Hayward Field was sparsely populated for its first home meet. Only guests of athletes and coaches were allowed inside.
Karen Richards / KLCC / KLCC
Friday and Saturday’s Hayward Premiere track and field meet featured some wins for the University of Oregon — and some wide-eyed expressions of awe from visiting athletes and guests as they took in the new stadium for the first time.
Oregon Head Track Coach Robert Johnson compared the Eugene venue to a five-star resort, saying fans will love the split-screen video board, the comfortable seats and upgraded bathrooms.
For the athletes, he said, yes they’ve now run at Hayward, but you don’t really run at Hayward until it’s packed with fans: “This one is an experience, and they’ll remember this one for the rest of their lives,” said Johnson. “But wait ‘til we have the real Hayward when you can’t hear yourself talking to the person right next to you because they’re going crazy. That’s the Hayward Field I remember, and that’s the Hayward Field that I want them to experience.”
Oregon’s next home track and field meet is the West Coast Classic, April 17th.
Results are listed on the Athletic Timing website here.
Find out more about the stadium here.
