During the trials at Hayward Field, the volunteers are distinctive in their special white and black jackets with oregon green shirts underneath. Kris Redmond is the workforce manager for TrackTown12, the woman in charge of all approximately 1,800 volunteers.
Her day includes a constant flurry of action and minor crises. She must resolve schedules and ingest countless emails, and that’s when she isn’t providing the final decision on hundreds of small issues as they creep up through the day.
“It’s exhausting and exhilarating,” Redmond said.
She’s happy to be working here, though. The Olympic Trials are unique to say the least. Redmond doesn’t get tired of watching the volunteers accomplish their own feats.
“You see people sacrifice their time just to help in any way they can,” Redmond said.
Besides the volunteers, Redmond manages 125 USA Track & Field volunteers and works closely with every other workforce at the trials, including security.
Redmond said many volunteers are returning from ’08 and enjoyed the event so much they felt compelled to return this year.
Volunteering at the trials is no jog in the park.  According to Redmond, each one of the 1,800 volunteers is required to do five shifts, averaging four hours each.
“It’s a tremendous contribution of hours,” Redmond said.  “There’s a component of volunteer service with everything at the trials.”
The volunteers are involved in every stage of the trials.  From clearing attendees to serving dinner, giving directions and moving equipment, taking out trash and running baskets of personal belongings for athletes, they are the muscle of the 2012 Olympic Trials.
“The sport of track and field seems to attract people just full of caring and with big hearts,” Redmond said. “They’re amazing to work with.”