USATF reopens bidding for 2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials

Just weeks after the University of Oregon unveiled stunning renditions of the new Hayward Field, USA Track & Field has announced they are re-opening the bidding for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Previously, the meet was awarded to Mt. San Antonio College (more commonly known as Mt. SAC) since the campus would have a brand-new track & field stadium for the meet. However, legal issues surrounding the new stadium have led to a unanimous decision from USATF to reopen the bidding process. There are two separate lawsuits against the college, one from the city and one from a group of local citizens. The lawsuit from the city was settled in April, but the one from the citizens is still active.

The news potentially opens the door for the trials to return to Eugene, where they have been hosted each Olympic year since 2008. The new Hayward Field is scheduled to be completed in 2020, but there’s not a specific month associated with the completion.

Obviously, Eugene is probably at the top of USATF’s list right now. When the trials were awarded to Mt. SAC, Hayward Field’s planned renovation was facing delays of it own. The original designs, unveiled back in 2015, were scrapped. The question will be if the stadium could be ready for the trials, which usually take place in the last week of June and first week of July.

USATF expects to have a decision on the new bid in June.