50 Years of the Prefontaine Classic, Plus a Tour of Hayward Field
Time: Noon to 1:15 pm
Venue: Ford Alumni Center, UO
1720 E 13th Ave
Eugene, Oregon
97403
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Parking will be available under the Ford Alumni Center. Prices range from $1 to $3 per hour up to a daily maximum of $12. Metered parking is available on the streets, or ride the bus or a bike – or run!
Lunch may be purchased at the program.
Please remember that the Hayward Field Tour at 1:30 pm. is limited to 30 people. City Club of Eugene members receive preference.
Topic:
On July 5, the University of Oregon will host the 50th running of the Prefontaine Classic, the premier track and field meet in the United States. Since its inception in 1975, the meet has been a fixture on the global track and field calendar, earning a reputation for bringing the world’s best athletes to Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.
Bill Bowerman named the meet after Steve Prefontaine to serve as a “living memorial,” and the Classic has been sponsored by Nike since 1978. The world-renowned success of The Prefontaine Classic led to it becoming a founding member of the Wanda Diamond League circuit in 2010 as well as hosting the Wanda Diamond League Final in 2023.
Sitting in Hayward during the Pre, you will hear the announcer say, “A new world record” or, “Best time in the world this year” many times during the meet. Athletes love to compete at Hayward because the audience is knowledgeable and supportive.
Steve Roland “Pre” Prefontaine (January 25, 1951 – May 30, 1975) was an American long-distance runner. From 1973 to 1975, he set American records at every distance from 2,000 to 10,000 meters. He competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics, and he was preparing for the 1976 Olympics with the Oregon Track Club at the time of his death in 1975.
Up to 30 attendees may tour Hayward Field after the program, with priority given to City Club of Eugene members.
Speakers
Title: Retired Meet Director
Organization: Prefontaine Classic
Website:
Biography:
Biographies are provided by the panelists, then proofread and edited for length.
Tom Jordan covered the career of Steve Prefontaine while working for Track & Field News in the 1970s. After Pre’s death in 1975, he wrote the book PRE! which came out in 1977. A second edition was issued in 1995 and is still in print. In 1982 Jordan moved to Eugene and in 1984 was offered the position of Oregon Track Club’s Meet Director for the Prefontaine Classic, a position he held for 37 years.In 1989, with the late Barbara Kousky, Jordan formed Northwest Event Management, NEM, Inc. Among other meets, the company organized two USA Championships, a World Masters Championship, and 13 Butte To Butte road races. Jordan and Kousky were Project Managers of the 2008 Olympic Trials. Jordan retired in 2021.
Title: Mayor and Runner
Organization: City of Eugene
Website: https://www.eugene-or.gov/3458/Mayor-Kaarin-Knudson-Bio
Biography:
Biographies are provided by the panelists, then proofread and edited for length.
Kaarin Knudsen was a runner for the University of Oregon. She served on the UO Pac 10 champion cross country team, in 1995; was named an NCAA All-American, 800m & mile; UO Track & Field, 1997 and 1999; Oregon NCAA Woman of the Year, 1999; and the UO Hall of Fame Becky Sisley Award, 2019. She is currently the mayor of Eugene. She is an architect, writer, and educator with more than 25 years’ experience in design, sustainability, and community building. In 2017, after a decade in architectural practice, she organized the public-interest project Better Housing Together to address Lane County’s housing crisis. This work supported the creation of Eugene’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Lane County’s first Affordable Housing Action Plan, and Oregon’s landmark middle housing reforms. In 2024, she was elected mayor, winning 73% of the primary vote and 96% in the general election. Mayor Knudsen teaches planning and urban design at the University of Oregon, and she speaks at regional and national conferences about sustainable cities, housing, and the work of guiding community change. She is co-author of the new textbook, The Sustainable Urban Design Handbook (Routledge). She has served as president of the City Club of Eugene and earned its Turtle Award for “sticking her neck out” to lead on issues of deep community interest.
Title: Senior Manager, Partnerships and Media Operations
Organization: TrackTown USA
Website: https://www.gotracktownusa.com/
Biography:
Biographies are provided by the panelists, then proofread and edited for length.
Jeff Oliver is the Senior Manager of Partnerships and Media Operations for TrackTown USA, the non-profit organization committed to setting a standard of excellence in hosting premier track and field events, creating a supportive environment and inspiring the next generation of athletes and fans. He oversees media at Hayward Field for events including The Prefontaine Classic, Nike Outdoor Nationals and the Olympic Trials. This will be his 23rd year working for the Pre Classic. Jeff spent last summer in Paris on the track & field media operations team at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. He also manages sponsorships and partnerships for TrackTown USA, helping businesses activate at events. His local business community involvement extends to being a member of Lane Leaders and owner of Casablanca Hummus. Jeff is a University of Oregon alumnus and lives in Eugene with his wife, Claire, who is a nurse at RiverBend, and his guinea pig, Georgie.
