EUGENE, Ore. -- (July 28, 2010) - In the spirit of Tracktown USA, the University of Oregon's Competition Not Conflict program will host "A Night at the Races" — a community-oriented track and field event Aug. 28 that will raise money for conflict resolution initiatives.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. at Hayward Field, on the UO campus. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
"This is an event the community surely will not want to miss," said Tori Klein, CNC's senior advancement coordinator. "I'm looking forward to seeing how this event draws the community around CNC's unique mission."
"A Night at the Races" is a track and field event inspired by the spirit of Eugene, the fun of a carnival and the competition of a horserace. It will include about 20 events geared toward people of varying ages and athletic abilities.
Individual contests include the Clydesdale mile, the mixed gender relay, the championship high school mile and elite races. There will be a (costumed) mascot race, a battle of the sexes 1,500-meter race and "consumption contests" involving hot dogs, watermelon and "something sweet for dessert." For families with children, there will be a "Kid Ducky Derby" during which parents can bring their young children to participate in non-traditional races in the center field of Hayward.
Community members of all ages are welcome to compete in all but a handful of invitation-only or qualifying-time events.
"We believe that this event incorporates healthy competition in a fun atmosphere," CNC Director Joshua Gordon said.
Admission to the event is $5, or free to those with Eugene Celebration wristbands. The Lane Transit District is offering free shuttles from downtown's Eugene Celebration - a sponsor of "A Night at the Races" - to Hayward Field. For more information about the event and to register, visit www.anightattheraces.info.
About Competition Not Conflict (CNC)
CNC was founded in 2008 with a grant from former University of Oregon Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny. Its mission is to be the preeminent authority on theory and practice for understanding, preventing and resolving conflict in athletics. The program operates out of the Appropriate Dispute Resolution Center of the UO School of Law.
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of the 63 leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.
Contact: Credence Sol, UO School of Law communications director, 541-346-1665, csol@uoregon.edu; or Joe Mosley, UO media relations, 346-3606, jmosley@uoregon.edu
Source: Tori Klein, 541-514-0117, vklein@uoregon.edu
Links: www.anightattheraces.info