Ducks get outdoor season underway at retooled Hayward Field

Posted by Ken Goe, The Oregonian March 21, 2008 15:22PM

There might be as much interest in the venue as the performances Saturday when the Ducks open the outdoor season with the Oregon Preview track & field meet.

I don't know about you, but I've read enough about the five-story video scoreboard designed by Nike's Tinker Hatfield. It's time to see that puppy in action.

The Oregon Preview is typically a low-key opener, and the weather could be brisk. As of this writing, there has been nothing released about the non-Oregon entries, although expect the usual suspects from Oregon Track Club Elite and the neighboring colleges.

The biggest news is almost who isn't going to be there. Galen Rupp is redshirting as he prepares for his Olympic bid by training with Alberto Salazar and the Nike Oregon Project. Rebekah Nobel still is shelved by a broken navicular bone in her right foot, and many think she's going to miss at least the college season. Also absent from the Oregon entries released by the school is javelin school recordholder Rachel Yurkovich, who has started the past seasons strong only to be derailed late by injuries.