Eugene sacred ground for a track lover

By RON AGOSTINI
ragostini@modbee.com

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Beyond the records and major stories emerging from the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, we learned an important thing about Gregg Miller.

He's served as the meet director of the California Invitational Relays for nearly a decade and, by definition, he's a certified track nut. It would take a good reason for him to leave a competition before its end.

Miller departed Eugene, Ore., a few days earlier than planned. See, his home in Santa Barbara nearly went up in flames.

You're forgiven, Gregg.

"We're OK for now. The fire is about a mile away. I can see it from my house," he said Saturday. "But if the wind switches ... "

The American Trials, arguably the most intense track meet in the world, cannot compete with your life potentially turned into ashes. Miller won't return for today's climax of the Trials. For now, his love does not extend past his household.

Sometimes, life is a smokescreen. Consider the Trials in Eugene, which was selected over other suitors, including Sacramento, the 2000 and 2004 host. The Sacramento Trials were deemed successful by all barometers, yet the sport chose a new direction.

Why? Choose among the following: former USA Track and Field CEO Craig Masback switching jobs to Nike (with headquarters near Eugene) last December shortly after the 2012 Trials and the 2009 and 2011 U.S. Outdoor Championships were awarded to Eugene; track seeking a fresh start after several of its superstars were disgraced and banished for using steroids; or a return to Oregon's Hayward Field, holy ground in the track and field world.

The Masback gambit still bothers the Sacramento crowd. The Folsom-based Pacific Association of USA Track and Field filed a grievance this spring against the individuals involved in the Eugene takeover. Sure enough, the episode reeks of cronyism and favoritism. For the record, Miller said many of the Sacramento track officials weren't even seen in Eugene.

Then again, life delivers another change of pace. Had the Trials been conducted in Sacramento this year, they would have been witnessed through a blueish haze of fire smoke last weekend. The feel-goodness of 2000 and 2004 would have been replaced by world-class athletes straining for a gulp of clean air.

And it's all an Adam Nelson-sized moot point.

Regardless, Eugene has produced a first-class Trials. No surprise there. The knowledgeable track crowds, combined with a mountain of Nike cash, is a tough combo to beat.

"I'll give them an eight out of 10," Miller said. "It's just that I'm a strong fan of track in the Central Valley, and Sacramento was great."

Sacramento must press its interests carefully. Not only did it annex two Trials, it also welcomed the NCAA Championships four times between 2003 and '07. It had its turn in the sport's smorgasbord.

Problem is, track and field won't regain across-the-board respect in this country until, 1) Its athletes are clean and, 2) Its business is conducted in a fair and honest way.

Other tidbits from Miller on Eugene:

Riverbank's German Fernandez, the record-breaking distance-running phenom, has arrived at the national level. "There was a lot of buzz about him. That's Steve Prefontaine country. Everyone is always looking for the next Pre. Some people think German won't even enroll at Oklahoma State," Miller said. "I'm sure he's weighing a lot of offers. He must watch out who he hooks up with."

Khadevis Robinson, who's won six consecutive 800-meter races at the Relays, was outlunged at the finish for the final Olympic berth. Miller believes Robinson, 32 later this month, will be hardpressed to mount another Olympics campaign. "Khadevis is a tough guy and a good friend and his coach Johnny Gray knows how to run at that age," Miller said. "Khadevis could shoot for a couple of world championships, but that's all."

The next few months can be lucrative, and dangerous, for athletes preparing for Beijing. "All of these guys are leaving for Europe where there will be one meet a week until the Olympics," Miller said. "Some of them can make $80,000 or $100,000 a week. It's hard to resist that candy. There is a fine line. You don't want to overtrain and overrace."

Miller was especially pleased for Modesto's Suzy Powell reaching her third Olympics; for pole vaulter Jeff Hartwig qualifying after two failures in Sacramento; and Stacy Dragila making the women's pole vault finals today. "Khadevis, Toby Stevenson and Suzy have been the most popular athletes in Modesto the last few years and they're wonderful people," Miller said.

But above all else, Miller understands there are more critical concerns than chatting up athletes' agents, or political gamesmanship or the cramped hamstring of Tyson Gay.

Sometimes, just having a roof over your head is plenty.

Bee sports columnist Ron Agostini can be reached at ragostini@modbee.com or 578-2302.