USA Track & Field is expected to name the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene as the site for the 2020 U.S. Olympic trials, according to a source with direct knowledge of the decision.
The announcement is expected soon, perhaps as early as Thursday.
The source was not authorized to discuss the decision and requested anonymity.
Calls to TrackTown USA, the Eugene local organizing committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee were referred to USA Track & Field. USATF spokeswoman Jill Geer declined comment.
Eugene has staged the Olympic trials six previous times, including in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
This would be the first major meet at the reconstructed Hayward Field. The stadium has been torn down and will be rebuilt. The project is expected to be completed in April 2020.
Selection for the 2020 trials has been controversial. The meet first was awarded to Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California. But USATF yanked the meet from Mt. SAC because of concerns about the renovation of Hilmer Lodge Stadium. The renovation had been the subject of ongoing litigation.
USATF CEO Max Siegel announced in June that three sites were under consideration as replacements: Austin, Texas; Eugene; and Sacramento.
USATF's recent history with TrackTown USA also has been tumultuous.
Vin Lananna, then president of TrackTown USA, led the USATF team in 2015 that secured the 2021 World Outdoor Championships for Hayward Field while bypassing the normal bid process with the International Association of Athletics Federations, the world governing body of track and field.
In 2016, Lananna was elected to the volunteer position of USATF president by acclamation by the membership.
In 2017, it was revealed that the U.S. Department of Justice was investigating the IAAF decision to award Eugene the 2021 World Championships.
In February, the USATF board of directors placed Lananna on temporary administrative leave, citing the DOJ investigation and perceived conflicts of interest for Lananna in his roles with the USATF and TrackTown USA.
Two weeks ago, Lananna stepped down as president of TrackTown USA and as chair of Oregon21, the TrackTown subsidiary that is the organizing committee for the 2021 World Outdoor Championships.
Lananna remains an associate athletic director at the University of Oregon.
-- Ken Goe