Eugene area fans will have a unique opportunity to watch elite athletes compete at a new summer track meet at Hayward Field on Friday. 17 Olympic runners will be there.
Organizers of the TrackTown Summer Series say there’s a lack of high profile track meets in the U.S. during the summer months. Ben Blankenship is heading to the Olympic Games soon to compete in the men’s 15-hundred meter race. He says he’s excited to participate in Friday’s event.
Blankenship: “It’s going to be really the first opportunity that American athletes have to compete at a high level in the summer in the United States. For me to stay home, be able to compete at Hayward Field again and be able to have a great tune-up before Rio. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Blankenship, who lives in Eugene, says usually he spends his summers competing abroad. Organizers want the TrackTown Summer Series to expand to more cities. They want to build hype around the sport as Eugene prepares to host the Track & Field World Championships in 2021—the first time that event will be in the U.S.
Copyright 2016 KLCC
