Hayward Field opens its gates for the first day of competition on Friday and is packed with intense races and familiar faces. Here are some of the biggest events for Day 1:
1:00 p.m., Men’s 100 meters (decathlon)
It’s the first event to take place at Hayward, and it’s a big one. Former Duck Ashton Eaton will be running in the first of 10 track and field events that could qualify him to compete in London. This year, he won a gold medal at the 2012 International Association of Athletics Federation’s World Indoor Championships, finishing with a world-record 6,645 points.
3:15 p.m., Men’s 400 meters (first round)
Rising University junior Mike Berry@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4365&SPID=243&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204977356&Q_SEASON=2011@@ is set to make his Olympic debut, where he is currently the 2012 NCAA indoor champion. He holds, too, the school record in the event and ran 44.75 at this year’s Outdoor NCAA Championships — good for second in the nation.
3:35 p.m., Women’s 400 meters (first round)
Rising University junior Phyllis Francis @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4365&SPID=243&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204971317&Q_SEASON=2011@@will be racing against some of the biggest names in track — including Francena McCorory,@@http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/hs/aom/200603.html@@ a two-time runner-up at the USA Outdoor Championships — in her first major international competition. Her personal best is 52.93, which she ran in 2010.
6:45 p.m., Men’s 10,000 meters (final)
Oregon standout Luke Puskedra will be running in his marquee event, where he finished fourth at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track Championship. He is a 10-time All American (including four in cross country) — tying Steve Prefontaine and Terry Williams for Oregon’s all-time mark.
7:20 p.m., Women’s 10,000 meters (final)
Nike/Oregon Track Club Elite runner Shalane Flanagan will return to the Olympic Trials after winning the 2012 Marathon Trials in January. She is known as one of the most versatile athletes in the sport, which helped make her a three-time USA Outdoor Champion. During the 2008 Olympics, she walked away with a bronze medal despite suffering from illness.