Track Town, USA: Amazing how things stay the same. DT ran in The Twilight Meet at Oregon in the 1970's. This track meet always holds exciting races, surprise last-minute entrants and the odd athlete trying to qualify for this or that. So much drama. This year The Twilight meet was held in the first evening of the two-day decathlon and heptathlon Pac-12 Championships. A track meet before a track meet.
Like Heaven.
Before heading over to Historic Hayward Field, we took a little trip down Memory Lane.

As long as we were in the area, we decided to drive up to Hendrick's Park to revisit where DT used to run in the olden days. On the way to the park, we passed Pre's Rock, the spot where Oregon track star Steve Prefontaine crashed his car and died in 1975. Neither of us had visited the site of Steve's death in years.

Over the years, thousands of tributes have been left at the site. Every week or so, someone removes the momentos. Not sure where they go - a museum or a dumpster - but it is very common for young runners to leave their race bibs or medals here as a tribute to the spirit of "Pre".



I was on staff of the University of Oregon student newspaper when Pre died. The staff was so shaken, it was difficult to get the paper out that day. He was Dave's teammate. He was our friend. We were all so young, it was nearly impossible to believe one of us could die.
After this cheerful thought, we went to the track to watch the first day of the Pac-12 Heptathlon and Decathlon.




Then the Twilight Meet began, and we stayed until the last exciting race at 9p when we were nearly frozen solid from the 50 degree temperatures and biting wind. See race results here. Mr. Eaton competed in a few events today. I took a photo of him racing the 110m hurdles, but he was too fast and the photo was blurry:

Another star Duck athlete completed in a few events today. Football running back De'Anthony Thomas has made the Oregon track team (along with a few other football players). A fabulous high school sprinter, the guy can really fly with a football, so all the trackies were hoping he would try-out for the team.


But the crowd favorite is still Ashton Eaton. Now a Duck alum, Mr. Eaton races for Oregon Track Club Elite. He lives and trains in Eugene and is a native of Bend, Oregon. The Olympic Trials begin in 7 short weeks.
Tomorrow, we will return to Historic Hayward Field for the last day of the Decathlon and Heptathlon... and then I think we will go home.
To our house.
This is our last night on the road.
Until my next update, I remain, your trackside correspondent.
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