USA Olympic Track and Field Trials-Historic Hayward Field-Eugene, Oregon
Thoughts, Memories, Observations and Musings from Track and Field!
- While waiting for the shuttle on the first day, we met a great 80 year old guy with a LOT of stories. A former Burlington, CO pastor (he got kicked out; long story!) he started pole vaulting at the age of 60! He had patches from all his years of masters pole vaulting pinned on his shirt. While officiating a track event he was hit during the hammer throw and broke bones in his arm that required major surgery. He had many interesting stories!
- Athletes aren’t just jocks! Madeline Manning Mims, former Olympian and gospel recording artist, sang an emotional and beautiful Star Spangled Banner. She’s also served as the official chaplain to the USA Olympic teams since 1988.
- This is the only sport where we’ve seen the officials parade onto the field of play carrying their own chairs and some of the equipment for the event!
- One of the pole vaulter competed in a white tuxedo uniform
- Coaches for the athletes aren’t allowed on the field and the athletes can’t leave the field. Coaches have to shout instructions. This would drive gymnastics coaches CRAZY!!
- You can’t be a runner and not run the famous Pre Trail (named after Steve Prefontaine). The day we ran there were runners of all kinds, including a couple of Olympians!
- Justin Gatlin was banned from competition for several years as a result of a doping violation. With a renewed sense of dedication and purpose, he won the 100 meters. Not wanting to disappoint fans, he stayed well past what was asked of him to sign autographs, including one for Jim on our USA Banner. Jim was very impressed with him.
- Everybody runs in Eugene. Everybody is a “Duck.” Everybody has a story. Everybody is somehow connected to Steve Prefontaine!
- Whoever coined the concept “one size fits all” never went to a track meet. From the slight 10,000 meter runners to the huge shot putters, I’m pretty sure USA will not be outfitting our athletes in the same size! But that’s one of the cool diversities of this sport.
- Two javelin mishaps. One guys javelin broke in half- in mid-air! A second landed in the pole vaulters tent, with athletes in it!
- There were so many old timer track coaches there, it was amazing. Seemingly more so than any other sports we’ve watched. It shows how a sport gets in your blood for life.
- As we were leaving our campsite early Sat. morning, a crew was setting up for a local race. It turned out to be my old running coach from Colorado, William Wyckoff. What a fun surprise!
- Wonder how many shoes, clothes and pieces of equipment a decathlete needs to compete? Not to mention for training!
- Many of the athletes who came here participated in one heat or round of an event and were cut. Four years of training for a 10 second or three attempt at the pole vault?
- As of this writing, there has been no resolution to the women’s 100 meter third place tie. For those of you who didn’t see it, two athletes finished in a dead heat for the third place spot on the Olympic Team. It’s never happened in the history of track and field, so there was no rule. Officials had to draft a tie breaking procedure. It will now come down to a runoff or a flip of the coin. Can you imagine? Stay tuned!
In Celebration of Sport!