Summer 2026 · University of Oregon SOJC · In Partnership with World Athletics

This Is Not
A Field Trip.
This Is The Field.

Work inside the Prefontaine Classic and the World Athletics U20 Championships at Hayward Field as a member of a real communications team. Eight weeks. Four pillars. A portfolio that proves it.

Express Interest → Learn More
8 Weeks June 22 – August 16, 2026
4 Credits University of Oregon · SOJC
2 Events Prefontaine Classic + World Athletics U20
12–15 Students enrolled · cohort experience
Prefontaine Classic ✦ World Athletics U20 Championships ✦ Hayward Field · Eugene, Oregon ✦ Real Deadlines. Real Audiences. ✦ Content · Social · PR · Fan Experience ✦ Summer 2026 · 4 Credits ✦ Open to All Majors ✦ Prefontaine Classic ✦ World Athletics U20 Championships ✦ Hayward Field · Eugene, Oregon ✦ Real Deadlines. Real Audiences. ✦ Content · Social · PR · Fan Experience ✦ Summer 2026 · 4 Credits ✦ Open to All Majors ✦
The Opportunity

No Other
Program
Offers Access
Like This.

This 8-week intensive puts students inside two of the world's premier track and field events as working members of a professional communications team. Students produce real content, manage live social coverage, conduct fan research and support media operations at the Prefontaine Classic and World Athletics U20 Championships at Hayward Field.

Two weeks of the practicum are delivered in partnership with World Athletics — bringing World Athletics staff and professional mentors directly into the program to help develop the next generation of track and field storytellers.

SOJC faculty and industry professionals provide hands-on mentorship throughout, so students are prepared for the pace and pressure of a global sports event before they ever step on site.

Event weeks require significant time on-site beyond standard class hours. During the Prefontaine Classic and the World Athletics U20 Championships, students should expect full event-day commitments — typically 8–10 hours on-site — consistent with professional sports communications work.

This is one of the few sports communication programs in the country with embedded access to premier international athletics events.

Anchor Events

Two World-Class Events.
Your Stage.

Prefontaine
Classic

Phase 1
July 3–4, 2026 · Hayward Field

One of the premier track and field events in the world, the Prefontaine Classic draws elite athletes from across the globe to Eugene. Students attend as working observers — capturing content, monitoring social, and building the professional intuition they'll need for the U20 Championships.

Plan for full event days on-site — event coverage runs 8–10 hours and takes place outside standard scheduled class time.

Your role: Observe, document, and learn. Prefontaine is your proving ground.

World Athletics
U20 Championships

Phase 3 Capstone
August 5–9, 2026 · Hayward Field

A world championship in Eugene, delivered in partnership with World Athletics. Students execute full communications operations across all four pillars — writing features, running live social coverage, conducting fan research and supporting media and PR operations for an internationally broadcast event.

Event week is the most intensive period of the course. Students should expect 8–10 hours on-site daily across six championship days — this is real event work, not classroom simulation.

Your role: Execute. This is what the eight weeks build toward.

Four Pillars

Every Student Works.
Every Student Specializes.

Content &
Storytelling

Write features, athlete profiles, and event recaps under real deadline pressure. Produce video packages and photo essays for live audiences.

Social
Media

Run live event coverage across platforms. Build content calendars, create graphic assets, track analytics and manage real-time community engagement.

Fan
Experience

Conduct fan intercept research, map venue experience, identify friction points and recommend improvements for a global championship audience.

Public
Relations

Write media briefings, build press lists, monitor coverage and manage stakeholder communication for World Athletics and TrackTown USA.

Course Structure

Eight Weeks.
Three Phases.

Phase 1
Prep & Prefontaine
June 22 – July 6

Two weeks of orientation, skills assessment, and Track & Field 101 lead into the Prefontaine Classic. Students attend as working observers — capturing content, monitoring social, and documenting everything. Prefontaine event days are full-day on-site commitments beyond scheduled class hours. An observation report due the following Monday anchors the reflection.

