My First Time Competing at Hayward Field: Why Combined Championships Matter

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to compete at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships and Para Nationals. Overall? I thought it was a great event.

Believe it or not, I had never competed at Hayward Field before. But after taking my first jump in front of a packed crowd, I understood exactly why people call it a magical place. There’s something in the air there. The energy, the appreciation, the way the crowd understands the sport. It’s electric. In Eugene, track and field isn’t just an event, it’s a part of the culture. Buying a ticket to the meet felt like someone grabbing seats for an NBA or NFL game. That’s how much it’s loved.

And from an athlete’s perspective, that love was felt on the track, too. Some of the big names from the Olympic side couldn’t have been more welcoming. I heard things like, “Man, it’s great to have you guys here,” and, “This is awesome! I’m glad things are combined now.” That kind of respect and acknowledgment means a lot.

Of course, I know not everyone felt the same way. I did hear about someone saying the championships should be kept separate, one for USATF Outdoors and one for Para Nationals. From their prospective, that allows for each entity to “build its own brand” without confusing spectators. I hear that point, but I disagree.

From the Paralympic perspective, this is a massive opportunity. It’s a chance to create more awareness leading into the LA 2028 Paralympic Games. It’s a chance for someone who has never seen a totally blind athlete long jump to witness it for the first time. For a fan who doesn’t know much about wheelchair racing to learn. For someone to see blade runners speed down the track and understand what goes into those performances.

And I’ll tell you this, it gives us, as Paralympians, even more motivation to know we’re competing at the same domestic championship as our Olympic counterparts. That’s no knock to our former national governing body, U.S. Para Track and Field, but competing at Hayward Field felt like competing at a World Championships or a Games. The meet was run at an elite level. There was a “major international competition” call room experience. There was a walk-out into the stadium. People actually had to buy tickets to watch. That might sound small, but trust me, it changes the atmosphere.

Sure, I didn’t have my best competition, but that’s beside the point. I’m only one athlete, and I have fewer competitions in front of me than I do behind me. My career will eventually come to an end, but the next generation deserves this stage. They deserve to feel the same energy I felt walking out to compete in front of thousands of fans.

As I told some of my fellow Paralympians and Paralympic hopefuls, this was the first year. It wasn’t perfect. But it’s a start. Now that we have a baseline, we can improve, evolve, and make it even better for years to come. That should always be the goal.

With the right people at the table, this can become a well-oiled machine. And maybe, just maybe, some of the folks who think we should be separate will see the benefits, the beauty, and the impact of having combined championships.

So thank you, USATF, for taking that first step. Let’s keep walking forward together.

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