Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, the heart and theater of dreams of American athletics, is getting ready to welcome the sport’s gems to the first ever World Championships in outdoor athletics to be held in the United States.

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The International Federation has decided to award Eugene the right to host the 18th World Wedding on April 16, 2015 in Beijing. He explained at the time that the decision was motivated by a “unique strategic opportunity” to host the competition for the first time in the United States since its launch in 1983.

The biennial tournament was scheduled last year and was postponed a year to this summer due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Eugene is the home of sports equipment manufacturer Nike, where it is headquartered and whose name was linked to controversial American coach Alberto Salazar, a former top marathon runner, as part of the Oregon Project to make American runners competitive again on the international stage. . before being banned for four years for violating doping laws.

Each year, Eugene hosts an international Diamond League meeting, in addition to his experience in selecting the US national team for the World Championships and the Summer Olympics.

Eugene previously hosted the World Youth Championships in 2014, and the American city of Portland, also located in Oregon, hosted the World Indoor Championships in March 2016.

Lifestyle

Hayward Field is where 171,000 Eugene residents flock to the magnificent stadium on the huge campus of the University of Oregon (100 miles south of Portland).

For them, athletics is not so much a sport as a way of life. They go to the field, knowing by heart the names of the stars of the track.

“Eugene is the only place in the country where the names of athletes and their accomplishments are known to the public,” says city resident Corey Tarpenning, a former pole vault champion (5.89m in 1988).

“People come every year. They did it from a young age, with their parents, and today they bring their children. The roots of this passion go back to the distant past,” he added.

“This tradition originated at the university. The athletics program has always been strong and effective. And this is from the beginning of the century.

“First of all, we will show that there is only one other place where children dream of putting on sports shoes and imitating the characters whose images adorn the walls of restaurants and classrooms. We will show the world what athletics means to Eugene and the state of Oregon.”

Strong American Delegation

The United States has established its control over most of the global versions that have been created so far and only four copies have slipped away as they came in second in Helsinki in 1983, Rome in 1987, Edmonton in 2001 and third in Beijing in 2015. .

She has collected 374 medals, including 170 golds, and remains the best at Doha 2019 when she won 14 golds out of 29 medals knowing she won 30 medals in 2017 in London, including 10 golds.

The United States won 14 yellow metal medals in Helsinki 2005 and Osaka 2007.

The United States is participating in the global wedding with a strong delegation of 151 runners, including many Olympic and world champions, as well as world record holders, led by Sidney McLaughlin, Olympic champion and world record holder in the 400m hurdles, in addition to previous world record holder. record holder at the same distance and world champion Delilah Mohammed.

“I am very proud to lead this amazing team at this once in a lifetime event,” said USTA CEO Max Siegel. “Our best team.”

The delegation also includes world record holder and Olympic iron ball champion Ryan Krauser, who will look to capture the only title that has eluded him so far: a world title, but the task will not be an easy one against his compatriot, two-time holder Joe Kovacs (2015 and 2019).

Standouts were Ating Mo, Iggy Wilson and Raven Rogers in the women’s 800m, Noah Liles, Irion Knighton, Fred Curley and Kenny Bednarek in the 200m.

Nia Ali (women’s 100m hurdles), Donovan Brazier (men’s 800m), Christian Coleman (men’s 100m), Grant Holloway (men’s 110m hurdles), Kovacs (men’s volleyball), Liles (men) , 200m), Laila Mohamed (women’s 400m hurdles) and Christian Taylor (men’s triple jump) will defend their title, which they won in Doha three years ago.

Veteran legend Alison Felix, 36, will make her tenth and final appearance at the World Championships, crowned with 18 medals, including 13 golds, as she competes in the 400m mixed relay four times.