Eugene, Oregon Has Its Day

Hartford, Ct., trivia lovers tell us, is the insurance capital of the world. And New York, everyone knows, is the world's fashion capital.

But what of Eugene, Ore., a college town known more for its rain than anything else? Few but the most avid track fans probably know the city's accolade: "running capital of the world."

This town, host of the Olympic trials for track, attracts runners from all over the world and turns them into world class racers. They come for the moderate climate, and for the beautiful scenery. And they come because Eugene is where the other runners are. The late Steve Prefontaine, who ran 10,000 meters at Munich, was one. Alberto Salazar, who won Monday's Boston Marathon is another.

Marathon fans were surprised when Salazar burst into the limelight last October, fulfilling his prediction by shattering the world record at the New York Marathon--a record that had stood for 12 years.

But those who have watched him through college at the University of Oregon and through his career with the Eugene-based Athletics West team had learned to expect nothing less from their boney, Cuban-born star.

I can remember driving down to Eugene from Portland with my track team buddies to see Salazar and teammate Rudy Chapa run. Salazar was usually the favorite, but he spent most of his races in the middle of the pack, surging only in the last lap or so to win. "Salazar, Salazar!" the Eugene' crowds would yell.

Apparently, that's still the same way he operates. Spectators at Monday's marathon saw Salazar stay back behind Dick Beardsley for the entire last six miles of the race--until he surged to the lead with less than half a mile to go.

Nobody was surprised. Not even Beardsley. "He has superior leg speed, so he was able to outrun me," said the second place finisher. "There's no doubt, he's one of the best in the world."

While Salazar's friends and supporters at home rejoiced after his Monday victory. Eugene also celebrated the feats of two more of its prominent figures. Both John Lodwick, who took third in the marathon, and Shirley Kay Durtschi, the fourth woman across the finish line, are residents of the city.

Living in land of souring fit trees and grey, rainy days, it's nice to have some occasion to put your home town in the limelight for a couple of days. That's port of what sports is all about--the heroes that impure people to get together behind them.

The street in Eugene yesterday morning were probably not much different from usual, crowded with bicycle riders and plenty of runners--same of them, maybe, surpiring young Alberto Salazars.