Eugene's Track and Field Season Gets on the Starting Line

With a nickname like "TrackTown USA,” it's only natural that Eugene, Oregon, will be hosting a number of track and field events throughout the summer that will bring some of the top athletes from around the world to the area to compete.

The University of Oregon plays host to four meets, starting with the UO Preview on March 22, the Pepsi dual vs. Arizona on April 5, the three-day Oregon Relays on April 17-19, and the UO Twilight on May 9.

High school athletes take center stage May 22-24 at the OSAA state championships. Team and individual titles will be decided from the smallest Class 1A schools to the largest 6A schools.

May 30-31 brings is the Prefontaine Classic at historic Hayward Field, the longest-running invitational track and field meet in the U.S. named after the legend himself. The 2013 Pre Classic produced incredible performances and records (including 11 world-leading marks), and is expected to be yet another sell-out year for spectators. The past 16 Pre Classics have been standing room only, with crowds of over 12,000.

The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (Division 1) are scheduled for June 11 - 14. The Championships have been held 11 times now at Hayward Field, and will continue there through 2021. The site will also host the USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships from July 5 - 6, where the two top finishers in each event will represent Team USA just two weeks later at Hayward Field in the IAAF World Junior Championships, being held in the U.S. for the first time ever from July 22 – 27. An estimated 1,800 of the best track and field athletes ages 19 and under will come from 212 member federations (along with 750 coaches and officials) for a meet that is sure to produce future Olympians from around the world.

On a more local note, the Eugene Marathon will be held the weekend of July 27. This event was proclaimed "Best New Marathon" by Runner’s World, and finishes at Hayward Field, an experience like no other for the thousands of participants. The Eugene Marathon is part of the inaugural "Run TrackTown" celebration that will tie together a number of events over the weekend, including a 5K, children’s events, a pancake feed, and the Eugene Marathon Pasta Dinner. Sunday, July 27 will be the busiest day, with the Eugene Marathon, Eugene Half-Marathon, and Marathon Post-Party all taking place, as well as the last day of the IAAF World Junior Championships and their Closing Ceremony.

Information is available at this site.