TrackTown, USA: Deciding against fighting Sunday desert traffic, we left Oceanside Saturday afternoon. Traffic was never a problem (it was terrible on Monday driving over to the beach), and we had the RV unloaded and back to her comfy air-conditioned garage before it was time to shake a martini. We really liked Oceanside. There is so much to do, great food, and it is ridiculously bike-friendly. (I could have done without the constant train rolling through my brain our campsite several times per hour.)
But that was then and this is now. This morning we flew up to Oregon to watch the USA Track & Field Championships and to attend a memorial service for Dave's college coach, Bill Dellinger who passed away in June. This meet, which will choose the team America sends to Tokyo for the World Championships in September, is being held at the same time/venue as the championships for USA Para Athletes, so Historic Hayward Field will really get a workout.
First things first:
...or how you know I am back in Oregon.
We arrived to our hotel, met so many old friends in the lobby, met all the University of Virginia athletes Vin is coaching, then settled-in for a fun (yet exhausting) four days of The One True Sport. The weather is seriously cooperating, and that is always a gamble during Oregon summers.
Speaking of Vin, we met him at Marché for appetizers before the memorial service.
The memorial service was hugely attended. The University set up folding chairs on the grass in the infield of the track. The scoreboard was showing a lovely tribute to Coach Dellinger and was also used to show video during the service.
Various friends, fellow coaches and athletes Bill coached spoke. There were a lot of tears and a lot of laughter. Bill Dellinger was born in Oregon, attended the University of Oregon, set every high school and college record you can imagine, and was a 3-time Olympian. He loved life, he loved coaching,and he loved watching his athletes as they left college and started their lives. A replay of the service is available here (fast-forward - it begins at the 17 minute mark).
Though I'm pretty sure the U wanted us all off the infield ASAP (there is a meet here tomorrow, people!), everyone just lingered after the service, telling tales of Dellinger and saying hello to old teammates.
Apparently Devon Allen also played professional football?
Finally, they shut the field lights and we all headed for the exit before they turned on the sprinklers!
The meet begins tomorrow.
Until my next update, I remain, your Eugene correspondent.
Nice reporting. Did you ever work on a newspaper? I bet it was wonderful to be there, so many friends and memories. 😘