In the end, it’s always Eugene, Oregon, for USA Track & Field.
USATF Chief Executive Officer Max Siegel reminded me last week in an exclusive interview that it was no secret he wanted to have the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials at the Los Angeles Coliseum. But once it was determined that was not feasible because of construction to make the Coliseum ready for the 2028 Olympics, it was back to the Pacific Northwest for the sixth consecutive Trials.
“The reality is, it’s very difficult and not very many markets in the country have the infrastructure and the facility to handle an event of this magnitude,” Siegel told me. “And we’ve worked closely with that LLC for a long time and for having the Games here on home soil, being on the West Coast, working with them, we have a high level of comfort that the athlete experience at the event will be executed close to perfection.”
The meet will again be organized by Eugene-based nonprofit TrackTown USA, whose name reflects the city and surrounding area’s reputation as one of the world’s premier track and field destinations. Eugene has selected every U.S. Olympic track and field team since 2008; Hayward Field has hosted the USATF Outdoor Championships 10 times, and will do so again in 2027.
The announcement comes on the heels of Eugene hosting the World Athletics U20 Championships, which welcomed more than 1,500 athletes from more than 140 countries. The city also hosted the 2022 World Athletics Championships — the only time the event has been in the United States.
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