Hayward Field
Encyclopedia
Hayward Field in Eugene
, Oregon
, is one of the best-known historic track and field
stadiums in the United States
. Nearly a century in age, it was the home of the University of Oregon
's football team
from 1919 through 1966, and has been the home to the Ducks' track and field teams
since 1921. Hayward Field was named after track coach Bill Hayward
, who ran the Ducks' program from 1904 to 1947.
, and was intended to primarily serve the school's football
program. In 1921, a six-lane cinder track was constructed around the football field. By the mid-1960s
, the football team had outgrown the venue and moved to the new Autzen Stadium
in September 1967
, and Hayward Field became a facility solely for track and field. Its track was widened to eight lanes in 1970 and converted to an all-weather surface. The track was converted to metric
in 1988, its lap length reduced 2.336 m (7 ft. 8 in.) from 440 yards (402.336 m) to 400 meters. In addition, a 200 m warmup track was added to the south of the main track, along with a new hammer throw
area and a weight room facility. A state-of-the-art scoreboard was added in 1991, which gave unofficial times and competitors' placings just seconds after race completion.
After a donation by Bill Bowerman
, UO's longtime track coach, the 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) Bowerman Building was added to the northwest of the track, housing locker rooms, U of O track memorabilia and the university's International Institute for Sport and Human Performance.
A major renovation in 2004 added a new entrance named Powell Plaza, moved the practice track and expanded it to 400 meters, and replaced the aging fencing bordering the complex, among other improvements. After Eugene was awarded the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials
, Hayward Field underwent additional renovations in 2007. Eight light poles were installed for televised night events, and the crowned infield was removed and reconfigured. A walkway was added behind the west grandstand, and a new scoreboard was installed, thanks to a donation by noted alumnus Phil Knight
and Nike.
Hayward Field has hosted NCAA Championships, USATF
Championships, USATF Elite Running Circuit events, and the stadium hosts the Nike Prefontaine Classic
annually in June. It hosted the US Track and Field Olympic Trials in 1972, 1976, and 1980, making it the only site to host three consecutive trials. It again hosted the Trials in 2008 for the Beijing Olympics. Temporary seating was installed, which raised the crowd capacity to more than 21,000. On December 12, 2007, it was announced that Hayward Field would also host the 2012 Track and Field Olympic Trials for the London Olympics. It was also announced that Hayward Field would be the location of the 2009 and 2011 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Nike released the "Air Zoom Hayward" running shoe, in honor of Hayward Field.
film, Personal Best, and in the 1998
biography of Steve Prefontaine
, Without Limits
. It is also in the background of the ROTC drill scene of the 1978
film, National Lampoon's Animal House
.
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, is one of the best-known historic track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
stadiums in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Nearly a century in age, it was the home of the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
's football team
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
from 1919 through 1966, and has been the home to the Ducks' track and field teams
Oregon Ducks track and field
The Oregon Ducks Track and Field program is the intercollegiate track and field team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level and is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference. The team participates in indoor and outdoor track and...
since 1921. Hayward Field was named after track coach Bill Hayward
Bill Hayward
William Louis "Colonel Bill" Hayward was a track and field coach for the University of Oregon for 44 years, and a coach for six United States Olympics teams.-Athletic career:...
, who ran the Ducks' program from 1904 to 1947.
History
Hayward was built in 1919 to replace Kincaid FieldKincaid Field
Kincaid Field was an athletic field located at the University of Oregon. The University acquired the property and used it for athletics from ca. 1902 until 1922, with Hayward Field succeeding its role. Kincaid Field was located on what is now the Memorial Quadrangle.- External links :*...
, and was intended to primarily serve the school's football
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
program. In 1921, a six-lane cinder track was constructed around the football field. By the mid-1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
, the football team had outgrown the venue and moved to the new Autzen Stadium
Autzen Stadium
Autzen Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in Eugene, Oregon, United States. Located north of the University of Oregon campus, it is the home field of the Oregon Ducks of the Pacific-12 Conference. Opened in 1967, the stadium has undergone several expansions...
in September 1967
1967 college football season
The 1967 college football season was the last one in which college football's champion was crowned before the bowl games. During the 20th century, the NCAA had no playoff for the college football teams that would later be described as Division I-A and now as Division I FBS...
