TrackTown, USA: We have finally thawed and are caught-up on laundry. We went out on errands this morning (after exercising). Our larder is now stocked with tons of appetizers (probably our dinner for the next ten days), so let the games begin. It was 86° in Eugene today.
We didn't need to be to Historic Hayward Field until about 2p, but we went a little early. First day is always a learning curve for the security checkpoints, volunteers, crowd controls, and all the other factors of getting thousands of people into a stadium as quickly and safely as possible. We stopped by to see our friends in a hospitality suite, but went quickly to our seats because we knew there would be a fly-over at the end of the National Anthem and we didn't want to miss it. Two F-15s (single seat, by the way, says Captain Smith) from the National Guard, flew over the stadium. I told the woman sitting next to me to be prepared to have your ear drums broken and she gave me the strangest look because as the jets approach Historic Hayward Field from the north, they really are not noisy, but as they fly across the field, the roar is as if the jets are flying through your brain! SO LOUD and SO FRIGHTENING. My seatmate laughed and said she thought I was just being over-dramatic until the jets went through her brain as well.
Let the games begin!
The first few days of the meet will be filled with many heats, prelims, and first rounds. The schedule is basically following the same schedule the athletes will follow at the Paris Olympics. You may often hear this is the "toughest team" to make. And it is. You can the fastest man or woman in America. You can be the best thrower or jumper in the entire world. But, you have only this meet to be in the top three in your event to make the US OLympic Team. If you have a bad day, if you false-start, if you miss your mark and foul, and you finish 4th place - you are not making the US Olympic team and will be watching the Paris Olympics from your sofa. Truly brutal. There is always drama, always races that go as suspected, always a feel-good surprise, and always a very sad outcome.
Early in the program this afternoon was a dramatic feel-good surprise. A 16-year-old Maryland high school boy, Quincy Wilson, ran his 400m heat in 44.66 to set an Under-18 World Record! The crowd went wild, jumping up and down in pure amazement. 33 men had qualified to vie for the 400m team, racing in 5 heats. In the end, the 16-year-old had the second fastest time overall. This kid could make the US 400m Olympic team.
At times today, so much was going on it was like a 6-ring circus. Women's triple jump, men's shot put, men's pole vault, decathlon events, and all sorts of racing. Dizzying, and you really have to pay attention or you will miss something. It was fun for us that there were so many current or past University of Oregon athletes competing today. GO DUCKS!
The final event this evening was the men's 10000m final - and it ended up being a truly exciting race, with a very strategic last mile. The three top 10000m runners in America actually finished 1-2-3, so this race had a happy ending... and it was very late, so everyone dragged themselves home... because we have to do it all again tomorrow.
Please check-out the results via the links below and don't for get to watch tomorrow.
Until my next update, I remain, your GO TEAM USA correspondent.
Olympic Trials Information:
Meet schedule
Where to watch
Meet results
Campground Information: Premier RV Resorts - A bit confusing, as we have a frequent-flyer discount card, but we would be paying about $78 per night (we have several nights free on this visit with our punch card). The park is full-service, with every amenity (though the pool is teeny) and is very dog-friendly - with a dog wash. Small shop with limited groceries, RV supplies, Duck stuff, ice cream and ice. It is right on I-5 so quite noisy. The most conveniently located campsite for a visit to Eugene, but is isn't really very convenient. We stay here all the time. Like, really, all the time.