Eugene, Ore. – (December 14, 2012) ­­–– Vin Lananna, Associate Athletic Director for Olympic Development at the University of Oregon, will be inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame on Wednesday, December 19, in a ceremony to be held in Orlando, Florida. Lananna joins legendary Oregon leaders Bill Bowerman, Bill Dellinger, Bill Hayward and Tom Heinonen in this honor.

 

In a coaching career that has spanned 35 years, Lananna has led teams to 11 NCAA titles and 42 conference crowns, while almost 60 NCAA individual titles have been awarded to athletes under his guidance. During his tenure, athletes have established collegiate, American and World records. He has served on coaching staffs for Team USA, and in 2011 he was the head coach of the United States men’s team at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

 

However, it is Lananna’s leadership in track and field that has made the most significant impact on the sport. As President of TrackTown USA, an organization helping to elevate the popularity of track and field in the United States, Lananna has spearheaded campaigns to bring the nation’s most prestigious meets to Historic Hayward Field, while establishing the Oregon Track Club Elite as an accomplished club whose athletes have set world records and won Olympic medals. The initiatives undertaken in TrackTown USA have benefited youth and community programs throughout the state of Oregon.

 

From July 22–27, 2014 the next generation of the world’s stars will represent nearly 200 countries when they compete in the 15^th IAAF World Junior Championships at Hayward Field, marking the first time since 1992 that the sport’s international governing body has brought one of its championship events to the United States.

 

The Class of 2012 inductees includes Dick Booth, Dick Hill, Bob Pollock, Fran Welch, and John Zupanc in addition to Lananna.

 

 

 

Becky Radliff

TrackTown USA