Phase 2
Module Weeks & Pre-Production
July 7 – August 1

Four weeks of intensive skill development and role specialization. Weekly topic modules — content, social, fan experience, PR — run alongside pre-event production for the U20 Championships. Students build athlete story banks, design content calendars, draft media guides, and finalize all deliverables before event week.

Phase 3
U20 Execution & Portfolio
August 5 – 16

Six days of full event execution at the World Athletics U20 Championships — in partnership with World Athletics — followed by a week of portfolio assembly, final presentations and synthesis. Championship days are 8–10 hours on-site, outside scheduled class hours, consistent with professional event work. Students produce a portfolio of published work, a collaborative post-event report for TrackTown USA and World Athletics, and a final reflective essay.

Who It's For

You Don't Need a
Particular Background.
You Need to Show Up.

"Non-SOJC majors are welcome. No prior sports experience required. All skill levels are placed into a role that fits — and then challenged to grow."
Journalism students Learn to cover sports at the professional level — with bylines from world-class events to prove it.
Communications, PR & advertising students Build real strategic communications experience inside a global event — not a classroom simulation.
Non-SOJC majors with an interest in sports media If you're drawn to the business, storytelling or brand side of sports, this course is built for you too.
Students at any experience level A skills audit in Week 1 places every student in the right role. Foundation-track and lead-track roles are designed for different starting points.
Students interested in sports media, communications or brand strategy The practicum covers all three — often in the same shift.
What You Take With You

Real Benefits.
Not Resume Filler.

01

Portfolio Experience

Leave with published work produced at globally broadcast events — features, social content, photo galleries, briefing documents, fan research memos — organized into a professional portfolio package.

02

Industry Networking

Work alongside TrackTown USA staff, World Athletics representatives and visiting industry professionals. Get direct access to the people who run major sports events — and the relationships that follow.

03

Access & Insight

Credentialed access to two world-class events, backstage exposure to global sports operations, and a firsthand understanding of how the sports communication industry actually works at the international level.

Course at a Glance

Everything You Need
to Know Before You Register.

Dates
June 22 – Aug. 16, 2026
8 weeks · Summer term
Credits
4 Credits
Approx. 22–23 hrs/week
Enrollment
12–15 Students
Cohort model · limited seats
Location
Eugene, Oregon
University of Oregon + Hayward Field
Who Can Enroll
All UO Students
Non-SOJC majors welcome
Experience Required
None
All levels placed in appropriate roles
Kelli Matthews
Kelli Matthews
Teaching Professor
School of Journalism and Communication
University of Oregon
[email protected]
Your Instructor

Kelli Matthews is a faculty member at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, where she teaches across sports communication, brand responsibility, public relations and strategic communications. She was instrumental in helping develop the UO Sports Communication program and is the driving force behind its partnership with TrackTown USA and World Athletics.

For this practicum, Matthews serves as instructor of record and project manager — present at every major milestone from orientation through the U20 Championships. Her relationships with TrackTown USA, World Athletics and the broader sports communication industry are what make this level of embedded access possible.

Questions about the course, enrollment or fit? Reach out directly.

Interested?
Let Us Know.

Enrollment is limited to 12–15 students. Submit your information below and Kelli will follow up with next steps — including how to officially register through the UO course catalog.

Questions? Email [email protected] directly.

Submitting this form does not guarantee enrollment. You'll receive a follow-up from Kelli with official registration information.

Priority deadline: April 17

Ready to apply? Click here to submit your application →

Preview the application questions: View PDF →

Program Partners

Our Collaborators.

TrackTown USA

TrackTown USA is the non-profit organization behind Eugene's identity as the Track Capital of the World. As the organizer of the Prefontaine Classic and host partner for World Athletics events at Hayward Field, TrackTown USA provides students in this program with credentialed event access, operational mentorship, and direct connection to the global track and field community.

gotracktownusa.com →
World Athletics

World Athletics is the international governing body for track and field, road running, and race walking. The World Athletics U20 Championships — the capstone event of this practicum — is the sport's premier competition for the next generation of elite athletes. This program operates in direct partnership with World Athletics to support communications operations for the Eugene 2026 championships.

worldathletics.org →