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One of the most famous track and field-only facilities in the world, Hayward Field is a Mecca for American track and field. Built in 1919, the historic venue has hosted nine NCAA Championships, six national championships, and three Olympic Trials, not to mention 30 editions of the world famous Prefontaine Classic.
*Click on the gray camera icon above to see a photo gallery of Hayward Field pictures.
Historical Overview
The University of Oregon's Hayward Field, one of the most famous track and field facilities in the world, is named for Bill Hayward, who coached the University of Oregon's men's team from 1904-1947.
Hayward Field was initially constructed for football in 1919, and was founded at that season's homecoming contest. Two years later, a six-lane cinder track was installed and a full schedule of track events were transferred from Kincaid Field on the opposite edge of campus. The facility was utilized for both sports until the opening of Autzen Stadium in 1967.
Hayward Field (current capacity: 10,500) entertained its ninth NCAA Championships in 2001 - the most of any collegiate venue in recent history. Previous national collegiate championships were staged in Eugene in 1962, 1964, 1972, 1978, 1984, 1988, 1991 and 1996. In June, Hayward Field welcomed its sixth national championship (AAU/TAC/USA), only two years after hosting the 1999 U.S. Championships. In addition, it's the only facility to ever host three consecutive U.S. Olympic Trials (1972, 1976, 1980).
The centerpiece of 'Track City USA', Hayward Field stands as the nation's most fabled track and field facility thanks to its track and field-only usage and covered grandstands comparable to famous European venues. Referred to as the 'Carnegie Hall' of U.S. track and field venues, it also plays host annually to the nation's finest single-day track and field contest, the Prefontaine Classic, which features the top mix of national and international talent on American soil each year.
The Genesis of Duck Track & Field
The birth of track and field on the UO campus dates back to 1895. The student body (then numbering 353) built a quarter-mile dirt track at Kincaid Field, now the site of 13th Avenue and Kincaid Street, to practice for their annual field day, held in conjunction with commencement exercises. In 1900, the Ducks started competing in dual meets against regional universities and opponents and sported a 13-3 record in their first nine years - including an undefeated stretch from 1906-09. The first upgrade to the Kincaid track came in 1904 when it was covered partially to facilitate inclement-weather practice and competition. By 1912 the sport had started to outgrow the facility, and the university started to explore other possibilities.
Birth of Hayward Field
Although collegiate sports went on hiatus temporarily in 1917 because of the first World War, a full schedule of meets returned in 1919 - the same year Hayward Field was built for football. Two years later, a six-lane cinder track bordering the football playing field was installed for $10,000, including a 220-yard straightway on the east end of the track. Bleachers were transferred from Kincaid Field, and in 1925, the wooden east grandstand was added. In 1928, the students paid to cover the bleachers on the north end that remained until 1950.
The Transition to Track-Only
With the construction of Autzen Stadium for football in 1967, Hayward Field became a track-only venue. One of the stadium's most famous former nuances was its south end bleachers that obscured nearly a quarter of the track. Oregon runners and eventual Olympians Otis Davis and Wade Bell were famed for trailing the field as they disappeared behind the bleachers, only to soon emerge into daylight with a commanding lead. The cinder track lasted until 1970 when the facility received its first all-weather surface. Five years later, the west grandstands were completely rebuilt to their current layout.
Recent Improvements
Prior to the 2001 NCAA Championships, the oval and field event runways was resurfaced with a new polyurethane surface and repainted to an approximate cost of $346,000. Another pair of improvements this past year to the east and west grandstands - painting and structural improvements - totaled $219,000. Similar track resurfacing and painting was also conducted in the fall of 1995 for a cost of $266,000.
The $2-million Bowerman Building was completed in 1992 and dedicated to Bill Bowerman and his family who donated funds necessary to construct the all-purpose building. The two-story, 15,000-foot brick building houses the university's hailed International Institute for Sport and Human Performance along with athletic treatment, locker rooms and meeting rooms. Memorabilia and various exhibits commemorate great athletes, teams and moments of the program's history.
In 1991, a new $200,000 scoreboard was installed to improve the viewing experience for the sport's most respected audience. The most recent addition features instantaneous unofficial times of eight places in all running events.
One of the biggest renovations to date came prior to the 1988 NCAA Championships with a two-year, $1.9 million project started the year before. The major emphasis was transforming the track from a 440-yard dimension to a 400-meter oval with 85-meter straightaways. To accommodate the size changes, the east grandstands were moved back to the east approximately 11 meters (or 35 feet, 9 1/2 inches) - a phase which cost approximately $272,000 itself - with the structure reconditioned later in the process.
In addition, a new weight room and storage facilities adjacent to the east grandstand were added in the project, as was a warm-up area featuring a 200-meter oval and 80-meter straightaway just south of the track. A refurbished area for hammer competition also was completed in 1988.
