This weekend all eyes in the track world will be gazing upon Portland, as the USA Track & Field Indoor Championships will be held Friday and Saturday in the Oregon Convention Center.
The meet serves as a chance for the top US athletes without an automatic qualifier to make it on the National Team and participate in the World Indoor Championships that will also be held in Portland on March 17-20.
To advance through the meet one has to finish in the top-two and already have a qualifying standard in their respective event. Several former Ducks will be battling for a berth to the world competition.
Distance runner Galen Rupp will be joining a loaded men’s 3000 race. Adding to the difficulty is that the American record holder is coming off a victory in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, which was only a month ago. Rupp will have to fight through the fatigue to find a good time. Two of the athletes he will be competing against are fellow alums Eric Jenkins, who won the NCAA Indoor title in the event last season, and Trevor Dunbar.
Former Oregon star Laura Roesler will be running in the women’s 800, facing off against Ajee’ Wilson in what promises to be a tough race. Wilson has the slightly better time of 2:00.09, though Roesler is close on her heels with 2:00.49.
Jenna Prandini is entered into the women’s 60 meters with the fifth best qualifying time, with a mark that is just .02 behind second place.
Competing in the 1500 are Matthew Centrowitz, Johnny Gregorek and Daniel Winn. Centrowitz enters the event with the third best mark (3:50.63).
Phyllis Francis II (400), Megan Patrignelli (3000) and Ashton Eaton (long jump) round out the former Oregon athletes to follow.
The track that the meet will take place on was built locally by Beynon Sports out of Tualatin, Oregon. Early reports from athletes who have been able to train on it have been positive.
Click here for a complete schedule of events.
The USATF Indoor Championships is scheduled to begin at 11:30 on Friday with the men’s weight throw.
Follow Christopher Keizur on Twitter @chriskeizur