2022 Men's and Women's Track and Field team after sweeping the Pac-12 Championships; Photo credit: UO Athletics
UO History 101: Track & Field
Since Hayward Field’s inception in 1919, the Ducks have won 22 Men’s Track and Field Pac-12 titles, 12 Women’s Track and Field Pac-12 titles, 6 NCAA titles, and have had 101 track and field athletes compete in the Olympics, earning 25 medals.
Before Hayward Field was a track stadium, it was the home of Oregon football. And prior to the site being used for sports, the field was a pasture for cows which supplied the milk for students in the dorms. In the late 1890s, Kincaid Field, located where the modern-day Lillis Business Complex is, served as the football and track and field site prior to Hayward.
Kincaid Field in the 1920s with Chapman Hall in the background; Oregon Digital
The football field was moved to Hayward Field in 1919, and a six-lane cinder track was later installed to accommodate more athletes. Hayward’s namesake is that of Bill Hayward , track coach for the UO from 1904 to 1947.
Over the past century, the university has become a global landmark for outdoor track and field. Here’s a look at the UO’s renowned history.
1962
The University of Oregon hosted the NCAA Track and Field Championships for the first time. The Oregon men’s track and field team won, which earned Coach Bill Bowerman his first NCAA championship.
1966
The last football game was played in Hayward Field. Autzen was built in 1967 to host future football games.
1967
The University of Oregon hosted the Pac-8 conference championship. This was the first time that the conference championship was at Hayward Field, and the Oregon men’s team won their fourth conference championship.
1972
UO hosted the track and field Olympic Trials for the first time. Seven Ducks advanced to the Olympics in Munich: Steve Prefontaine, Steve Savage, and Kenny Moore representing the United States; Bob Martin, Doug Chapman, and Craig Blackman representing Canada; and Gary Knoke representing Australia.
1993
USA Championships were at Hayward Field for the first time. This was also the first championship organized by USA Track and Field (USATF).
2014
Hayward Field hosted the IAAF World Junior Championships for the first time. 1,546 athletes from 175 nations participated in the championships.
2018
The Hayward Field renovations began, just in time for the stadium’s centennial anniversary. Renovations started in summer of 2018 and were completed in spring of 2020.
2021
The University of Oregon hosted the 2020 United States Olympic Trials for track and field for the seventh time, becoming the first site to host the event four times consecutively (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020).
2022
Hayward Field hosted the Pac-12 conference championship for the 10th time, which both the men’s and women’s teams won. UO hosted the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the 18th time in June, and the university will be in the global track and field spotlight once again for the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 in July.
-By Peyton Hall, UO Alumni Association Student Associate
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