Olympic Trials: Day 8

TrackTown, USA: Okay, I am the worst blogger of all time. We did so much today and I only snapped three photos! I am going to lose my Blogger Card. After a very lazy morning (for me; DT rode his bike for an hour), we met Charles at Marché for brunch, only because Marché seems to be a favorite of Carlos (friend of Charles; Carlos and Charles are splitting the meet tickets). Charles had once again gone for a jog along Pre's Trail in Alton Baker Park early this morning and basically declared the trails some of the finest he has enjoyed and he especially relished in the quiet scenery, the calmness of the Willamette River, and he also enjoyed jogging on the same trails with many Olympic athletes. Dave and I think Charles really likes Eugene. Charles also was impressed with the University of Oregon football arena, Autzen Stadium. We think we will see Charles again.

We headed over to Historic Hayward Field about 4p today. Here is a photo of the fan area behind the stadium. Again, I have never posted a photo of this area before and I feel terrible. Too busy!

This (usually an intramural soccer field) area is used during the Olympic Trials as a gathering space for fans and athletes. Athletic interviews and medal ceremonies are held here (large crowd, left) and there are many food and beer booths lining the field, and the official USATF merchandise tent. (This field is directly behind the finishing straight-away.) The large white tent (top left) is a VIP hospitality tent. The buildings in the rear are University of Oregon Physical Education Department buildings, including the student gym (that rivals anything you would find in any major metropolitan city in America).

Please note: during the prelims and semis, 1-3 place winners received yellow + green (University of Oregon colors) bouquets. If you were 1-3 in a final (and made the Olympic team), your bouquets were red, white, and blue.

I really can't write about all the events held this evening. Every event was a final. Every event was over the top. Every event had athletes making personal bests, season bests, and then, Lucky Readers, we had a WORLD RECORD in the women's 400m hurdles. Please tell me you recorded this last day, or can go back and watch it on NBC Youtube because every event was marvelous.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the 400m hurdles in 50.65. Which means she ran an entire lap around a track, jumping over 10 hurdles in her spare time, in 50.65 seconds. Wrap your head around that fact. I can't believe it, and this is the second time I've seen SML set a world record on this track. She is amazing. A once-in-a-generation phenomenon. A college kid from Fairleigh Dickinson won the triple jump. A runner in the 5000m urged on his training partner to finish 2nd. Masai Russell set a world leading, meet record and personal best to win the women's 100m hurdles. Nikki Hiltz broke the meet record and set a personal best to win the women's 1500m. Just in case you are getting bored, Rai Benjamin set another meet record in a world-leading 46.46 in the men's 400m hurdles. (That's not much faster than Sydney's time, eh, boys?)

It was a great meet. So well attended and organized (even without DT's help!) The weather mostly cooperated (always a risk in Oregon in June). We had great seats with our long time friends - and new friends - and were able to catch-up with our old TrackTown posse.

The meet didn't start until about 4:30p today, so we had a bit of time this afternoon to organize ourselves for an early (for us) departure tomorrow morning. Our first stop will be to the Eugene Airport. I will drive the rental car for return, top-off the fuel tank, and DT will fetch me in front of the terminal and then we can begin our true test of our new Barbie RV. No more rental cars. Our Navion will be our car - with our bicycles will supplement.

Until my next update, I remain, your elated and exhausted correspondent.

Olympic Trials Information:
Meet schedule
Where to watch
Meet results
NOTE: Here is an explanation of how the Olympic Standard works... if you can understand it at all. My advice is to just ignore this link and simply wait to see who shows up in Paris. (That is what I am doing.)

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.

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