The Track Hack: Am I in Eugene….again?

This time it’s USA Track and Field Championships; the professionals get to duke it out this week, with top finishers moving on to the World Championships (back here, of course).

At SeaTac, I stumble across Carol, who is wearing triathlon gear. She’s a track official, but will miss the meet because she’s competing in the World Triathlon Championships in Montreal.

She gets flagged at TSA because she has bike pedals in her carry-on; I get flagged for my very dangerous (and foam rubber) lumbar roller.

Then I see Mark in the lounge; he’s a designer from NYC who now splits his time between Fire Island and Palm Springs. Good dude.

Pea soup outside, maybe a 200’ ceiling before the clouds start. But pilots love flying in this stuff.

On approach to Eugene, we came in from the south. That’s Spencer’s Butte in the upper right, a few miles south of the track (you will see this information again, so take good notes). It’s our best weather station; if we can’t see the Butte from Hayward Field, it’s time to don the rain gear.

Long-suffering Vikings fans (like me) were rewarded in the airport. And some other pix in the lobby…

The stadium looks extra-terrestrial from this angle. As does my sushi lunch.

My man Dan, who has worked more Olympics than I have feet.

Andrew Valmon has a gold medal from the Barcelona Olympics; he’s also a good friend of classmate Ronnie J, so I send the selfie along.

(If you watch Ted Lasso, it’s actually an ‘ussie,’ since it’s not just one self in the photo).

Carlita’s in the Gordon Hotel, rooftop. That pesky Spencer’s Butte again, and a fine old fashioned thingy with some street corn. And the Graduate (formerly Hilton), the prime downtown hotel.

Agate Street at night. That is one pretty stadium; thanks, Uncle Phil.

Some pre-emptive swag from the Eugene Running Company.

AW used to be the big pro track team back in the day. I know a couple of alums!

Two Lyft drivers…completely unaware of Nationals, or the World Championships next month. I suggest an oil change and tire pressure check, as Eugene will be over-run. Pre-COVID, this city had 2000 ride share drivers. Now, it’s 400…them folks is gonna be BUSY!

Staying in the dorms is a thing when school is not in session. Problem is, the walls are paper thin, and even normal conversational tone carries. Plus, there is a roof full of mechanical equipment outside my window. So i find some emergency gear….

It ain't Bancroft Hall at Annapolis, but it'll do.

My man RJ, who knows a thing or two about track. He was here last year for the Trials, a major blast from the past for him.

As it heats up (thermodynamically), I spend much time between events in the air conditioned tunnel under the stands. My momma didn’t raise no fool…

Breakfast with my man Dan, aforementioned official for the ages. He is a treasure trove of track anecdotes, and has provided me with much blog fodder over the years. I mentioned writing up Anna Cockrell for a hurdles violation, she’s a two-time NCAA Champion and made the Olympic team last year with one of those priceless ‘OMG’ screams at the finish line….Dan mentioned a meet in his home base of Tucson that ended very late, so the officials broke out the beer in the parking lot at midnite…Anna held up her USC team bus to personally thank every official for their hard work….class act.

Then I asked him more about the 1996 Olympic men’s 100m final, when defending champion Linford Christie was DQ’d. There were 3-4 false starts, and Linford eventually got the fuzzy end of the lollipop. He then refused to leave the track, nearly inciting a one-man riot. Since Linford is built out of marble like a very fast Adonis, Dan was loathe to force the issue, lest he receive a very public (and internationally televised) beat-down.

Here's the long version, so get some popcorn...

Dan recently ran into Coach Linford, who immediately remembered Dan’s involvement…Linford proceeded to cast (good natured) aspersions at Dan.

I love track!

Yet another umpire with the same kicks…

Fellow umpire Doreen from Miami is working her first championship meet. During the morning events, with very few people in the stands, we have a lull in the schedule when the PA system starts blaring some tight music, so we have an impromptu dance party at the finish line!

Whoa. Fred Kerley used to be a quarter miler. He runs a ridiculous 9.76 in the semi with major air between him and the field. After the finish line, he keeps running straight into the tunnel, but the photographers beg him to return for pictures. I told them, “he ain’t coming back.” Later, he wins the final in similar time and doesn’t stop until he’s on the backstretch. And a world first: every man in the final went under 10 seconds, that has never happened before.

Tiny Melissa Jefferson from Coastal Carolina University wins the women’s 100 in a sterling time. Her sister in the upper deck didn’t stop screaming for a LONG time; yes, your voice carries. And her mom was also screaming, but into a cell phone: “SHE JUST WON!!! SHE JUST WON!!!”

