MEDIA ADVISORY

HOLD FOR RELEASE ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2012 @ 10 a.m. PDT

Monday, October 10, 2011

PRESS CONFERENCE

2012 U.S. Olympic Trials – Track & Field - Schedule Announced

Nike World Headquarters to Host Hammer Throw in opening Olympic Qualifying Event

WHAT:     Vin Lananna co-chair of the TrackTown12 Local Organizing Committee and Associate Athletic Director at the University of Oregon will announce the schedule for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials  - Track & Field taking place in ­Eugene, Ore. from June 22 to July 1, 2012.

After selling-out the 2008 trials, Historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon will once again host the meet, with the exception of a new venue for the opening event, the hammer throw. In a historic event, the hammer throw has been moved from its traditional location to Ronaldo Field on the Nike World Headquarters campus in Beaverton, Ore. 

The eight-day schedule will include details for the highly anticipated men’s decathlon; an event which some experts predict the U.S. athletes could sweep at the London Olympic Games. Among the favored decathletes is University of Oregon alum and Bend, Ore. native Ashton Eaton.

Lananna, Eaton and Lance Deal will be available for interviews following the announcement. 

WHEN:      Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 10 a.m.

WHERE:    Press Conference Room, 1^st Floor Casanova Center

ACCESS: Media should access the Casanova Center via the East Entrance (adjacent to Autzen Stadium) and proceed through the sets of doors to the first floor hallway. The Media Room is located on the right across from the weight room.

PARKING:   If space is available, media are welcome to park in the Moshofsky Lot. If the Moshofsky Lot is full, media should park in the Autzen Stadium Lot. Please allow a little extra time to walk to the Casanova Center from the Autzen Lot.

WHY:        The U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field competition is the largest national championship track meet in the world and will select the athletes to represent Team USA at the London Olympic Games in 2012.

A highlight for the 2012 trials, the hammer throw will be held at the Nike World Headquarters. While separating the hammer throw from other track and field competition is new in U.S.-based competition, the tradition started at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where the shot put competition was held inside the Coliseum; its success lead organizers to expand the venue for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field.

WHO:

Vin Lananna - the co-chair of the TrackTown12 Local Organizing Committee and Associate Athletic Director at the University of Oregon.  He has been a driving force behind the University’s bids that landed the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Trials.  Lananna also led the establishment of a new post-collegiate club, the Oregon Track Club Elite (OTC Elite) that provides a special opportunity for American professional track and field athletes.

Ashton Eaton – the Bend native is the world record holder in the indoor heptathlon and the silver medalist in the decathlon at the 2011 IAAF World Championships. In 2010, Eaton won the 2010 Bowerman Award, track and field’s top honor for a collegiate athlete. He joined OTC Elite in the summer of 2010, following an unprecedented collegiate career at the University of Oregon. Eaton, defending World Champion Trey Hardee and defending Olympic Champion Bryan Clay are expected to sweep the decathlon for Team USA in London in 2012, details for this event will be announced in the schedule.

Lance Deal – The 1996 Olympic silver medalist and 21-time national champion currently serves as the University of Oregon’s director of track & field venues and program support. Deal serves as the program's point man for all capital improvement and construction projects. He played an integral role in the intensive Hayward Field renovation that took place for the 2008 Olympic Trials. That feat included realigning the grass infield and designing and building new cages for the hammer and discus throwers, among numerous other features. The U.S. record holder at 270-9, Deal owns 16 of the top 20 throws all-time by Americans. His resume boasts nine U.S. outdoor hammer titles and 12 indoor championships in the weight throw (35-lb.) – including a record nine straight titles.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Greg Walker

gswalker@uoregon.edu

541-346-2252

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