Volume 115 | August 2020 Download a PDF of this newsletter here!

First Run/Walk is Set for August 13

The Track Club is planning its first Run/Walk event of 2020 at Dorris Ranch in Springfield on August 13 at 6:00 p.m. The course is a 5K on the shaded trails, starting and finishing near the Tomseth House.

The OTC Community Outreach Committee is currently working with local authorities to ensure the Run/Walk provides a safe and enjoyable experience while following all social distancing guidelines. These will include staggered starts to enable a minimum of six feet between participants, registration capped at 100, no-contact bib pick-up, and a safe finish line. State and local guidelines change frequently, so please check the OTC website and Facebook page for any updates.

Read about event registration

There is Still a Chance for All Comers Meets

The OTC All Comers Meets have been a summer tradition for many years. There is a chance the tradition may continue in 2020 despite the pandemic. Two All Comers meets have been tentatively scheduled for August 6 and 13 at Springfield High School’s Silke Field. These plans are not final and are subject to change or cancellation depending on COVID-19 safety protocols.

If the meets are held, they will be modified with limited events and limited entries. The meets will start at 5:30 p.m.

At the newsletter deadline, plans for the meets were still being discussed with authorities, so please check the OTC website and social media for updated information and specific meet details.

Nike Store Access in October?

Access to the Nike Company Store for eligible OTC members has been on hold due the pandemic. Most Nike stores have been closed to the public, including the company store in Beaverton.

The OTC Executive Committee has been in touch with Nike and the tentative plan is to allow eligible Club members access to the store in October. This plan is subject to future state pandemic recommendations and policies.

Access to the Nike Company Store is a major OTC member benefit. The benefit is available to members who volunteer for various Club activities.

The First OTC Newsletter The Oregon Track Club traces its roots back to the Emerald Empire Athletic Association (EEAA). The EEAA was founded in 1958 and a few years later changed it name to Oregon Track Club.

The first Club newsletter was published 46 years ago in April of 1974. The new publication was simply called, “The Oregon Track Club Newsletter.” That first newsletter reported Club membership totaled 204. Membership fees were $10 for regular members and $5 for OTC competing athletes. One Club athlete mentioned in the newsletter was a fellow named Steve Prefontaine. Go here to view a copy.

Long time Club members Janet Heinonen and were the newsletter editors. This duo went on to become distinguished writers in sports and track and field. Heinonen ran for the UO before it had an intercollegiate women’s team. Then she became the women's sports information director at the for eight years. She published a newsletter on the politics of international track and field for 16 years and was a contributor and online editor for Runner’s World. She wrote Sports Illustrated Running for Women (two editions) and co-authored All About Road Racing with her husband Tom. Moore is a graduate of North Eugene High School and the University of Oregon and lettered three years each in track and field and cross country for the UO. He went on to become a noted journalist and screenwriter and spent 25 years writing for Sports Illustrated. Bowerman and the Men of Oregon was published in 2006.

The Oregon Track Club wants to thank Janet Heinonen for preserving the early issues of the Club’s newsletter and sharing the first issue for this article.

In Memory Marcia McChesney

March 7, 1930 – July 6, 2020

Marcia Elaine McChesney, the matriarch of the “First Family of Track Town,” passed away on July 6. She was a longtime member of the Oregon Track Club and a passionate Club volunteer.

Marcia was an avid supporter of the University of Oregon track program, serving as an official for 40 years. She and her husband, Bill, were also avid supporters of the track and field program. They were presented with an honorary Axeman athletic letter in recognition of their many years of support.

She was once asked to sew new uniforms for the South Eugene team. Her creations were a big hit and resulted in orders from the University of Oregon, other universities, as well as elite athletes.

Marcia advocated for women’s sports. Many female distance runners credited her with inspiring their running career. Marcia’s hospitality was legendary. She and Bill frequently hosted Oregon track athletes, elite athletes, and visitors from around the world in their Eugene home.

This year Marcia and Bill celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. She is survived by her sons, Steven and Ken. Preceding Marcia in death were her sons, Tom and Billy, and her husband, Bill.

Out of the Blocks: Make the Best of It!

By Kevin Marbury, OTC president

Happy August.