In 1983, the infield was leveled to remove the crown to provide the necessary specifications for the throwing events. The shot put area was redesigned, the javelin runway lengthened and the high jump apron enlarged. A resurfaced all-weather inner lane for jogging also was added.
Bowerman also led a fund drive in 1975 to rebuild the west grandstand. The new set-up also created indoor facilities underneath the seating with a 80-meter straightaway, pits for the long jump and high jump, and screened rings for shot and discus.
Hayward Field History
The Bill Hayward Era: Bill Hayward (1868-1947) coached track and field at Oregon for 44 years until his death. He was on the coaching staff for six Olympic teams and coached four world record holders, six American record holders, four NCAA champions and nine Olympic team members. Hayward was a charter inductee into Oregon's Athletic Hall of Fame, opened in the fall of 1992.
The Bill Bowerman Era: Bill Bowerman, one of the world's leading track and field authorities, forged a brilliant 114-20 dual meet record over a 24-year (1949-72) career at Oregon. Bowerman had a winning record each year except one and his teams were undefeated in dual meets 10 times. Only five schools ever defeated his team and only UCLA and USC had winning records against the Ducks. Oregon won four NCAA titles, was runner-up twice and finished among the top 10 teams on 16 occasions under Bowerman, who also was enshrined in Oregon's Hall of Fame.
The Bill Dellinger Era: In his 26-year tenure as a head coach, Bill Dellinger's success matched an equally successful athletic career for the Ducks as a three-time Olympic athlete (1956-60-64) and NCAA champion under Bowerman. The Grants Pass, Ore., native coached the Ducks to one NCAA track title in 1984, four NCAA harrier titles (1971-1973-74-77) and seven additional runner-up NCAA cross country finishes. His athletes earned 41 All-America honors in cross country and 105 in track and field, including 22 NCAA titles between the two sports, while his dual teams finished with top-five rankings 16 times, including number-one rankings in 1979-89-95. A U.S. Olympic distance coach in 1984, he also was enshrined in the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame in December, 2001.
Major Collegiate and National Events Hosted
2005 NCAA West Regional Championships
2004 USATF Junior Olympic Championships
2001 USA Championships
2000 Pacific-10 Conference Championships
1999 USA Championships
1996 NCAA Championships
1993 USA Championships
1992 Pacific-10 Conference Championships
1991 NCAA Championships
1988 NCAA Championships
1986 TAC Championships
1984 NCAA Championships
1980 U.S. Olympic Trials
1980 AIAW (Now NCAA women's) Championships
1978 NCAA Championships
1976 U.S. Olympic Trials
1975 USA/USSR/Poland Decathlon-Pentathlon
1975 Pan American Games Trials
1975 AAU Championships
1973 Pacific-8 Conference Championships
1972 Olympic Trials
1972 NCAA Championships
1971 AAU Championships & Marathon
1968 National Junior Championships
1967 AAWU (Now Pac-10) Championships
1964 NCAA Championships
1962 NCAA Championships
1962 Far West Championships
1960 AAU Decathlon Championships
Hayward Field Specifications
TRACK EVENTS:
The 400-meter track consists of eight 48-inch lanes with 85-meter straightaways and 115-meter curves. Track resurfaced in 2000 by APS.
Steeplechase water jump has an inside location with the same surface as the track. Barrier height for the men is 36 inches. Barrier height for the women is 30 inches. The length of the water jump is 12 feet for both men and women.
FIELD EVENTS:
All field events are contested on the stadium infield for the best spectator viewing with the exception of the hammer.
Hammer Throw is contested on a spacious nearby field adjacent to the south of the stadium. The hammer has its own seating area with viewing also possible from the west grandstands.
High Jump has a 25-meter octagon shaped approach which allows for jumping from any direction. The horizontal jumps are staged on single runways along the east and west straightaways with the capability of jumping in the north and south directions.
Long Jump / Triple Jump competitions are held on north-sourth runways on both sides of the track. The long jump is usually on the west and the triple jump on the east. The distances between the boards and pits are 3.66 meters (12-0) for the long jump, 10.36 meters (34-0) for the women's triple jump and 12.80 meters (42-0) for the men's triple jump. The runways are as follows: East: Triple Jump (Men) - 59.36 meters (194-9); Triple Jump (Women) - 61.80 meters (202-9); Long Jump (if needed) - 68.50 meters (224-9). West: Long Jump: 54.28 meters (178-1); Triple Jump (M if needed) 45.14 meters (148-1): Triple Jump: (W if needed) 47.60 meters (156-2)
Pole Vault pits have both north and south runways. The men's north runway is 46.00 meters (150-11) and the men's south runway is 46.32 meters (152-0). The women's north runway is 50.34 meters (165-2) and the women's south runway is 43.06 meters (141-3).
Javelin runway is 45.34 meters (148-9).
