Exhibition of track and field world championships memorabilia opens in EMU

Bernard Lagat (second from left) and Abdi Bile (right), who donated their singlets to the Museum of World Athletics, open the exhibit in the EMU with help from Vin Lananna and Sasha Spencer Atwood. Photo by Kevin Neri

Christopher Turner’s face lit up as he announced the ribbon was cut to signify the opening of an exhibition from The Museum of World Athletics. The exhibit, which is on the first floor of the Erb Memorial Union, consists of what he believes are “the crown jewels” of memorabilia from track and field history.

After opening the museum, those who came to the event got the chance to explore through the gallery. While walking through it, it was tough to focus on just one aspect of the exhibit which features competition-worn singlets and shoes from athletes including Jesse Owens, Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix. 

Turner, World Athletics’ director of heritage, was especially proud to bring parts of the museum’s collection to Eugene — a community of track and field supporters that he feels can adequately appreciate the sport’s history. 

“There are very few other places in the U.S. where you could do this and actually know that people would walk in and understand the history,” Turner said. 

On Thursday, Turner added two new items to the museum’s archives from world champions Abdi Bile and Bernard Lagat. 

Abdi Bile wore this singlet when he “ran Somalia onto the map,” as heritage director Christopher Turner put it, by winning the 1987 world title in the 1,500 meters. Photo by Kevin Neri

Bile, a distance runner from Somalia, donated his singlet from the 1987 Worlds in Rome, where he won the 1,500 meters. Bile also finished second at the Prefontaine Classic in 1987. 

On Thursday, he shared a story that reflected the track and field fandom in Eugene. 

“When I came to Eugene, there was a high school meet and the stadium was sold out,” Bile said. “Every time you come here you see a city that loves track and field, and you always get that feeling that you are welcome. So, I am happy to be here and I am happy that Eugene is hosting the world championships.”

Lagat, a distance runner who competed for the U.S., also donated a singlet. His was from the 2010 Indoor World Athletics Championship in Doha, where Lagat won the 3,000-meter race by 1.58 seconds and took down the defending world champion Tariku Bekele. 

“I chose specifically because it was in 2010 when people were already thinking ,‘You’re past your prime,’ and I just kept winning,” Lagat said. “So it’s really special to have that to donate that to the World Athletics museum.”

Lagat’s singlet from 2010 now sits under four-time Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens’ Ohio State singlet and cleats and right next to two-time world champion Mike Powell’s singlet. 

The exhibition will be open through the World Athletics Championships, which run July 15-24.