Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon
KPNWSports

In a press conference at the State Capital on Thursday afternoon, it was announced that for the third time in a row the Olympic Trials will be on Tracktown soil at Hayward Field in Eugene.  There were several speakers to accept the Trials back to the state including Governer Kitzhaber, University of Oregon President Michael R. Gottfredson, and 2012 Trials Committee Co Chair and former Oregon coach Vin Lananna. 

The US Olympic Track and Field team trials will return to the University of Oregon and Hayward Field in 2016.  

Max Siegel, CEO, USA Track and Field

Governor Kitzhaber talked about the economic boost from the 2012 Olympic Trials as they brought 37 million dollars into the local economy and three Oregon athletes, Ryan Bailey, Ashton Eaton, and Galen Rupp returned to the area with medals.

President Gottfredson gave a warm welcome back to athletes and said the community could not be more excited to host the Trials in 2016.

Former Coach Vin Lananna said the opportunity is not something that is taken for granted and said he would work to make the Trials better than the 2012 Olympic Trials.

We’ll do everything we can to help TEAM USA, the #1 Team in the World, to continue it’s dominanace. – Former Oregon Track and Field Coach Vin Lananna

Mark the dates now. The 2016 Olympic Trials at Historic Hayward Field will take place July 1st-10th, 2016. The Summer Olympics will be held in Rio De Janiero, Brazil.

Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon
KPNWSports

So far it has been a great year to be a Duck at Historic Hayward Field. Both the Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Teams are ranked in the Top 5 in the country. This past weekend over 5800 people showed up to watch the Pepsi Invitational, in some cases in the pouring down rain.

Local Eugene TV station KMTR(NBC Affiliate) and the Register Guard are saying that more good news is coming Oregon’s way, albeit several years down the road. On Thursday at 12:30 in Salem(Oregon’s capital) there will be an announcement for the site of 2016 U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials.

They are staying right here in Eugene at Hayward Field.

Autzen Zoo will have reaction from those involved after Thursday’s annoucement. Of course the 2016 Olympics are in Rio. The last Olympic Trials were held in Eugene last year as we sent our team to London to compete. The weather during the trials was a lot like it was in London. We can only hope in 2016 we’re lucky enough to get some ‘Rio’ weather.

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Associated Press

Another athlete that set a record this week is Olympian Bernard Legat, who at the Olympic Trials in Eugene this past summer came in second to Rupp in the 5000 meter final on the way to the Olympics in London. At 38 years old, he is still one of the best. This past week at the Millrose Games, Legat set the record for the 2 mile at 8:09.49 – he beat the record set by Galen Rupp last year by .23

Nike Oregon Project Coach Roberto Salazar (Rupp’s Coach) said it is time for some rest as Rupp prepares for the outdoor season. Salazar also coaches Track Athlete Mo Farrah

“They’re taking some time off. They have a couple weeks with no running whatsoever. Then Galen and Mo will start building up for outdoors.”

Wall Street Journal

Once again Bernard Legat and Galen Rupp criss cross the record books. At 38 years old, Legat says he could make a run at Rio in 2016 for the Olympics. Between now and then it will be fun to watch these two different athletes from different generations continue to chase the dream of getting to Rio to compete to be the Best in the World in 2016 and it will also be fun to watch them chase each other on the track and in the record books.

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