EUGENE, Ore./WICHITA, Kan. -- The Wichita State track and field team is sending 45 athletes to Eugene, Oregon for the Hayward Premiere, while the remainder of the team will compete at the Friends Spring Open in Wichita Friday and Saturday.
 
"I am really excited for our athletes to have the opportunity to compete at the University of Oregon this weekend," head coach Steve Rainbolt said. "We brought a small group out here last year and it was just fabulous because the facility and the venue is truly the finest in the world."
 
Historic Hayward Field opened in 1919 and was renovated in 2020 and will play host to the World Athletics Championships in July.
 
"We faced terrific competition last year with a small group, so I just felt like we needed to try to get a larger group out to Eugene," Rainbolt said.
 
The Hayward Premiere plays host to athletes from 36 different entities, including 15 NCAA Division I programs.
 
"Having seen the entries, I really feel like this trip has been worth all the effort and resources that we have expended to make it happen," Rainbolt said. "Our athletes will certainly feel better prepared for American Athletic Conference championship competition after being out in Oregon this weekend, which is certainly our objective."
 
The Shocker athletes that will not make the trip to Oregon will compete at Adair-Austin Stadium for the Friends Spring Open, a meet that features athletes from 30 programs in Kansas and surrounding states.