, and Hayward Field became a facility solely for track and field. Its track was widened to eight lanes in 1970 and converted to an all-weather surface. The track was converted to metric
Metric system
The metric system is an international decimalised system of measurement. France was first to adopt a metric system, in 1799, and a metric system is now the official system of measurement, used in almost every country in the world...
in 1988, its lap length reduced 2.336 m (7 ft. 8 in.) from 440 yards (402.336 m) to 400 meters. In addition, a 200 m warmup track was added to the south of the main track, along with a new hammer throw
Hammer throw
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...
area and a weight room facility. A state-of-the-art scoreboard was added in 1991, which gave unofficial times and competitors' placings just seconds after race completion.
After a donation by Bill Bowerman
Bill Bowerman
William Jay "Bill" Bowerman was an American track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Inc. Over his career, he trained 31 Olympic athletes, 51 All-Americans, 12 American record-holders, 24 NCAA champions and 16 sub-4 minute milers...
, UO's longtime track coach, the 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) Bowerman Building was added to the northwest of the track, housing locker rooms, U of O track memorabilia and the university's International Institute for Sport and Human Performance.
A major renovation in 2004 added a new entrance named Powell Plaza, moved the practice track and expanded it to 400 meters, and replaced the aging fencing bordering the complex, among other improvements. After Eugene was awarded the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
, Hayward Field underwent additional renovations in 2007. Eight light poles were installed for televised night events, and the crowned infield was removed and reconfigured. A walkway was added behind the west grandstand, and a new scoreboard was installed, thanks to a donation by noted alumnus Phil Knight
Phil Knight
Philip Hampson "Phil" Knight is an American business magnate. He is the co-founder and Chairman of Nike, Inc. He resigned as the company's chief executive officer in 2004, while retaining the position of chairman of the board...
and Nike.
USA Track and Field
USA Track & Field is the United States national governing body for the sports of track and field, cross country running, road running and racewalking...
Championships, USATF Elite Running Circuit events, and the stadium hosts the Nike Prefontaine Classic
Prefontaine Classic
The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.-History:...
annually in June. It hosted the US Track and Field Olympic Trials in 1972, 1976, and 1980, making it the only site to host three consecutive trials. It again hosted the Trials in 2008 for the Beijing Olympics. Temporary seating was installed, which raised the crowd capacity to more than 21,000. On December 12, 2007, it was announced that Hayward Field would also host the 2012 Track and Field Olympic Trials for the London Olympics. It was also announced that Hayward Field would be the location of the 2009 and 2011 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Nike released the "Air Zoom Hayward" running shoe, in honor of Hayward Field.
In Film
Hayward Field played itself in a fictionalized staging of the Olympic trials for the 19821982 in film
-Events:* March 26 = I Ought to Be in Pictures, starring Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret and Dinah Manoff is released. Manoff would not appear in another movie until 1987's Backfire.* June = PG-rated film E.T...
film, Personal Best, and in the 1998
1998 in film
-Events:* February 14 - Sharon Stone marries Phil Bronstein.* Former child star Gary Coleman is charged with assaulting a young female bus driver at a California shopping mall.-Top grossing films:...
biography of Steve Prefontaine
Steve Prefontaine
Steve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine was an American middle and long-distance runner. Prefontaine once held the American record in the seven distance track events from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters...
, Without Limits
Without Limits
Without Limits is a 1998 biographical film about the relationship between record-breaking distance runner Steve Prefontaine and his coach Bill Bowerman, who later co-founded Nike, Inc....
