Ducks were out in full force at the Eugene Marathon on Sunday to volunteer, support and run in the community event.
The 26.2-mile race began at the corner of East 15th Avenue and Agate Street and finished with a lap around Hayward Field. More than 8,000 runners were in attendance.
The marathon attracted elite runners like Meb Keflezighi, the 2009 winner of the New York City Marathon@@http://www.nycmarathon.org/@@,@@http://newyorkmarathon.runnersworld.com/tag/meb-keflezighi@@, who spoke at the Eugene Marathon’s pre-race Health and Fitness Expo.@@http://www.eugenemarathon.com/health-fitness-expo/@@
“We had about 1,300 volunteers and a large amount of that group was from the University,” said Richard Maher, the marathon’s director and founder@@www.marathonguide.com/races/racedetails.cfm?MIDD=2558120429@@. “We really want to thank the University and the students for their help.”
University student Abigaelle Mulligan @@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Mulligan@@volunteered at the University Alumni Association tent to pass out water to runners.
“As a student, I feel that you need to make the most out of every event that is here and the Student Alumni Association@@http://uoalumni.com/s/1202/start.aspx@@ is how I get involved with the community and not just the University,” Mulligan said. “Being here, simply giving water, is awesome because I want to be active in my community.”
Oregon Marching Band member and University student Kate Rohrich@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Rohrich@@ volunteered with members of her music fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, to play music for runners passing Hayward Field.@@http://www.kkytbs.org/online/fused/index.cfm?fuseaction=chapterdirectory.displaychapterlist&layout=kky@@
“We played last year, and so we decided to come back and support the runners this year,” Rohrich said. “It’s awesome for us to get involved and to have people see what we do.”
International students Nataly Arevalo from Ecuador @@http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.319444851434307.84416.125131387532322&type=3@@and Meiyi Fong from Singapore@@http://www.runnerspace.com/news.php?news_id=25052-2012-Results-Eugene-Marathon@@, ran the half-marathon to experience Eugene culture.
“We wanted to participate in a popular activity like running and there is no better place to do it than in TrackTown USA,” Arevolo said. “The running community was excellent.”
University faculty members and alumni were at the race to volunteer as well.
“The Alumni Association and faculty are here to support all of Eugene, not just the Oregon Ducks,” said Lisa Fortin, director of events and student recruitment.@@http://education.uoregon.edu/faculty.htm?id=390@@
Fortin, who has run in the half-marathon for the last two years, decided to volunteer passing out water to runners this year instead.
“It’s TrackTown USA, and we are here to represent,” she said.