Bill Dellinger Invitational Meet Central
09/19/06 | Cross Country
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| Friday ? September 29, 2006 ? Alton Baker Park ? Eugene, OR ? Women's Race: 5:20pm ? Men's Race: 6:00pm | |||||||||||||
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About the Bill Dellinger Invitational Scheduled for Friday, September 29 at Alton Baker Park in Eugene, the meet will start at 5:20 p.m., and will feature 24 of the top teams from across the nation in women's 6,000- and men's 8,000-meter races. The race is named for legendary former UO men's track and field coach Bill Dellinger. The Springfield, Ore., native and two-time NCAA champion for the Ducks was a three-time Olympian and 1964 bronze medalist in the 5,000 meters, and held two world indoor records and six American records. In cross country, he took pride in the fact that he never lost a race in high school, college or as a post-collegian. As the Oregon men's cross country head coach from 1968-1998, Dellinger guided the Ducks to four NCAA team titles among their 12 top-three NCAA finishes, along with 45 cross country All-America honors. His squads also stockpiled 13 conference and four district team victories, and Duck individuals scored eight Pac-8/10 championships and six regional crowns. The Trails of the Bill Dellinger Invitational  It's only two weeks to go before the famed "Pre's Trail" that winds through Alton Baker Park will welcome its first varsity collegiate cross country since 1998 - the Bill Dellinger Invitational. Ducks congregate at a nearby pond, quietly attending to the day's work. The Willamette River rumbles by to the west, while in the distance, wood-chip trails ? aptly named after running legend Steve Prefontaine ? wander into the distance. The surrounding geography is uniquely diverse ? canals, grasslands, ponds and woods create a peaceful habitat for Eugene's recreational-suited lifestyle. With that, Alton Baker Park (click here to see a photo gallery) serves as a perfect setting for the 2006 Bill Dellinger Invitational. Eugene's most popular park welcomes 24 of the nation's top men's and women's teams in the inaugural edition of the event named after Oregon's famous coach and 1964 Olympic 5,000-meter bronze medalist.
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