Eugene’s Hayward Field Once Again to Serve As Center of Premier Track and Field Events This Summer — Sport Oregon Voices
WCH Oregon22
Present and future Olympic stars compete at iconic track and field venue in Oregon in series of elite competitions, including U.S. Olympic Trials and Prefontaine Classic
Once again, Eugene is living up to its well-deserved distinction as “Track Town USA” this spring and summer. Over the course of six weeks, present and future Olympic stars in track and field soon will be coming to Oregon to compete in a series of premier events at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.
For the fifth consecutive time, Hayward Field will play host to the U.S. Olympic Trials for Track and Field. It marks the eighth time, overall, that Eugene has been chosen to host the event. The Olympic Trials will take place at Hayward Field from June 21-30 and will determine which track and field athletes represent the United States in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which will be staged later this summer from July 25-Aug. 11.
Local organizers once again are looking forward to the elite-level talent that will be on display during the Olympic Trials at Hayward Field.
“For this edition, in particular, the fact that the No. 1 track and field team in the world – Team USA – gets the opportunity to be selected in the No. 1 track and field stadium in the world – Hayward Field – is really something special,” said Michael Reilly, the CEO of TrackTown USA, a non-profit that hosts and supports premier track and field events in the area.
Reilly says that continuing to attract and successfully stage such high-caliber track and field events is a testament to the dedication of a vast volunteer network and strong public and private partnerships throughout the region and state, including the likes of the University of Oregon, the cities of Eugene and Springfield, Lane County, Travel Lane County, Sport Oregon and other entities up and down the I-5 corridor that make it all possible.
“It really is a very big network of people that come together to showcase not only the sport, but the best of what Oregon has to offer,” Reilly said.
If you’re interested in learning more about sponsorship and activation opportunities around TrackTown USA, details are available here.
Leading up to the Olympic Trials, there’s an intriguing menu of top track and field attractions on tap, offering area fans and casual observers alike the opportunity to welcome present and future Olympic track and field athletes to the country’s epicenter for the sport.
Starting this week, the OSAA Track and Field State Championships will be held at Hayward Field, with this year’s event being staged Thursday through Saturday. Hundreds of the state’s top track and field athletes will descend on Hayward Field to compete for state high school supremacy.
Next up, the top professional track and field athletes in the world will compete in this year’s Prefontaine Classic, which will take place at Hayward Field on Saturday, May 25. This year marks the 49th year of the premier track and field meet in the United States. The meet, which is a fixture on the global track and field calendar, has earned a reputation for bringing the world’s best athletes to Oregon each year. Organizers say that grand celebration plans are in the works already to commemorate the event’s 50th anniversary next year.
This year’s edition of the Prefontaine Classic will feature a new Lexus Community Night. On Friday, May 24, fans and local running enthusiasts will have the opportunity to run a mile on the track at Hayward Field. Also that Friday, kids aged 7-14 are invited to compete in the PeaceHealth Youth Meet at The Pre Classic. This free event gives kids the chance to run, jump and throw at Hayward Field. Additional information and preregistration is available on the Prefontaine Classic website.
At the collegiate level, the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held at Hayward Field from June 5-8. This year marks the 15th time the outdoor championships have been held in Oregon. The annual event features more than 20 events for both men and women representing any number of the 250 NCAA member institutions at the Division I level. This event, again, will give area track and field fans the chance to witness a host of future Olympians in action, right here in Oregon.
From June 12-15, the USATF U20 Championships and Nike Outdoor Nationals will take place at Hayward Field, combining the two premier youth track and field events into one showcase for the first time through a new partnership with the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation.
Tickets are available for all the upcoming events, so fans of all ages are invited to join in the fun and experience the Hayward magic in-person during another season of terrific track and field competition here in Oregon.
Schedule of Events
May 16-18: OSAA State Track and Field Championships I Tickets
May 25: Prefontaine Classic I Tickets
June 5-8: NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships I Tickets
June 12-15: USATF U20 Championships and Nike Outdoor Nationals I Tickets
June 21-30: U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field I Tickets