June 3, 2004
Portland, Oregon - Mighty throwers with enthusiastic spectators clustered right at the boundaries of the shot put ring.
Olympic organisers envision that formula for this year's Shot Put competitions in Greece, but US shot putter John Godina anticipates that fans and spectators will get their own taste of elite throwing from such a privileged standpoint when they arrive at the adidas Oregon Track Classic on Saturday 5 June.
As in years past, thousands are expected to gather on grassy berms overlooking the competition at Mt. Hood Community College, establishing a charged context for the throwers. The shot put competition opens the meet, and no other events are scheduled at the same time, ensuring that athletes and fans will have each other's undivided attention.
That setting assumes special significance in this Olympic year. In honour of the original Olympic movement (which ran from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D), Greece will host the men's and women's Shot Put competitions at the original site of the Games that inspired the modern Olympics.
Throwers will gather in the stadium at Olympia, spectators will surround the ring and attend to the action from grassy berms, and the Olympic movement will honour its classic heritage away from the chaotic frenzy that will define Athens during the Games.
"The set up in Olympia should be much like the Portland meet," said Godina. "It is a little bit of a warm-up that mimics what we can expect to see in Greece. I automatically thought of the connection with the Classic when they started talking about changing the format at the Olympics."
Meanwhile, Godina heads up a competitive field at the adidas Oregon Track Classic that provides a first-hand look at many athletes who will be in the Olympic spotlight later this summer.
Godina is already a three-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist, and he arrives in Portland fresh off an outstanding performance at the US Open, where he posted a winning toss of 21.71 metres. That throw marks his best effort in two years.
Among the other top competitors scheduled to appear, look for fellow American Christian Cantwell to provide the fiercest competition for Godina. Cantwell has been the hottest shot putter in the world so far this season, as he won the World Indoor title in March, and remains the world leader with his 22.35m at the Home Depot Invitational.
Other leading American entrants include Adam Nelson, who was the Olympic silver medallist in 2000, plus Jamie Beyer, Vince Mosca and Tyrel Nelson. Six-time Canadian champion Brad Snyder also joins the action.
Could these athletes gain a competitive advantage at the Classic in the midst of their Olympic campaigns?
"I can't get much advantage," Godina conceded. "The Oregon Track Classic is such a good meet that all the top throwers in the world are going to be there, and we'll all get the same benefit when it comes to getting ready for Olympia." The road to Athens
What is the best way to get up close and personal with top US and international track athletes as they set course for the US Olympic Trials (July 9-18) and the Athens Olympics (August 20-29)?
It's as easy as a trip to suburban Portland on June 5 (1-4pm), when the adidas Oregon Track Classic hosts easy access to a powerful roster of Olympic track & field hopefuls.
The fan- and athlete-friendly environment at the track & field facility at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore. creates an intimate scene, with spectators circling the shot put ring, then stepping over to the track to see Olympic-quality fields in such events as the men's 1500 and women's 100m Hurdles.
With substantial support from adidas and other sponsors, the Classic offers a total purse of $126,000 to track & field athletes.
In addition to the Olympic implications of the Portland competition, the adidas Oregon Track Classic is one of three US meets to earn Grand Prix designation from the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations), along with the U.S. Open (May 31 at Palo Alto, Cal.) and the Prefontaine Classic (June 19th at Eugene, Ore.).
The Classic is also a major stop on USA Track & Field's Golden Spike Tour, which affiliates the top Invitational meets in the United States and ensures multiple opportunities for American track & field athletes and fans to come together for elite competition in the United States.