EUGENE, OR -- Track and field fans can begin to buy tickets Monday, July 3, for Road to Eugene '08, an elite high-performance meet benefiting the Professional Athletics Association, on Tuesday, August 8, to be held at the University of Oregon's legendary Hayward Field.

"We want to pack Hayward Field with fans to give the U.S. Junior Team a proper sendoff to Beijing and support the exciting elite athletes who always compete so well in Eugene," says Vin Lananna, co-chairman of the Eugene Local Organizing Committee and University of Oregon associate athletic director/director of track and field. "This meet represents the local organizing committee's commitment to its partnership with USA Track and Field and the Athletes Advisory Committee to provide high-performance meets in the U.S. during the summertime."

The meet will benefit the Professional Athletics Association (PAA), which was established to ensure that the rights of its professional athletes are protected and that everything possible is being done to help athletes maximize their opportunities and achieve their goals on and off the track. This inaugural Mid-Summer Classic will feature many of America's top track and field athletes who will be competing for $200,000 in prize money.

Elite athletes already committed to compete in the meet include Allen Johnson, Olympic 110-meter hurdles gold medalist; two-time Olympic silver medalist, in the 110-meter hurdles, Terrance Trammell, will run the 100-meter dash; 2005 World Outdoor 400-meter hurdle champion Bershawn Jackson; 2006 world shot put leader Christian Cantwell and 2005 World Outdoor shot put champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson; and 2005 discus national champion Ian Waltz.

The men's pole vault event is loaded with Olympians and national champions, including 2004 Olympic gold medalist Tim Mack, 2004 Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson, 2006 World Indoor champion Brad Walker, 2006 national champion Russ Buller, 2000 Olympic gold medalist Nick Hysong, and four-time NCAA champion Tommy Skipper. Also in the field are former University of Oregon athletes Eric Mitchum, a five-time All-American and three-time Pac-10 champion in the 110- meter hurdles, and sprinter Matt Scherer, a two-time All-American in the 400-meters. Scherer will compete in a special 300-meter race.

In the women's events, athletes who have said they will compete include Sanya Richards, 2006 national indoor and outdoor 400-meter champion; Rachelle Boone-Smith, 2006 national 200-meter champion and 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist; Joanna Hayes, 2004 Olympic 100-meter hurdle gold medalist and Olympic record holder; long jumpers Tianna Madison, who won the world championships last year, two-time national champion Grace Upshaw and current national champion Rose Richmond. Additional men and women athletes participating in the meet will be announced soon.

In addition to the elite athletes, the U.S. Junior National Team will be competing in the meet, marking the end of their training camp in Eugene before leaving for the 2006 IAAF World Junior Championships August 15 through 20 in Beijing, China. The Junior team features the nation's best up and coming athletes, including the University of Oregon's Rebekah Noble in the 800 meters and future Duck distance runner A.J. Acosta of Oceanside, Calif.

The two hour meet is expected to be televised nationally and will feature 20 events. There will be many opportunities for young fans to participate and meet athletes, get autographs, run a half-lap race and much more.

The meet 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 (PAA), 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 July 3, at the Casanova Center ticket office, www.goducks.com, and 800-WEBFOOT.