Eugene, Oregon

Eugene is the third largest city http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/local/euggov.htm#Facts:Cite_sources and boasts the second largest metropolitan population http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1119225167&men=gcis&lng=en&gln=xx&dat=32&geo=-223&srt=pnan&col=aohdq&pt=a&va=x&geo=-3793 in the state of Oregon, and is also the county seat of Lane County, Oregon. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie River and the Willamette River, about 60 miles (97 km) east of the Oregon Coast. According to the 2000 census, it has a total population of 137,893. As of July 1, 2003 the US Census Bureau estimated the population of Eugene to be 142,185. The city's population is expected to further grow to 228,400 within the next 10 years.

Sports

The Track Capital

For nearly 40 years, on and off, Eugene has been the "Track Capital of the World". Jogging was introduced to the US first in Eugene, in the sixties, by Bill Bowerman, who coached the champion University of Oregon track team here. Bowerman also invented the waffle running shoe in Eugene, and with U of O alumni Phil Knight founded shoe giant Nike, Inc. The Nike Store in Eugene includes a museum of this slice of track history. Eugene's miles of running trails, through its unusually large park system, are the most extensive in the US. There are dozens of running clubs here. The climate is cool temperate, good both for jogging and record-setting. Eugene is home to the University of Oregon's Hayward Field track, which hosts numerous collegiate and amateur track and field meets throughout the year, most notably the Prefontaine Classic. It was host to the 2004 Junior Olympics, and the 1972, 1976 and 1980 US Olympic Track & Field trials. A few feet from Hayward Field, the earth's oldest pairs of running shoes are on display, at the Museum of Natural History.

Related Topics:
Nike, Inc. - Hayward Field - Prefontaine Classic - 2004 Junior Olympics

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• University of Oregon fields a number of popular sport teams, including football, basketball, and wrestling. Autzen Stadium is the home field of the university football team.
• Eugene Emeralds, Minor-league baseball

Famous athletes

• Danny Ainge, North Eugene High School (1977), NBA player & coach, MLB player
• Joey Harrington, University of Oregon (2002), NFL quarterback
• Bill McChesney, South Eugene High School (1977), 1980 Olympian
• Chris Miller. Sheldon High School ((1983), NFL quarterback
• Steve Prefontaine, University of Oregon (1973), Olympic runner
• Quentin Mikeel, Willamette High School, NFL Cornerback
• Kailee Wong, North Eugene High School, NFL Linebacker
• Harold Reynolds, Former MLB Player, ESPN Baseball Analyst
• Luke Jackson, Creswell High School, University of Oregon, NBA player
• Nate Jaqua, South Eugene High School (2000), Chicago Fire (MLS) forward