I love track!

Half Miler Eric Sowinsky runs in his 19th US Championship event. He’s almost as old as…

194 year old Allison Felix said she’s retiring this year. In her 400m semi-final, I see her going backwards at the halfway point and thinking she’s about to bail out of the race. She enters the homestretch 15m down on the leaders, and I’m writing her obituary. Then she does a Felix (again) and slowly starts walking people down, barely missing third and an automatic advance to the final. But she gets a time qualifier when the second semi is slower.

So yeah; if she places third or better in the final, there is NO WAY she retires before running the first ever American-based World Championships next month. And the stadium will roar her name once again, no matter what happens

Steeplechase record holder Evan Jager is back in the house after several years of injuries, and I didn’t recognize him…..when did he get a new barber? He’s gone from occasional floppy haired, mostly man-bun, to high school preppy!

Now he looks a whole lot more like George McFly…

This IS Eugene, after all.

Men’s 1500 final….I’m at the starting line, and I walk a few steps away from my chair. Then I notice local kid Cooper Teare snatch my water bottle and take a big pull. Shortly after, he wins the race. I wish him success in life and in doping control, ‘cause he doesn’t know what might be in that water! Eric Holt runs a brave and oh so close 4th; he’s coached by the friend of a friend. Kid stuck his heart into that race and barely got edged out for the final spot on the Worlds team. That’s him on the right side of the picture below, head down. Tough result.

Then again, he’s the kid who, last year, while running on Pre’s Trail, said, “Who’s Pre?” I guess the running gods give no quarter.

Nasty hot out here, and we have many heats of the 200m with direct sunlight. So I jump the fence right under the Hayward Tower and find some shade under the temporary bleachers. Then I get my first peek into the Hayward Museum….but only from the cheap seats.

Sha’Carri warming up. I really wish her head was in a better place, because she’s an amazing talent. Too bad she lets herself get distracted. She’d do well to hire the publicist for Sydney or Allyson.

Olympic Gold Medalist Sydney Mac does what Sidney Mac does, setting another world record in the 400 hurdles. Two of her three were on this very track.

Unfortunately, I missed most of this race. A woman fell hard over the first hurdle right in front of me, so I was writing up an incident report...for at least 51.41 seconds.

After Saturday’s long, hot day on the track, I need some solitude. And a drink. I find both here…

Seriously. This is the Gordon Hotel’s ‘86 Speakeasy. Reservations only, and you get a double secret password. Press the button, the door opens, tell ‘em the password, and come inside.

The Nero is quite good!

All-star umpire crew: you can’t see it, but I’m actually wearing a Drake Relays cap courtesy of my man Suds; he gave it to me right before the picture, and I figure, why not?

Of course, the picture is blurry, so we retake it the next day (inside, where it's cooler).

I take a quick break under the stands, only to be prevented from returning to the track….Allyson Felix is in the blocks for what turns out to be her last race, and the cameras are blocking access everywhere. Her first US Championship event was in 2003, her senior year in high school, and she’s collected quite a jewelry box full of medals ever since. Tremendous career!!

Starting up the last day, a very raucous group of fans is in the stands behind me, friends and family of the Bowerman Track Club. Lots of t-shirts and noise makers….before the events start, I suggest that one of those shirts should be mine. They immediately offer one, which of course I can’t accept during the meet.

Bomb-ass runners Claudette (2x NCAA Champion), RJ (Olympic Trials podium plankowner), and some knucklehead who thinks it's ok to mock a competitor who should still be in high school (and has a faster personal best). Noah thinks rather highly of himself, and I hope to high heaven that high schooler Mr Knighton whips his butt at the Worlds.

Great competition; both 5000m races, the 200’s, the 800’s, the high hurdles. Thankfully, it’s a short day in the sun. And it’s been a great dress rehearsal for the World Championships; our officiating teams are working at high efficiency in preparation for that event’s first ever foray onto American soil. We’re ready to put on a great show.

After the last race, I walk back to the peanut gallery. The Bowerman Track Club is packing up and moving out….but they remembered. A nice parting gift!

Post-meet hijinks:

6 people in a pickup? No problem.

The world-renowned Wild Duck...where livers go to die.

The aforementioned Dan, a starting line clerk for the ages. I didn't see him at the pub, but he saw me leaving, so I told him to find RJ. Lots of stories between the two!