When it comes to Tracktown USA, and Eugene, Oregon, former Head Coach and current Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna has put his own personal and professional stamp on the moniker. After coaching the Oregon Ducks for thirty-five years he has been an instrumental force in bringing elite Track and Field competitions to Historic Hayward Field, including the Olympic Trials and the NCAA Track and Field Championships. On Wednesday, it was announced that Lananna will return to coach the US Men’s Team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.
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Lananna is not a stranger when it comes to coaching in International competition. He was an assistant coach for the the Olympic team in Athens, Greece in 2004. In the Men’s 200 meter final
with Shawn Williams, Bernard Crawford and Justin Gatlin picking up medals for the United States. Gatlin also won gold in the 100 meters. In his thirty-five years of coaching he led teams to eleven NCAA Titles and 42 Conference titles
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The 2016 Track and Field Olympic Trials take place next July from the 1st through the 10th at Historic Hayward Field, and aside from being the man behind the scenes, Lananna will also be watching the creation of the team he will be taking to Rio.