Hoping that as you read this, you are finding ways to make the best of what has become the new norm of life with the pandemic. As we enter another month of social distancing, mask wearing, and sheltering in place, it’s easy to think of how these limitations prevent us from doing some of the things we value most. With the resurgence of COVID-19 here in Oregon and more specifically in Lane County, the optimism for significant changes to our outlook remains low at best.

I am choosing to find ways to make the best of our new norm. Recently, I had the chance to go to a “track meet,” my first since last season. While it was not at all like the meets I’ve attended in the past, it was exactly like those meets. As a part of the 2020 Virtual Masters Challenge being sponsored by the World Masters Association, several of our OTC Masters team members threw the shot, discus, javelin, hammer, weight, and super weight. Meanwhile, several of our finest OTC officials worked together to measure and record the results of those efforts. And much like Masters meets in the past, we had a few family members and friends that showed up to support and cheer on these great athletes. It turned out to be a great way to spend a part of my Saturday. Kevin Marbury Read about new norm opportunities

Milestones of Women's Running in Oregon

By Don McLean

When the Oregon Track Club began the All Comers Meets in 1959, the Club was at the forefront of promoting women's running. The meets were free for men, women, and children participants. These meets provided many young girls with their first exposure to competitive running.

Movement is synonymous with life. We rejoice with the infant's first crawl, toddle, walk, and run. Females often mature earlier and move faster than males, but then are often socialized to stop running.

The ancient Olympic Games started in 776 B.C. Only free Greek men could compete. Usually naked. Women were forbidden to compete or watch.

Read the other historic milestones

Local OTC Masters Athletes Compete in World Virtual Meet

Four Oregon Track Club Masters members participated in the World Wide Virtual Masters Challenge track and field meet on July 18 at Thurston High School in Springfield.

The meet, staged around the world from July 18 to August 2, used World Masters Association rules of competition as well as World Health Organization and government guidelines. Dave O’Brien, Dick Lamster, Bill Kelly, and Sandy Pashkin were on hand as USATF certified officials to run the events.

Read about the athletes and their marks Sandy Paskin, OTC board member, shows good form in the javelin event.

Oregon Track Club MASTERS News USATF Will Host a Masters Challenge

USA Track & Field (USATF), in conjunction with AthleticNET, is staging the first ever USATF Masters Virtual Summer Challenge presented by Toyota, August 3-17. The goal is to provide Masters athletes ages 25 and over the opportunity to experience competition in spite of the global pandemic.

Registration is open now through August 17 and athletes may sign up for an unlimited number of events in their five-year age group. Registration is $10 for USATF members and $20 for non- members.

Masters athletes can select from several track events and field events. They “compete” at an appropriate venue in their local area. Registered athletes will submit evidence of their times/marks via the AthleticNET mobile app for review and verification. For more information and to register, go here.

In Memory Ehrman Giustina

July 19, 1920 – June 21, 2020

Ehrman Vincent Giustina died June 21 of this year. He was an Honorary Life Member of the Oregon Track Club.

Giustina was a staunch supporter and major donor to the University of Oregon throughout his life. He received the VO Presidential Medal in I996, the UO Distinguished Service Award in 1989, and the VO Pioneer Award in 1970. He was the UO Foundation President from 1981-83, a Foundation Trustee from 1966-1994, a Foundation Trustee Emeritus since 1998, and a member of the Arnold Bennett Hall Legacy Society.

Giustina is survived by four sons and a daughter: Nick of Portland, Dan of Eugene, Greg of Thailand, Gennifer of Denver and Tom of Sacramento; and three great-grandchildren.

Scandia Run & Walk Planned for August 15

The Annual Scandia Run is scheduled for August 15 at Lyle Day Park in Junction City. The event offers a 10K, 5K, and 4-mile walk, all starting at 8:00 a.m.

To comply with social distancing, both races and the walk will have a staggered start with assigned waves of runners and walkers starting ten minutes apart.

There is no race-day registration. Go here to register in advance.

Elite T & F Athletes Form New Association

The Athletics Association is a new organization formed by elite track and field athletes. The association was launched on July 16. The nonprofit organization was created to provide track and field athletes with a voice to fight for stronger athletes’ rights and to seek an athletes-first approach in the sport.

