Achievements Without a Stopwatch by Vin Lananna, Associate Athletic Director of Olympic Development at the University of Oregon and USATF President We are fortunate to live in a community where high-level performances are tradition. The countless achievements of the Men and Women of Oregon established Hayward Field as the home for athletes who run fast, jump high, and throw far. Professional athletes found their way to live and train here. Legends such as Lance Deal, Maria Mutola and Mary Decker-Slaney, to name only a few, Vin Lananna honed their talents on the same trails and in the same rings as the rest of us. Athletes from across the age spectrum, from youth and high school to the OTC Masters, have made their impact on the sport while training in the Eugene-Springfield community, a community which has provided a foundation for the OTC Elite to attract many of the best runners from the United States and from around the world. Ben Blankenship’s recent victory at the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in Spokane, Washington, is a vivid reminder of the talented professionals who call TrackTown home. However, as the countless individuals running around Pre’s Trail at all hours of the day and night remind us, each of us has the opportunity to strive for our own high-level performances. And, perhaps most importantly, the pursuit of our own personal bests is not restricted to athletic goals. At the end of last year I was reminded that our best achievements often are not measured by a stopwatch. Two pillars of TrackTown each received one of the highest honors possible—Dennis Olafson was inducted into the USA Track & Field Officials Hall of Fame and Sandy Pashkin was inducted into the USA Masters Hall of Fame. I am grateful for the many hours that Dennis and Sandy have volunteered in the conduct of the meets at Hayward Field, but their contributions to the sport extend far beyond the footprint of that special place. Dennis has lent his officiating expertise to high-profile meets across the United States and in several other countries. Numerous local organizing committees in this nation and around the world have benefited from Sandy’s meet management knowledge as she has helped them to host major championships for masters athletes. Their honors are richly deserved. Dennis and Sandy are great representatives of the many dedicated individuals who support our sport. Jerry Jackson also belonged in that category. A beloved official, Jerry passed away on November 23. For almost five decades Jerry officiated track and field meets in our community, including six Olympic Trials. Whether he was starting races, leading the hurdles crew, or tending to the care of the equipment at Hayward Field, Jerry lent his talent and his smile. I have fond memories of Jerry around the oval, including images of him standing in the cold rain after four long days of the NCAA Championships just so the boys and girls competing in the TrackTown Youth League would have a professional starter for their experience at Hayward Field. Thousands of athletes benefited from Jerry’s service to track and field. TrackTown lost one of its most important contributors when Barbara Kousky passed away on December 17. She was one of the first people I worked with when I arrived in Eugene in 2005, as she and Tom Jordan spearheaded the Oregon Track Club’s application to host the 2008 Olympic Trials. How lucky we all were to have worked with Barbara. No challenge or setback could deter her positive attitude. She continued Vin Lananna lifted everyone around her. Without a doubt, Barbara was one of the most special people I have ever met. The very best parts of TrackTown USA have her fingerprints on them, and her legacy is enduring. Dennis, Sandy, Jerry, and Barbara are prime examples of big-time performers in TrackTown USA. I encourage all of us to begin 2019 with an energized commitment to striving for our own high-level performances. The Ducks are poised to embark on a great indoor season; the OTC Elite will be training at altitude; many of you have set your own personal goals for the Eugene Marathon and the Butte to Butte; but, together, we’re heading towards our community’s greatest opportunities yet with the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the 2021 and 2022 NCAA Championships, and the IAAF World Championships Oregon21. Editor’s note: See the separate stories about Sandy Pashkin. Barbara Kousky, and Jerry Jackson in this newsletter. Also see the photo of Dennis Olafson..