Hayward Premiere Won't Have A Big Crowd, But Eight Recently Crowned NCAA Individual Champions Are On The Entry List

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

At long last, there is a track meet at Hayward Field this weekend. 

The Hayward Premiere will represent something of a soft opening for the $270 million new stadium, which has been essentially ready for action for the past year but not in use because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Bigger meets — the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and the Prefontaine Classic — will show off the full capabilities of the new facility. 

Besides use as a training facility for the University of Oregon since last fall, the Hayward Premiere will mark the first live meet at the site since the 2018 Division 1 Outdoor Championships. 

Spectator opportunities are limited to "guests" of coaches and athletes. Facemasks are required and social distancing guidelines are in place. The best way for the public to watch this weekend's meet is by logging on to watch the free live webcast.

WATCH THE HAYWARD PREMIERE FREE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY (Subsequent on-demand viewing requires RunnerSpace +PLUS)

The college fields assembled for Friday evening and Saturday afternoons include eight recent NCAA individual champions.

The athletes in attendance from Arkansas, BYU, Washington State, Oregon State, New Mexico, Boise State, Colorado, Utah, Portland, Iowa State, Wichita State and a few others will be among the first — outside of the home team Oregon Ducks — to have their feet on the new track. 

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Oregon's NCAA Indoor 60-meter sprint champions, Kemba Nelson and Micah Williams, will see 4x100 relay duty. 

Charlie Hunter, the 800-meter champion, is listed among the 10,000-meter entries. 

Cole Hocker, a recent addition to the Bowerman Award Watchlist after winning the mile and 3,000 meters, is entered in the 800 and the 1,500 meters. 

BYU cross country national champion Conner Mantz is entered in the men's 5,000 meters. The Cougars' Courtney Wayment, the 3,000-meter champion who also anchored the victorious distance medley relay lineup, is listed in the 800 meters. 

Iowa State's Wesley Kiptoo, who won the indoor 5,000-meter title, is entered in the 10,000. Teammate Edwin Kurgat, the 2019 NCAA cross country champion, is also in the 10,000. 

Oregon's Emmanuel Ihemeje, who won the indoor triple jump title, is entered in the long jump. 

Additionally, athletes from the winning men's indoor (Oregon), women's indoor (Arkansas) and women's cross country (BYU) championship teams will be competing. 

Friday's action begins with the men's hammer throw at 3 p.m. The first race on the track is set for 5:30 p.m. — all in distances from 1,500 meters to 10,000.

Saturday's schedule begins at 1 p.m. on the track with a sprint-heavy lineup with no race longer than 800 meters. Field events begin at noon.