took wings, when former Olympian and University of Oregon Track Coach Bill Bowerman and, then, middle-distance runner Phil Knight forged a partnership that ignited the beginnings of what would become the largest sports and fitness company in the world.

LEGENDS

Track legend Steve Prefontaine ran for the University of Oregon track team, amazing crowds by winning every American running record between 2,000 and 10,000 meters in 1975. Other running legends and Olympians who came out of coach Bowerman's UO stable include Alberto Salazar, Mary Decker Slaney, Lance Deal and Bill McChesney. Present day Olympians from Eugene include Nick Symmonds, Andrew Wheating, Galen Rupp and Ashton Eaton. Joining those prestigious ranks this year is Devon Allen, Ben Blankenship, Matthew Centrowitz, Jenna Prandini and Deajah Stevens. Eugene's fertile training ground promises to yield new crops of dedicated runners as the seasons progress.

Eugene continues to rack-up the running accolades, and since 2012, has been the seat for the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission which supports athletic events of all types and scale across Lane County. With its delightful chip trails interwoven across the city, Eugene is truly a runner's delight.