The Hayward Premiere welcomes the greatest track and field season in the history of Oregon

Photo by Jake Willard

By Joe Zochert

Here we are…It’s 2022 and the wait is finally over. Hayward Field is ready to take the sports world by storm with its biggest track and field season yet. And it all starts with this weekend’s Hayward Premiere.

With the world slowly getting back on track in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hayward Field will be the host to multiple highly-anticipated events over the next four months. The list is highlighted by; The Prefontaine Classic, the NCAA Championships, Nike Outdoor Nationals, the USATF Outdoor Championships and the World Athletics Championships, Oregon22.

However, before any of that starts, the Hayward Premiere will provide the perfect opportunity for fans to get reintroduced to the reimagined Hayward Field at the University of Oregon after having limited access during the pandemic.

Fans will get the chance to experience the state of the art facility, including the new scoreboard on the north end of the stadium, and watch competitors from all different levels get the outdoor season started, including a mix of entries from 35 different schools and professional clubs.

With a wealth of  talent coming to the Hayward Premiere, it feels like a fitting way to kick off the track and field season. But, you can feel a storm of excitement brewing around the state of Oregon. And there is good reason too, this meet is just the first of 11 events set to take place at Hayward Field this outdoor season, including six championship meets. 

Athletes and Storylines to Watch at the Hayward Premiere

Oregon’s Tori Sloan is entered in both the long and triple jump. The redshirt junior won the long jump at last year’s Hayward Premiere with a personal best 19”5.25’. This was the first time since 2014, an athlete had cracked the Oregon track and field top-10 all time list.

Oregon’s Luis Peralta will be competing in the men’s 800m Invite and 1500m Invite. Peralta ran in the prelims of the 800m of the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, but failed to make it to the finals. 

The TrackTown community will also get to see their hometown talent in action, as freshman Vincent Mestler makes his Oregon debut in the 800m and 1500m and his sister Caramia will compete in the 5,000m. All three Mestler kids, Vinnie, Caramia and Jackson have competed for the Ducks. The oldest, Jackson, competed in the steeplechase finals at the Olympic Trials last summer.

Oregon State has the trio of Grace Fetherstonhaugh, Kaylee Mitchell and Mari Friedman in the women’s 1500m Invite. They are looking to continue their strong season after placing fourth in the Distance Medley Relay at the NCAA Indoor Championships just a couple of weeks ago. 

This meet is just the beginning of the best track and field year in the history of Oregon. So, go ahead and find your seat, because this will be the greatest season ever at Hayward Field.