Visitors be wary, or you may find yourself entangled in groups attending an array of sports camps that the University is facilitating this summer.
For the past two weeks, Oregon track and field and cross country camps have been in session. Residing in residence halls across from Hayward Field, around 400 campers ages 14-19 from all over the country have access to the track, field event areas, weight rooms and various running trails.
The camps are broken up into two sessions, and both include all skill levels. The first session, which includes track athletes up to 400-meter runners, took place last week. Distance event runners, 800 meters and up, come to the second session.
Camp administrator Renee Smith manages advertising and camp brochures and provides information to the coaches. She said the number-one thing she wants the kids to take away from the camp is their own success.
“I want the positive experience of being at this camp to help these kids achieve their goals,” Smith said. “To give them the inspiration to achieve what they want out of this.”
Smith said campers love the coaching, as the camp is staffed by individuals who have coached or competed at national and world-class levels.
The track and field and cross country coaches at Oregon organize the camps for the kids.
“Each coach at University of Oregon, by virtue of their position, is allowed to have a camp,” Smith said. “The camp is not affiliated with the University. It’s run or owned by the head coaches.”
Women’s track and field and cross country head coach Tom Heinonen has led the Ducks to 27 national top-10 finishes and three NCAA titles in track and cross country. In 1994, Heinonen was honored as a master coach by U.S.A. Track and Field, the chief recognition in coaching education. Men’s track and field head coach Martin Smith is in his third year at Oregon.
Ross Smith, an eighth grader who runs the mile and 400-meter dash, said Steve Prefontaine was “pretty cool” for all that he achieved in his running career. Seven-year runner Leesl Merritt, who runs the 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000, said she has learned from Prefontaine’s accomplishments as a runner to always try her best.
The track and field and cross country runners’ stay at Oregon will be at an end Thursday night, and the Oregon Track Club will put on an All-Comer track meet open to the community to bid farewell to the Prefontaines of the future.
All in all, the youth sports camps held at Oregon build confidence in the nation’s athletes.
Denise Wall, Monroe High School’s dancing coach whose squad participated in the dance camp last weekend, said her girls’ confidence with themselves and teammates has improved because of what the camps offered to them.
“We hope to stay at this facility,” Wall said. “The camp benefits the girls. It helps them to bond with one another, and their confidence rises.”
Sharon Haga, Bandon High School’s dancing coach, said that the dance camp was broken up into four different skill levels so that all the girls would be provided with the opportunity to learn to their fullest potential.
“Level four is for girls that know dancing and the terminology that goes along with it,” Haga said. “Through the three years that I’ve coached, the intermediate girls have always shown other girls what to do and not do, especially for evaluations. There’s no comparing. The girls all help one another.”
Haga said the camp is designed to teach more than dance and individual techniques.
“They learn different ways to move,” Haga said. “But there are also seminars on health and body issues that influence them.”
Haga and Wall said that staying at this camp has left a lasting impression of Oregon on their squads.
“The girls love the campus,” Haga said.