By Isaac Gibson
EUGENE, Oregon — Vin Lananna wears many hats in the track and field world. He is the president of TrackTown USA, the associate athletic director at the University of Oregon, the head coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic team. He has been the driving force behind bringing three Olympic trials to Hayward Field and securing the NCAA championships from 2013-2021.
However, there is one more hat that Lananna is seeking to add to his collection: president of U.S.A. Track and Field.
Lananna announced Sunday at a press conference that he would run for USATF president because he believes that it is his time. If elected, he will succeed Stephanie Hightower, who has reached her two-term limit. The new president will be elected for a four-year term during this year’s annual USATF meeting, Nov. 30-Dec. 4 in Orlando, Florida.
“I think that our federation has done an outstanding job,” said Lananna. “I think that I can add something to it. I think it is a chance for me to really play a role in the continuation of the rise of the federation.”
Lananna wants to continue his mission of making track and field more than just a niche sport in the United States. He believes now is the opportunity to take charge and help lead the U.S. in what will be a busy couple of years. In 2021, Eugene will hold the first outdoor world championships on U.S. soil.
“What we do need is everyone needs to join hands on this world championship and make this something exciting,” said Lananna. “There is something in this for everybody, whether it is the youth, various associations, or if it’s the LDR. Everyone should be looking at this as a one-shot, one-time opportunity, and I feel as president I’d like to lead that initiative.”
Other notes from the press conference:
- Renovations for Hayward Field will not begin immediately after the trials. They are scheduled to begin in the fall. Three meets are scheduled for Spring 2017: the Pac-12 championships, the Prefontaine Classic and the Oregon high school state meet.
- Neither Lananna nor U.S. women’s coach Connie Price-Smith is worried about transportation at Rio. “Everyone is going to have to be patient. It will be hard to get around, but we will do what we need to do,” said Price-Smith.
- Neither coach is concerned about doping at the Olympic Games, either. “Every Olympics always has something that goes on. I tell (the athletes) just to concentrate on what they’re doing,” Lananna said.