. It is also in the background of the ROTC drill scene of the 1978
1978 in film
The year 1978 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 1 - Bob Dylan's film Renaldo and Clara, a documentary of the "Rolling Thunder Revue" tour premieres in Los Angeles, California....
film, National Lampoon's Animal House
National Lampoon's Animal House
National Lampoon's Animal House is a 1978 American comedy film directed by John Landis. The film was a direct spin-off of National Lampoon magazine...
.
Notable athletes
Oregon Ducks who competed at Hayward Field- Kelly Blair
- Nicole Blood
- Dyrol BurlesonDyrol BurlesonDyrol Jay Burleson is a retired middle-distance runner from the United States, who grew up in Cottage Grove, Oregon, United States.He now spends most of his time caring for his goats, llamas, and single alpaca....
- Rudy ChapaRudy ChapaRodolfo Chapa is a Mexican-American businessman who had a successful school career as a runner. He is the son of Mexican immigrants. His father Rodolfo Sr. came to the U.S. as a mechanic through the Bracero program...
- Joaquim CruzJoaquim CruzJoaquim Carvalho Cruz is a former Brazilian athlete, winner of the 800 m at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He is one of only four men to run the 800 m in less than 1:42....
- Otis DavisOtis DavisFor the baseball player, see Otis Davis Otis Crandall Davis is a former American athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1960 Summer Olympics....
- Bill Dellinger
- Russ FrancisRuss FrancisRussell Ross Francis , is a former professional football player who was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1st round of the 1975 NFL Draft. He grew up in Hawaii. A 6'6", 242 lbs. tight end from the University of Oregon, Francis played in 13 NFL seasons. He retired temporarily in 1981, then...
- Claudette Groenendaal
- Jordan HasayJordan HasayJordan Melissa Hasay is an American female middle-distance runner. She grew up in Arroyo Grande, attending Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School. She was unanimously selected 2008 Girls High School Athlete of the Year by the voting panel at Track & Field News...
- Harry JeromeHarry JeromeHenry "Harry" Winston Jerome, was a Canadian track and field runner. He was the grandson of John Howard, a railway porter who represented Canada in the 1912 Summer Olympics....
- Daniel Kelly
- Phil KnightPhil KnightPhilip Hampson "Phil" Knight is an American business magnate. He is the co-founder and Chairman of Nike, Inc. He resigned as the company's chief executive officer in 2004, while retaining the position of chairman of the board...
- Maxime Long
- Kenny MooreKenny MooreKenneth Clark "Kenny" Moore is an American athlete and journalist. At the University of Oregon, Moore was one of Bill Bowerman's finest distance runners. After college, Moore ran in the Olympic marathon at both Mexico City and Munich, finishing fourth in 1972...
- Steve PrefontaineSteve PrefontaineSteve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine was an American middle and long-distance runner. Prefontaine once held the American record in the seven distance track events from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters...
- Mel RenfroMel RenfroMelvin Lacy "Mel" Renfro is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League who spent his entire fourteen-year career with the Dallas Cowboys.-High school:...
- Mack Robinson
- Galen RuppGalen RuppGalen Rupp is an American cross-country and track and field athlete, who competed for the University of Oregon and currently trains under Alberto Salazar as a member of the Oregon Track Club. Rupp competed for his native country in the men's 10000 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing,...
- Alberto SalazarAlberto SalazarAlberto Salazar is an American marathon runner of the 1980s. Born in Cuba, Salazar emigrated to the United States with his family. They ultimately moved to Wayland, Massachusetts, where Salazar competed in track and field in high school...
- Jerry TarrJerry TarrGerald LaVern Tarr is a former collegiate and professional American football player who played in one AFL season for the Denver Broncos. Tarr was also a successful college track and field athlete....
- Leann Warren
- Andrew WheatingAndrew WheatingAndrew "Andy" Wheating is an American middle-distance track athlete. Wheating competed for the United States in the men's 800 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. He is a professional runner for Nike.-Personal:...
- Mac WilkinsMac WilkinsMaurice "Mac" Wilkins is an American athlete, who competed mainly in the discus throw. He was born in Eugene, Oregon....