Former Oregon track & field head coach Vin Lananna was named the new president of USA Track & Field on Thursday afternoon.
Lananna was competing with three-time Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee for the position. On Thursday, Joyner-Kersee announced she was withdrawing her name, making Lananna president.
Lananna arrived in Eugene in 2005 to take over the head coaching job for the Oregon track & field program. In addition to his success with the Ducks, Lananna was also a key figure in Eugene landing the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Trials at Hayward Field. He also helped Eugene host the 2014 World Junior Track & Field Championships and played a vital role in bringing the 2021 World Outdoor Championships, the biggest track meet in the world outside of the Olympics, to the city known as TrackTown USA.