Oregon track & field releases 2017 schedule, won't compete at Hayward Field during regular season

The Oregon track & field team just released their schedule for the 2017 season and it’s full of exciting meets around the nation. There’s just one big problem with it.

There are no home meets this year during the regular season for the Ducks. The only meets that will be held at Hayward Field this year are the Pac-12 Championships (May 13-14) and the NCAA Championships (June 7-10).

Of course, there is an explanation for why there are no home meets this year. Originally, Hayward Field was expected to be undergoing massive renovations this year to modernize the stadium in preparations for the 2021 World Outdoor Championships. However, the renovations were pushed back due to needing to replace a cellphone tower next to Hayward Field, as well as World Championships organizers struggling to raise the money for the renovations.

As a result of the expected renovations, the Ducks were not expected to have a home schedule in 2017 and committed to meets elsewhere around the country. Now, they’ve got a perfectly good stadium that won't be used for a meet until the conference championships roll around.

Considering it was announced in September that the renovations would be delayed until June, the Ducks must have needed to set their season schedule well in advance if they aren't competing at home before the renovations begin. Oregon associate athletic director Vin Lananna said that there is a chance the Ducks could stage the annual Oregon Relays and Oregon Twilight, but it’s not likely Oregon would back out of these other meets they’re already scheduled for.

Here is the full indoor and outdoor schedule for the Ducks in 2017: