Month: October 2011

With the 2012 London Olympics fast approaching, the Pac-10, which officially becomes the Pac-12 on July 1, will host two of its 14 Conference Championship events in 2011-12 at U.S. Olympic Trial venues, providing student-athletes throughout the Conference an opportunity to compete on world stage locations.
Hayward Field at the University of Oregon will be the site for the inaugural Pac-12 Track and Field Championships May 5-6 and 12-13, while Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, WA will host the Pac-12 Women’s Swimming and Men’s and Women’s Diving Championships February 22-25. The venues were approved by the Pac-10 Council.
Continue reading “2012 Pac-12 Championships”

2012 Olympic Team Trials of Track & Field

For the 5th straight year, Track Town USA will host a major track event. Hayward Field is the heart of Track Town USA, and almost every summer, it is the center of the world of track and field. This year, the USA’s top athletes will make the trek to try and make the 2012 US Olympic Team, and represent us at the Summer Olympic Games in London.

Here are the recent highlights of the summer track and field schedule at historic Hayward Field:

• 2008 Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field
• 2009 USATF Outdoor Championships
• 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships
• 2011 USATF Outdoor Championships
• 2012 Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field

And also for the 5th straight year, Tracktown Productions Executive Producer Tim Lay will head up the in-stadium production of Eugene’s biggest track events. Tim is using his experience as an event producer/director for ESPN and Fox Sports Net to elevate the stadium experience for all who attend the event.

“Every year, we have tried to add something new to our coverage. And in 2012, we are looking to bring an unprecedented amount of information to the fan. This year, we will have daily event previews, concurrent field event updates, and video highlight reviews of the day’s events. We’re even going to let you hear the athletes speak in their own words after their events. Everyone in attendance, inside the stadium and in the festival areas, will come away with a better understanding of what happened today, and what’s coming tomorrow.”

Tickets for the 2012 Olympic Trials are on sale now at GoDucks.com

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Sarah Penney posted her best finish as a Duck to lead the Women of Oregon to victory, while Parker Stinson paced the men’s team Saturday at the sixth annual Bill Dellinger Invitational.

“Our women had good poise, I was really happy,” said Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna. “The men’s side was very impressive; I was actually more impressed with the guys.”

Penney led an imposing 3-4-5-6 finish for the Ducks as No. 17 Oregon captured the women’s team title with 26 points. Wisconsin was second with 73 points, followed by Portland (95), Oregon State ( 118) and Idaho (131).

Penney, a junior from Paradise Valley, Ariz., covered the 5,000-meter course at the Springfield Country Club in 16:46.97 to lead the Ducks. Junior Becca Friday was fourth in 16:49.00, sophomore Lanie Thompson was fifth in 16:51.60, senior Claire Michel took sixth in 16:51.97 and freshman Megan Patrignelli was eighth in 16:57.60 to round out the scoring for the Ducks.

“I feel great now that it’s over,” said Penney. “The girls are great. I honestly could not do it without them.”

From the outset, Oregon ran strongly as a team. The Ducks had five runners in the top 20 after one lap and upped that to five in the top 15 at the midway point. Oregon then solidified its win on the final lap with all five runners moving up into the top 10.

“We won the team title by running in a pack,” said Thompson. “We are a solid pack.

“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves, we are definitely still focusing. Running in a pack makes the race seem easier.”

Hannah Kisler of Idaho came from deep in the field and took the lead with less than 50 meters remaining to win the individual title in 16:45.71. Gabi Anzalone of Wisconsin sprinted out to an early lead before fading behind Aliphine Tuliamuk of Wichita State 3,000 meters in. Tuliamuk appeared to be in control entering the final turn when Kisler came from out of nowhere and passed several runners over the last 200 meters before passing Tuliamuk with a final kick down the homestretch.

“I think I just started a little bit behind the main pack,” said the sophomore from Wenatchee, Wash. “They got out a little too fast.  It was really crowded at first and then everyone settled down.

“(At the end of the race) I was kind of just waiting for everyone to kick past me and it didn’t happen.”

