Friday, May 4
Eugene, OR
All Day
University of Oregon
vs
Oregon Twilight
Photo by: Samuel Marshall/Eric Evans Photography
Twilight One Last Celebration of UO Tradition Before Hayward Renovation
05/03/18 | Track and Field, @GoDucksMoseley
In all, 17 alumni will be on hand Friday night at Hayward Field for the Oregon Twilight, and several events are planned to engage the community.
The final regular-season home meet before Hayward Field is expanded and upgraded will be a celebration of Oregon track and field, past and present, and its relationship with the Eugene-Springfield community.
The Ducks will host the Oregon Twlight at historic Hayward Field on Friday night, with field events beginning at 2:30 p.m. and action on the track underway at 4 p.m. With the UO track and field program keeping one eye on the upcoming Pac-12 Championship s— which begin this weekend for the multi-event athletes at Stanford — the Twilight will feature several notable alumni, and events that will engage the community.
"We love racing at Hayward," said UO junior Lilli Burdon, who will run 1,500 meters Friday. "Obviously we train here every day; it's become an important part of our lives, so we're really excited to feel the magic at Hayward Field one more time."
The field for Burdon's race at the Twilight includes her former teammate Ashley Maton. In all, 17 alums will participate Friday, including Olympic finalists Devon Allen and Johnathan Cabral in the men's 110 hurdles, reigning Bowerman Award winner Raevyn Rogers in the women's 400, and four alums in the men's 1,500.
"A lot of good Ducks will be back," said UO sophomore Tanner Anderson, who will be in that 1,500 field with Trevor Dunbar, Jeramy Elkaim, Will Geoghagen and Daniel Winn. "I'm very excited to be in the same race with those guys — to be able to run and do pre-meet and hang out with good alums."
UO coach Robert Johnson said the alumni was invited to attend a BBQ with current UO student-athletes. Also invited were meet officials, one of several ways the Ducks will show appreciation to the community around the Twilight.
On Friday at 3 p.m., UO coaches and athletes will hold a Run, Jump &Throw Clinic for kids ages 5 to 12. Registration is available online, and also in person Friday beginning at 2:30 p.m.
The meet schedule also includes a Kids Half-Lapper, at 4:15 p.m.
"Lots of things there for us to kind of give back," Johnson said.
But the UO coach will be interested to see how his participating athletes hold up Friday, too.
Coming off a big weekend in Arizona, and with Pac-12s on the horizon, many of the Ducks' key sprinters and jumpers will rest up this week. Distance runners like Anderson will be looking to "sharpen the pencil" with a shorter, faster race.
But Oregon will have several athletes looking to shore up spots with the team for the conference meet. The Ducks can enter 28 athletes on the men's and women's side, and the final few spots are up for grabs entering the Twilight.
"They need some sharpening and need to make a push to see if they can enhance their position," Johnson said, adding that those final few spots on the roster for the competitive Pac-12 meet "are probably going to be the difference in the outcome."
First, though, one last regular-season celebration of Hayward Field and UO track and field community in the venue's current configuration.
"To the the grandstands go and see historic Hayward go, that's emotional for everyone," Anderson said. "But I think the renovations will bring about a lot of new things. … I'm very excited. I think everyone here has that same feel: This is the last regular-season home meet at Hayward, and with NCAA's coming after that, it's going to be a good stepping stone."
The Ducks will host the Oregon Twlight at historic Hayward Field on Friday night, with field events beginning at 2:30 p.m. and action on the track underway at 4 p.m. With the UO track and field program keeping one eye on the upcoming Pac-12 Championship s— which begin this weekend for the multi-event athletes at Stanford — the Twilight will feature several notable alumni, and events that will engage the community.
"We love racing at Hayward," said UO junior Lilli Burdon, who will run 1,500 meters Friday. "Obviously we train here every day; it's become an important part of our lives, so we're really excited to feel the magic at Hayward Field one more time."
The field for Burdon's race at the Twilight includes her former teammate Ashley Maton. In all, 17 alums will participate Friday, including Olympic finalists Devon Allen and Johnathan Cabral in the men's 110 hurdles, reigning Bowerman Award winner Raevyn Rogers in the women's 400, and four alums in the men's 1,500.
"A lot of good Ducks will be back," said UO sophomore Tanner Anderson, who will be in that 1,500 field with Trevor Dunbar, Jeramy Elkaim, Will Geoghagen and Daniel Winn. "I'm very excited to be in the same race with those guys — to be able to run and do pre-meet and hang out with good alums."
UO coach Robert Johnson said the alumni was invited to attend a BBQ with current UO student-athletes. Also invited were meet officials, one of several ways the Ducks will show appreciation to the community around the Twilight.
On Friday at 3 p.m., UO coaches and athletes will hold a Run, Jump &Throw Clinic for kids ages 5 to 12. Registration is available online, and also in person Friday beginning at 2:30 p.m.
The meet schedule also includes a Kids Half-Lapper, at 4:15 p.m.
"Lots of things there for us to kind of give back," Johnson said.
But the UO coach will be interested to see how his participating athletes hold up Friday, too.
Coming off a big weekend in Arizona, and with Pac-12s on the horizon, many of the Ducks' key sprinters and jumpers will rest up this week. Distance runners like Anderson will be looking to "sharpen the pencil" with a shorter, faster race.
But Oregon will have several athletes looking to shore up spots with the team for the conference meet. The Ducks can enter 28 athletes on the men's and women's side, and the final few spots are up for grabs entering the Twilight.
"They need some sharpening and need to make a push to see if they can enhance their position," Johnson said, adding that those final few spots on the roster for the competitive Pac-12 meet "are probably going to be the difference in the outcome."
First, though, one last regular-season celebration of Hayward Field and UO track and field community in the venue's current configuration.
"To the the grandstands go and see historic Hayward go, that's emotional for everyone," Anderson said. "But I think the renovations will bring about a lot of new things. … I'm very excited. I think everyone here has that same feel: This is the last regular-season home meet at Hayward, and with NCAA's coming after that, it's going to be a good stepping stone."
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