Not quite ten months ago, before the fuzzy almost-memories of my 21st birthday, I covered Ashton Eaton’s world record decathlon at the Olympic Trials. I’ve seen a lot of cool sports stuff, but nothing quite like that. From the first event to the last, Eaton was brilliant, setting world decathlon records in the 100 meter dash and long jump – and I’m probably forgetting something.
The other part of what made the performance so magical, however, was Hayward Field. Seeing track and field in Eugene is like seeing a basketball game at Madison Square Garden, a hockey game in Montreal and a ballgame at Fenway Park all rolled into one. It’s one of those venues where the aura of history is tangible.
It’s a track and field venue where fans go crazier for the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races than they do for the 100 and 200 meters. Everybody in attendance understood exactly what Eaton needed to do in the 1,500 to clinch that record. But when Curtis Beach – a 1,500 specialist – started setting the pace he knew exactly what he was doing and willed Eaton to keep up until Beach eased up, allowing Eaton to cross the line first.
But the stakes don’t have to be that high. When a pack of distance runners rounds the Bowerman Curve and the rhythmic Hayward Field slow clap starts up it almost doesn’t matter whether it’s Mac Fleet, Galen Rupp or Steve Prefontaine on the track. Those moments are few and far between in sports.
Even when it’s as simple a moment as a run of the mill lap when Hayward’s historic track is open to the public twice a week, there’s a very real sense of history. It’s the very epicenter of American track and it will have the focus of the nation and the international track and field community over the next few months as it plays host to the NCAA championships and the annual Diamond League meet in Eugene, the Prefontaine Classic.
The otherwise unassuming grandstands at the corner of 15th and Agate are routinely joined by towering temporary seating structures for high-profile meets. The seating capacity swelled to the neighborhood of 20,000 for the Olympic Trials. If Portland is ever blessed by the sports gods with the Olympics, the track and field event would have to be at Hayward.
Until then, there is still plenty of world-class track going on over at Hayward. The men of Oregon have dominated the Pac-12 for what seems like forever, and this year alone Robert Johnson has guided the women’s team to cross country and indoor national titles. There are two more chances to see the Ducks this year in the regular season. If you’ve never given track a chance, just give it one. If you have, see you there.