TrackTown, USA: Goodness, young man. If you only knew what a little local track meet named in your honor would grow to in 38 quick years. Olympians from around the world come to race on your college track. They run to keep your spirit alive. They run to honor you. They race because they know records are broken at Historic Hayward Field. They run because it is their job and they know that on a Friday night in a town of only 150,000 citizens, there will not be an empty seat at the track.Even Mother Nature cooperated by providing brilliant sun.
Only in Eugene would this many people show-up at 6p to watch the hammer throw.The women's hammer throw.
Thousands showed up to watch an odd American-only 1500m! An American won!
In Eugene, this is Happy Hour.
10000m start - 22 racers in the fieldIn many towns, when the 10,000 meter race starts, the stands begin to empty. Not in Eugene. In Eugene, no one can think of anything more exciting than watching people run around a track 25 times! Especially if the current world record holder, Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, is in the race. Bekele won tonight in 27 minutes and 12 seconds. Bekele loves to race in Eugene.
Amazing thing? This isn't even the "real" track meet. The Prefontaine Classic is tomorrow. This was just to warm-up the crowd. Tomorrow the Big Boys & Girls come out to play. See race results here.
As I have said: Saturday, 1 June. NBC. 1:30-3p pacific. Be there.
Until my next update, I remain, your excited correspondent.
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