Hayward Field
| Hayward Field | |
|---|---|
 Hayward Field during the 2011 Prefontaine Classic |
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| Location | 1580 E. 15th Street Eugene, Oregon 97403  United States |
| Opened | 1919 - (for football) 1921 - (for track) |
| Owner | University of Oregon |
| Operator | University of Oregon |
| Capacity | 10,500 (expandable 21,000) |
| Tenants | |
| Oregon Ducks football (NCAA) (1919-1966) Oregon Ducks track and field (NCAA) (1921-present) |
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Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, is one of the best-known historic track and field stadiums in the United States.[1] 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.
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[edit] History
Hayward was built in 1919 to replace Kincaid Field, and was intended to primarily serve the school's football program.[2][3] In 1921, a six-lane cinder track was constructed around the football field.[3] 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.[3] Its track was widened to eight lanes in 1970 and converted to an all-weather surface.[3] 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.[3]
After a donation by Bill Bowerman, UO's longtime track coach, the 15,000-square-foot (1,400 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.[3]
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.[3]
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.[4]
Nike released the "Air Zoom Hayward" running shoe, in honor of Hayward Field.
[edit] In Film
Hayward Field played itself in a fictionalized staging of the Olympic trials for the 1982 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.
[edit] Notable athletes
Oregon Ducks who competed at Hayward Field
- Kelly Blair
- Nicole Blood
- Dyrol Burleson
- Rudy Chapa
- Joaquim Cruz
- Otis Davis
- Bill Dellinger
- Russ Francis
- Claudette Groenendaal
- Jordan Hasay
- Harry Jerome
- Daniel Kelly
- Phil Knight
- Maxime Long
- Kenny Moore
- Steve Prefontaine
- Mel Renfro
- Mack Robinson
- Galen Rupp
- Alberto Salazar
- Jerry Tarr
- Leann Warren
- Andrew Wheating
- Mac Wilkins
[edit] References
- ^ "Traditions are time-tested at historic Hayward Field" Denver Post, 27 June 2008
- ^ "Kincaid Field". University of Oregon. http://libweb.uoregon.edu/guides/architecture/oregon/kincaid.html. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Hayward Field". GoDucks.com. http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=39023&SPID=243&PALBID=9850&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=22187. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
- ^ "Eugene awarded 2008 Olympic Track & Field Trials". USATF. 2005-10-14. http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?DUid=USATF_2005_10_14_22_17_56. Retrieved 2007-04-04.
[edit] External links
- Venue information and history
- Hayward Field history
- Hayward Field, Architecture of the Univ. of Oregon
- 2007-2008 Hayward Field renovations
- Hayward Field webcam from Bowerman Building
Coordinates: 44°02′32″N 123°04′14″W / 44.04225°N 123.07067°W
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