As our plane passed over the brand new Hayward Field at the University of Oregon I noticed goosebumps on my arms! Hold on a second,…I’m just a spectator and way beyond my competitive running days, but attending some of the Olympic Track and Field Trials has been a dream of mine forever! I met my grandson Vaughan and daughter Stacy arriving from Dallas. Vaughan is a 400 meter runner like I was and we were totally stoked to witness this spectacular event! I purchased our tickets over two years ago and the event was on again, off again, on again due to COVID19. You can check out my own running history in my blog post last week: https://gentryconnects.net/?p=10612.

Emma Coburn, 2017 world champion and former American record holder in the 3000 meter steeplechase sat across from me on the plane. Vaughan turns 16 next month.

Vaughan and I pose next to the USA Track and Field sign at Hayward Field facility which cost around $270 million, mostly paid by Nike co-founder Phil Knight. He has contributed over a billion dollars to the University of Oregon.

The organizers allowed only socially distant seating. Masks were mandatory for entry and exit. We had to use the “Clear” App on our phones for proof of vaccines and all tickets were mobile. It worked very well once I got the procedure down. Being Track Nuts we loved all the 1st round races on Friday.

Ryan Crouser celebrates winning the shot put competition. He threw a monster 23.37 m (76 ft 8 in) on his fourth attempt to beat the old 31 year old world record of 23.12 by almost 10 inches.

The last event on Friday was the men’s final in the grueling 10,000 meter run. We loved seeing the race!

Stacy is next to former University of Colorado runner, Joe Klecker, who finished 3rd in the 10K and will make his first trip to the Tokyo Olympics. He is a member of the “On Athletics Club“ based in Boulder, Colorado. Stacy is an “On Shoe Ambassador”.

The Eugene “Original Pancake House” was filled with Olympic Trials competitors every morning! We enjoyed all the Oregon track posters, especially this one featuring the iconic Steve Prefontaine. I particularly love this quote: “Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, ‘I’ve never seen anyone run like that before.’ It’s more than just a race, it’s a style. It’s doing something better than anyone else. It’s being creative.”

Sha’Carri Richardson won the women’s 100 meter dash in stunning fashion!

With her brightly colored hair and extra long finger nails, she has a unique style the cameras love to capture.

After winning the race she ran up in the stands to embrace her grandmother.

“I’m still here. Last week, finding out my biological mother passed away and I’m still choosing to pursue my dreams, still coming out here, still here to make the family that I do have on this Earth proud. And the fact that nobody knows what I go through. Everybody has struggles and I understand that, but y’all see me on this track and y’all see the poker face I put on. But nobody but them and my coach know what I go through on a day-to day basis.”

We had a window of free time and walked to the Marche Restaurant at the Fifth Street Public Market for a very late lunch. Stacy and I both had locally caught salmon which was amazing!

Stacy spotted sprinter Gabby Thomas at the Fifth Street Inn and asked her if she could take her picture with me. Gabby will be going to the Tokyo Olympics as a relay runner alternate in the 4 X 100 meter relay. She ran at Harvard and is now studying epidemiology and health care administration at the University of Texas,…while also training as a professional athlete. We are proud of her accomplishments!

Emma Coburn runs over the hurdle in 1st round of the 3000 meter steeplechase.

One of the most exciting races was watching Allyson Felix in the 400 meter finals. Her sweet little girl came out to the field after the race. Click on the video below for highlights!

Vaughan and I were beside ourselves after the 400 meter finals. Our favorite Michael Norman won!!!

Fabulous video of the race. Michael Norman’s mother is Japanese so the Tokyo Olympics are particularly important for him and his family.

400 meter runners bask in the limelight!

What a truly wonderful and exciting tree days. After rest days Tuesday and Wednesday the events begin again Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Click here for the remaining schedule most of which can be seen on NBC Sports or NBC on the weekend. It will be amazing!

On the morning of our departure we met one of the athletes staying on the same floor of our hotel. Summer Allen, a distance runner from Weber State in Utah, made the 3000 meter steeplechase final on Thursday. These athletes sacrifice so much for their sport. Unless one is a true track nut (like me) you hardly see much press or media attention about their world. I wish them all the best as we head to Tokyo next month!

Photos: Dick Gentry & NBC Sports. Not to be used without permission.