Hayward Field is considered the “Mecca” of United States track and field. It has hosted 15 NCAA track and field championships and the last four U.S. Olympic qualifiers. It is also the place where 20 world records have been broken. Because of this, the field has gotten a reputation for having “Hayward magic” where athletes often have some of their best runs.
Junior mathematics and physics major Jayden Taylor got to experience that magic firsthand when she ran a 18:48.56 time in the 5000 meter event, placing first overall and setting a new personal best.
“I had a really unique opportunity in the 5k at Hayward,” Taylor said. “It’s not often that I am in a position to win a race, and I knew going in that I had a pretty decent shot at it. I was able to sit behind one of the other runners for the first 7 laps and then was able to close hard for a 9 second PR and the win.”
The meet itself, the Oregon Twilight, was attended by 15 athletes on the team. This made being at the meet more special.
“I’ve never had the opportunity to see it in person before but being a track athlete, you hear a lot about how amazing it is,” said Isabella Grutsch, a freshman biology major who ran 100 meter hurdles and did long jump. “When I stepped out on the track, the only thought was ‘wow’. It was insane that I got to be here competing at this area with the amazing ladies.”
Grutsch finished fifth in the hurdles running a 14.53. That mark was a personal best and the 34th fastest time in all of Division III this season. She also finished eighth in long jump, finishing with a distance of 5.13 meters..
Even those who had been there before, like junior exercise science major Eboni Zehner, who threw a season best 36.19 meters in javelin, found it surreal.
“I grew up 30 minutes away from Hayward and competed there for Nike nationals, junior Olympics, and state championships,” Zehner said. “Every time, it’s just shocking to me to have the opportunity to throw there. The Hayward magic is a different feeling.”
One of the special things about Hayward is the underground training field it has. Athletes, after preparing for their race, then come out of the underground field onto the main track.
“It was so cool to see the space underneath the stadium,” Taylor said. “And stepping out onto the track is such a special moment, especially when you think about all of the runners that have done the same.”
Like Taylor, four other Wildcats beat their personal bests at Hayward. Kekaimalu Macabio, a freshman finance major, broke two. He ran a 22.58 in the 200 meter and a 50.41 in the 400 meter.
“Both events went really well because I ran personal best in both of those events,” Macabio said. “I am happy with the way I performed because it showed that my training is paying off. I’m grateful to compete at such an iconic track.”
The meet, being the final of the season for some, had different meanings for some. For Zehner, having her best throw of the season was important after facing injuries and surgeries in the preseason.
“Being able to slowly start getting it over [them] at the conference and throwing under my [personal best] by 4 inches was surreal,” Zehner said. “I ran into my family’s arms after throwing, that was the best feeling with everything going on. Being able to give my sister that as a birthday gift was amazing.”
For Taylor, what stuck with her wasn’t just how well she ran in the 5000 meter.
“The officials at Hayward are so sweet,” Taylor said. “Every one of them that I passed congratulated me on my win, and the starter gave me the starting blank that started my race, which is an awesome memento to remind me of this meet.”
