Known as Track Town USA, Eugene, Oregon, is a hotbed for track and field. The town and University of Oregon’s Hayward Field were the sites July 15-24 for the world track and field championships (officially called the World Athletics Championships Oregon 22) in the U.S. for the first time.
Athletes from more than 200 countries competed, but the host country was the biggest winner with a dominating and best-ever performance by its athletes, winning 33 medals: 13 gold, nine silver, and 11 bronze. Ethiopia, Jamaica and Kenya came in second with ten medals each. U.S. highlights include:
- The American men swept the podium in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints.
- The American men swept the podium for the shot put.
- The women’s 4×100 relay team beat a strong Jamaican team favored to win.
- The men’s 4×100 relay team overcame gaffs with the baton to take silver.
Allyson Felix has left the building?
Allyson Felix was on hand in Eugene as she closes out her career after the 2022 season as the most decorated U.S. track and field athlete (20 world championship medals and 11 Olympic medals). In Eugene, she nabbed a bronze in the mixed 4×400 team relay this year. Thinking she was done, she flew home and enjoyed a root beer float and some spicy chicken wings. Then coaches called her to fly back for the women’s 4×400 qualifier that gets the team to the final, which a different U.S. team won using the slot Felix helped secure.
A bright future
While Felix is retiring, the U.S. Track and Field team is stocked with young dominating athletes. It bodes well for the upcoming Olympics in Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028, as well as the world championships and other meets in the coming years.