In the men’s race, No. 2 Wisconsin established itself in the lead pack from the outset and impressed by placing five runners in the top seven. The Badgers won with 24 points, with No. 8 Oregon second with 59 points, followed by Southern Utah (104), Idaho (110) and UC Riverside (113).

Four of Oregon’s five counting scores were posted by freshmen or sophomores.

Parker Stinson, a sophomore from Austin, Texas, was the first Duck to cross the finish line as he completed the 8,000-meter course in 23:23.85. Fellow sophomore Brian Shrader was 10th in 23:57.13.

“Believe it or not, a five-mile race comes down to the last 100 meters, so I’ll just wait a little bit longer next time,” said Stinson

The Ducks also counted a 15th-place finish from freshman Ryan Pickering (24:07.48) and a 16th-place showing from senior Bryce Burgess (24:10.69). Cole Watson wrapped up Oregon’s scoring in his cross country debut. The redshirt freshman from Rogue River, Ore., finished 20th in 24:18.88.

“I like our chances,” said Lananna. “I think everyone has us picked in the back of the pack but I think we will pull through.

“They all ran together and followed instructions beautifully. They were focused the entire race.”

Cameron Levens of Southern Utah went to the front of the men’s race on the first lap and never relinquished it, though he never quite shook the Wisconsin pack and UC Riverside’s Chad Hall.

Levens reached the finish line in 23:10.51 for an eight-second victory.

“That was the goal,” said Levens. “I thought I could do it, but it can all change when you get out on the course.”

Wisconsin was led by Reed Connor, who was the runner-up in 23:18.88. Hall took third in 23:18.91, followed by four more Wisconsin runners within a second of each other: Ryan Collins (23:22.79), Mohammed Ahmed (23:22.93), Elliot Krause (23:22.95) and Maverick Darling (23:23.35).

“It’s early in the season,” said Connor. “This is getting us ready for the end of the season.  We’re going to see (Oregon) a lot and there’s a lot of respect there when we go to each other’s meets.”

Both Oregon teams rested some key performers. The women won without defending Pac-10 champion Jordan Hasay, as well as junior Anne Kessering and freshmen Allie Woodward. The men were without senior Luke Puskedra, sophomore Mac Fleet and freshman Lukas Verzbicas.

The men also had two freshmen run unattached in Chad Noelle, who was 12th in 24:04.85, and Jeramy Elkaim, who was 13th in 24:05.74.

When it comes to iconic facilities, Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon stands alone in the sport of track and field. But why?

As the centerpiece of ‘Track Town, USA’, Hayward Field attracts athletes, coaches and fans from thousands of miles away because of its renowned crowds well-versed in the sport and ready to roar in approval. Hayward Field’s historic, covered grandstands are equally beloved, and comparable to many famous European venues. The ‘Carnegie Hall’ for American track and field plays host annually to the nation’s finest single-day track and field contest, the Prefontaine Classic, which features the top mix of national and international talent on American soil each year.

Hayward Field has hosted NCAA Championships, USATF Championships, USATF Elite Running Circuit events, and the stadium hosts the Nike Prefontaine Classic annually in June. It hosted the US Track and Field Olympic Trials in 1972, 1976, and 1980, making it the only site to host three consecutive trials. It again hosted the Trials in 2008 for the Beijing Olympics. Temporary seating raised the crowd capacity to more than 21,000.

In 2010, Track Town USA welcomed the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the 10th time since 1962 – the most of any venue in modern history. Six U.S. Championships have graced the storied venue, including recent events in 1999, 2001 and 2009.

The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Originally started as the Hayward Field Restoration Race, in 1975 the name was changed to the Prefontaine Classic after legendary University of Oregon distance runner and Olympian Steve Prefontaine was killed in a car accident a week prior to the meet. Nike has been the primary sponsor since 1984, one of the longest continuous sponsorships of a major sporting event globally.

With the stands filled with “the most knowledgeable fans anywhere,” a stadium filled with the latest technology, and a legacy that is second to none, it’s little wonder that athletes from around the world dream of the day they can compete on the stage that can only be called, Historic Hayward.