Oregon youth runners to compete at TrackTown12 opening ceremonies

June 15, 2012 - PRLog -- Portland, Ore./ – Youth runners throughout Oregon are invited to compete at historic Hayward Field in a statewide high school marathon relay at 5:30 p.m. June 21, 2012 as part of TrackTown12. Following the competition, the states’ best up-an-coming distance runners will also participate in the TrackTown12 opening ceremonies in Eugene June 22.

With the goal of challenging the current men’s and women’s world marathon records, incoming high school freshman through graduating high school seniors are eligible to form six-person youth teams to compete. The TrackTown Relay consists of 25 one-mile legs and a final 1.2-mile leg. Each team will represent and be named for an Oregon track and field legacy athlete such as Steve Prefontaine, Joni Huntley, Bill Bowerman and Dick Fosbury.

Following the final competition, members of all teams will participate in the TrackTown12 opening day ceremonies and attend the first day of the U.S. Olympic Trials June 22.

“The TrackTown Relay is an appropriate way to pay tribute to the breadth of TrackTown USA, which has drawn great coaches and athletes from across the state for nearly a century. It’s an event that honors and celebrates Oregon’s legendary track and field athletes and supports young track and field athletes throughout the state,” said Joe Kaleel creative director for SportsOne the Beaverton-based sports and entertainment marketing agency responsible for the relay and for the 10-day TrackTown12 festival at the trials.

Teams are invited to register by June 18, 2012 on the TrackTown Relay Facebook page (facebook.com/TrackTownRelay). Registration is free thanks to partnerships from SamFit, a first-of-its-kind gym created by Samaritan Health Services that focuses on total health, and American Family Insurance.

The current men’s marathon record of 2 hours, 3 minutes, 38 seconds was set in 2008 at the Berlin Marathon Patrick Makau of Kenya. American Paula Radcliffe set the women’s record at the London Marathon in 2003 with a time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, 25 seconds.

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field
The U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field is one of the greatest track and field meets in the world and will select three athletes in each event to represent Team USA in London at the Olympic Games. Among the Olympic hopefuls are 30 athletes with ties to Oregon including Portland’s own Galen Rupp, who set the American record in the 10,000-meter in 2011 and Bend native Ashton Eaton who is the world record-holder in the heptathlon and the 2011 world championship silver medalist in the decathlon. Others, like reigning world champion high jumper Jesse Williams, relocated to Oregon to train.

TrackTown12
Following a successful fan festival at the 2008 trials, organizers have added 40,000 square feet to TrackTown12, a free, 10-day, 20-acre interactive fan experience take place outside Hayward Field from June 22 to July 1, 2012. To extend the energy and pride in the pinnacle of the sport for the athletes the festival will return with entertainment, athlete appearances, partner interactive experiences, Nike merchandise, concessions, and the Starting Block for youth participation. In 2008, approximately 160,000 ticket holders, as well as 40,000 non-ticket holders attended the festival as part of the meet.

Tickets
Ticket to TrackTown12 are close to selling out, so fans are encouraged to purchase tickets as early as possible. All-session and single-session ticket packages are now available online at TrackTown12.com, by phone at 800-932-3668 or in Eugene at the University of Oregon Autzen Stadium.

The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field will be broadcast on NBC and its affiliates. For the full competition schedule and TV schedule, visit TrackTown12.com.

About SportsOne
The TrackTown12 fan experience is produced by SportsOne, a leading national sports and entertainment marketing agency based in Beaverton, Ore. SportsOne also produced the fan experience at Eugene 08, the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field.

Now in its 17th season, SportsOne creates, manages and executes strategies and experiences for partners ranging from Fortune 500 companies to entrepreneurs. The SportsOne experience roster includes TrackTown12 at the U.S. Team Trials – Track & Field, the Safeway Game Day Experience tour and the Oregon Sports Awards at the Nike World Headquarters, among others. GoSportsOne.com.