A few minutes with Tom Jordan

Three years ago I meet Tom Jordan at the Boilermaker 15km in Utica, New York as we both were attending the Running Network summer meeting and the race. I was able to talk with Tom for a few minutes at The Olympic Trials Fan Plaza while he was signing his book - Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend - http://www.runohio.com/archive/news/05-06-book-review.html

RUNOHIO
Can you tell me what your official title is with the U.S. Olympic Track and Field - Team Trials and what your are doing for the next three or four years?

Jordan
I am one of the two project managers for the 2008 Olympic Trials. And for the next two or three years I am going to recover from the 2008 Olympic Trials.

RUNOHIO
The National Championships will be in Eugene for the next few years, will you be charge of these Championships.

Jordan
Actually, no. I am going to continue to do the Prefontaine Classic. But, I am going to get out of the event business. Next year it will be a whole new crew coming in.

RUNOHIO
How do you feel the Olympic trials are going so far?

Jordan
I think it has exceeded our expectations. We had a vision how we like it to happen and it just has gone beyond. The first night 8,000 to 10,000 people in the festival, let alone 20,000 plus in the stadium. That was truly remarkable.

RUNOHIO
I think the crowds have been great I have been to five of the past six Olympic Trials and by far this is the best one. I am not sure if it is the organization of the people in the town.

Jordan
Well, I think a lot of people have come to this Trials because it is Eugene. They come here expecting a certain level of knowledge on the part of people and there is a good knowledge here. But a lot of people are coming from outside. We have see people today from Washington, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and all of them have a great knowledge and they appreciate what they are seeing.

RUNOHIO
What would be the three or four things to do when they come to town before they leave Eugene?

Jordan
I would say course you need to go to Pre’s Rock. If you are a runner run on Pre’s Trail. Certainly enjoy the great restaurants that are here, I think that one of the sort of unsung attributes of the town. If you have a chance go to Hayward Field and run around the track at least once.

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