EUGENE, OR - When former University of Oregon star Matt Scherer hears the bang of the starter's pistol at the Road to Eugene '08 high performance track and field meet on Tuesday, August 8, he and seven competitors, including two Olympic medalists and a former NCAA champion, will blast down the track in an exciting 300-meter race that will showcase their awesome combination of speed, strength and stamina.

The field for the 300 meters includes Otis Harris, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist at 400 meters, and Derrick Brew, 2004 Olympic bronze medalist in the 400 meters and a member of the 2004 Olympic gold medal 4x400 relay team.

Harris and Brew will be joined by former high school phenom LaShawn Merritt, who placed second in the 400 meters at the USA Indoor and Outdoor meets, won the Prefontaine Classic, and has recorded a 20.10 in the 200 meters this season and 2005 NCAA 400-meter champion Darold Williamson (Baylor), a member of the indoor 4x400- meter world record relay team.

Rounding out this highly competitive elite field are several of this past season's fastest collegiate sprinters, including All-Americans David Neville of Indiana University; Justin Oliver of Texas A & M; Quentin Inglehart-Summers of Baylor; and Scherer of Oregon.

The 300 meters is one of Road to Eugene '08's 20 outstanding events featuring elite athletes and members of the U.S. Junior National Team. The meet is a benefit for the Professional Athletics Association (PAA).

The Road to Eugene 08 is sponsored by Nike and the Eugene Local Organizing Committee for the 2008 U. S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, in partnership with the Professional Athletics Association, USA Track & Field (USATF) and its Athletes Advisory and High Performance Committees, the University of Oregon, and the Oregon Track Club. The Olympic Trials will be held in Eugene at Hayward Field, June 27 through July 6, 2008.

Tickets for the Road to Eugene '08 are $15 each for reserved seating and $10 each for general admission. They are available at the Casanova Center ticket office, www.goducks.com, and 800-WEBFOOT.