With the Olympic Trials being held in Eugene, home of the moniker “Tracktown USA” and a University of Oregon program perennially ranked in the nation’s top 25, the temptation would be to seek out all of Oregon’s stars and follow them at Hayward Field.
There will be plenty of opportunities to do that, with Oregon alumni (Andrew Wheating, Ashton Eaton) and locals (Stanford’s Russell Brown) competing in an array of events. But contrary to what you might have heard, the track world does not revolve entirely around Eugene. Here are a few other marquee names to be aware of as you head through the gates on day one.
Tyson Gay (Clermont, Fla.):
Even the most ignorant track neophyte will recognize Gay’s name. The Clermont, Fla., native is set to compete in both the 100 and 200 meter races, and will look to defend his 2008 Olympic Trial crown in the 100 meters (his personal best time of 9.69 is the current United States record, and second in history only to Usain Bolt). The 2012 Trials will also serve as the jump-off point in Gay’s road to Olympic redemption after a disappointing 2008 showing in Beijing. Nursing a hamstring injury, Gay failed to qualify for the finals in either the 100 meters or the 4×100 meter relay. The London games provide another chance at history for Gay, and his path begins in Eugene.
Competing in: 100 meters, 200 meters
Lopez Lomong (Lake Oswego, Ore.): 
Though technically an Oregonian from Lake Oswego, Lomong’s story and travels have made him a nationally recognized figure. A native of South Sudan, Lomong moved to the United States at the age of 16 as a member of the Lost Boys of Sudan. His running career quickly took off from there, and in 2008 he qualified for the Olympics in the 1500 meter race. He would go on to serve as the flag bearer for the United States in Beijing, and was eventually eliminated in the semi-finals of the 1500. He’s back this year, sporting a new personal best of 3:32:20 in the 1500m and looking to punch a second ticket to the Olympics.
Competing in: 1500 meters
Walter Dix (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.):
2008 was an especially kind year to Dix, the only American track athlete to win at least two medals at the Beijing Olympics. A bronze medalist in both the 100 and 200 meter races, Dix returns to Eugene looking to make Olympic noise once again at the age of 26. In Beijing, Dix’s 9.91 in the 100 meters was bested by only Bolt of Jamaica and Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago, and also set what was at the time a personal record (he has since improved to 9.88). The bronze medal in the 200 meters came in anti-climatic fashion, as two runners were disqualified to vault Dix from fifth to third. Most recently, Dix was timed at a wind-aided 9.85 in the 100 meters @@http://www.iaaf.org/news/newsid=64653.html@@.
Competing in: 100 meters, 200 meters
Allyson Felix (Los Angeles, Calif.): 
Competing in the 200m and 400m races, Felix will look to add another chapter to what has been a career splashed with highlights. Already a two-time Olympian, having participated in the 2004 Athens games at just 18, Felix arrives in Eugene with three medals to her name. In the 2008 Beijing games, she was part of a gold medal 4×400 team while also taking silver in the 200 meters individually. Perhaps most impressively, she was also a 200 meter silver medalist as a rookie in 2004. And Felix is still setting new personal bests, with the latest coming in the 400 meter race back in 2011 (49.59).
Competing in: 200 meters, 400 meters
Lolo Jones (Des Moines, Iowa):
Perhaps best known for her lively Twitter account and continuous quest for dates, Jones is also a world-class hurdler who is looking to rebound from a tremendously disappointing 2008 performance in Beijing. Jones famously tripped and finished seventh in the 100 meter hurdle race — and her status as the favorite going in made it all the worse. She’ll take the first step to vanquishing that memory at the Trials.
Competing in: 100 meter hurdles
LaShawn Merritt (Suffolk, Va.): 
What would the Olympic Trials be without a little controversy? Merritt exploded onto the world scene with gold medals in both the 400 meters and 4×400 meter relay in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but went on to fail three drug tests in 2010. He was punished with a two-year ban from track, and so the 2012 Olympic games in London will serve as a chance for redemption for Merritt. He returned to Eugene back on June 3 in the Prefontaine Classic and picked up right where he left off in 2008, winning the 400 meter race with a time of 44.91.
Competing in: 400 meter