EUGENE, Ore. – It's known around here as "Hayward Magic."
 
Since the original Hayward Field was built in 1919, the historic venue has hosted a list of iconic meets, including eight U.S. Olympic Trials and the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
 
Phil Knight, who came up with the idea for Nike while competing for legendary Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman, reportedly donated $200 million of the $270 million cost to build the futuristic, opulent new Hayward Field, which opened in 2020.
 
Three decorated Wyoming athletes – Daniel Reynolds (hammer throw, shot put), Ryker Holtzen (3,000-meter steeplechase) and Jacob White (5,000 meters) – will try to create their own magical moments in TrackTown USA this week during the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
Reynolds is used to the championship spotlight after winning a national title in weight throw during the indoor season. The senior from Granby, Colo., finished fourth in the hammer throw and shot put at the NCAA West First Round two weeks ago in College Station, Texas.
 
Longtime UW throws coach Paul Barrett believes his star pupil has what it takes to become the first Cowboy to earn All-American status in two different events.
 
"It's pretty special," Barrett, a former Pac-10 standout at Washington State, said of getting the chance to coach Reynolds at Hayward Field. "I've told Daniel a lot about those competitions and some of the athletes that have gone through there. He knows a lot (about) the old timers. He's never been there, but I've sent him videos of the facility, and he is already blown away.
 
"It has been a big motivating factor all season to get there."
 
The hammer throw final, which is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, is the first field event at the NCAA Championships.
 
Reynolds overcame shaky ring conditions at the regional and qualified with a throw of 223 feet, 5 inches.
 
"I wouldn't say there's a crazy amount of pressure," Reynolds, who competed in the Division II NCAA Championships at Chadron State before transferring to UW, said of capping his brilliant college career at the Division I NCAA Championships. "I know I can throw further if I just hit the right position. It's really just going and doing my job and not letting that extra stuff get in my head and distracting me."
 
There was a major off-field distraction in College Station when Reynolds' qualifying throw in the shot put was protested by a competing coach. Even though Barrett had video evidence which he felt proved his star pupil's throw was legal, there were some anxious moments until the protest appeal was successful.
 
"I knew my coaches would go to bat for me. I did my job, and it was their time to go do theirs," Reynolds said of the drama. "It just kind of lit a fire under me. Hopefully I can hit something big (at NCAAs)."
 
The shot put final is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Wednesday. Barrett has set a goal for Reynolds to be on the podium twice on the opening day of the meet.
 
"That's our biggest goal right now is to podium for both, which would be huge for me and for the school and for Coach," Reynolds said.
 
At the regional, Holtzen reset his own UW record with a time of 8 minutes, 34.95 seconds to earn an automatic qualify spot with a third-place finish in his heat (eight overall). The junior from Twin Falls, Idaho, finished ahead of the previous facility record and extended his school record in the 3K steeplechase.
 
After winning the 2024 Mountain West title, Holtzen came up short of punching his ticket to Eugene a year ago. He was not going to be denied a second time.
 
"He just got the job done," UW long distance coach Scott Dahlberg said. "It was a bigger crowd entering the barriers, but he just looked so comfortable, even if the barriers weren't as clean as maybe other times. He just looked so calm and comfortable in what he was doing and tactically made the right moves at the right times.
 
"It was really fun to see it happen. We knew there was a good chance, but to get it done is special."
 
The 3K steeplechase semifinals are set for 4:38 p.m. Wednesday. The top five finishers in each heat and the next two fastest times will qualify for Friday's final.
 
"I really do want to go there and compete well," Holtzen said. "I would say the mindset is similar to regionals. I get in the semifinal, put myself in a good spot, compete well, run the race I want to run, and it will take care of itself."
 
White, who along with Holtzen led the UW men's cross country team to the NCAAs in the fall, continued his remarkable year by finishing fourth in the 5K at the regional. The junior from Littleton, Colo., finished fourth with a time of 13:27.32, which reset his own school record by 10 seconds.
 
In the Texas heat and humidity, White ran the final mile with the top group in 4:06.
 
"He just said mentally whatever it takes I've got to put myself in that spot," Dahlberg said. "His training has been showing that he can run in that time range. With the heat I maybe didn't know if it would happen being a lot hotter. No 5K runner would prefer to run in 80 degrees, but I think it was just testament to him saying whatever I've got to do I'm going to try. He made amazing moves.
 
"I think he ran about as perfect of a race as he could from a strategic standpoint."
 
Steve Prefontaine made the 5K at Hayward Field a must-see event over 50 years ago. White is looking forward to pushing himself to the limit on the same hallowed grounds.
 
The 5K final is scheduled for 7:55 p.m. on Friday.
 
"The mentality I've been bringing to races has been very good," White said. "I'm excited to compete in front of a lot of fans who are passionate about track and field. It will be an incredible experience."
 
If you are interested in learning more about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) or would like to support our student-athletes, please visit 1wyo.org. 1WYO was created out of Wyoming's culture of neighbor helping neighbor. The mission is to promote and strengthen local charitable organizations and develop Wyoming student athletes. 
 
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