“The sport of athletics needs to find a new and exciting path for success. This success can only be possible with real meaningful athlete engagement,” said Emma Coburn, The Athletics Association vice-president.

Among the initial goals of the Association is to lobby World Athletics and the Diamond League regarding the changes to the Diamond League schedule. The OTC/Nike Prefontaine Classic meet is part of the Diamond League.

Two-time Olympic and four-time world champion, Christian Taylor, has been named the group’s first president. The Association’s board of directors includes former University Oregon star Ashton Eaton. The group’s website: athleticsassociation.org.

Business Members

Brown Contracting, Inc. Kernutt Stokes LLP Cameron McCarthy, GOLD Let's Move LLC Carmichael & Stanton LLC LPL Financial D2000 Safety, Inc. Mike Fanelli Dr. W. Gray Grieve Orthodontics, GOLD North by Northwest Relays Eclectic Edge Racing, GOLD Prichard Partners, Inc. Eugene Airport, GOLD RBC Wealth Management, Todd G. Bosworth Eugene Running Club, GOLD Rexius Forest By-Products, GOLD Eugene Running Company Run Hub Northwest, GOLD Eugene Wellness Center Runnerspace, GOLD Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission Runnin' Wild, GOLD Garden Way Chiropractic Sapient Private Wealth Management Gleaves Swearingen LLP, Attorneys at Law Sightline Building Inspections Handy Ed Construction The Carpet Company Hutchinson, Cox, Coons, Orr & Sherlock, P.C. Trisha Kluge, LMT Innovative Print Group Tyree Oil, Inc., GOLD ​Jon and Terri Anderson, GOLD Valley River Inn, GOLD Kalen Electric & Machinery, Inc. Wilson Sound and Lights

Events Calendar

Compiled by Wendy Montenegro

August September 3-17: USATF Masters Virtual Summer Challenge, 2: OTC Board meeting, 7:00 a.m., TBD T & F events, Everywhere 5: Hardesty Hardcore Trail Runs, 14M, 5.5M, 8:00 5: OTC Board meeting, 7:00 a.m., virtual a.m., Oakridge 6: OTC All Comers Meet, 5:30 p.m., Springfield 7: Eugene Brews Cruise, 5K, 12:00 p.m., Eugene High School 10: OTC Monthly Run / Walk, 5K, 6:00 p.m. 7-9: Llama Lope Virtual event, 50K, 13.1M, 10K, 19: CANCELLED - Prefontaine Memorial Run, 5K, Everywhere 10K, HS 5K, 2M, Coos Bay 9: Shotgun Trail Blast, 50K, 25K, 10K, 5K, 8:00 10-20: Samaritan Walk Run Roll Virtual event, a.m., Marcola 13.1M, 10K, 5K, Everywhere 13: OTC Monthly Run/Walk, 5K, 6:00 p.m., 12: Walterville Waddle, 5K, 8:00 a.m., Walterville Springfield 18-21: Save The Bee Virtual event, 13.1M, 10K, 13: OTC All Comers Meet, 5:30 p.m., Springfield 5K, Everywhere High School 20: Run With The Cops, 5K, 1:00 p.m., Springfield 15: Scandia Run, 10K, 5K, Walk, 7:45 a.m., 24-27: Pink Sox Run/Walk For A Cause Virtual Junction City event, 10K, 5K, Everywhere 22: CANCELLED - Silvan Ridge Twilight 5K, Silvan Ridge Winery Always confirm event with event host. 28-29: CANCELLED - Hood To Coast, Portland to Coast Relays Many thanks to Curtis Anderson, Joseph Blum, Michael Cahn, Jessi Gabriel, Bettina Huber, Bill Kelly, Kevin Marbury, Don McLean, Wendy Montenegro, Tom Pattee, Michael Reilly, Matt Scherer, Phil Sutton, Nathaniel Teich, Jennifer Touchette (graphic designer), Dave Wilkins, and the OTC Administrator for their support of this newsletter. Please contact Jennifer Touchette at [email protected] or Phil Sutton at [email protected] if you have newsletter questions, comments, or content. © 2019-2020, Oregon Track Club, All rights reserved.

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Oregon Track Club Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. PDT 2350 Oakmont Way, Suite 201, Eugene, OR 97401 • Phone: 541-343-7247 Email: [email protected]