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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Sean Ingle in Eugene, Oregon

Small town, big dreams: USA banks on hosting worlds to boost athletics

United States Bill Bowerman Erriyon Knighton Laura Muir World Athletics
Athletes train on the running track while workers add signage to a water jump.
Athletes train on the running track while workers add signage to a water jump at Hayward Field. Photograph: Charlie Riedel/AP

They call it TrackTown USA: a magical oasis where track and field is respected and revered, and given near-equal billing to the major sports. And for the next 10 days Eugene, Oregon will seek to conjure up an even greater feat: by making the rest of America follow suit.

To the outsider, Eugene appears a baffling choice to host America’s first world athletics championships. Especially when its population is only 170,000.

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