Day 7-10 - Oregon22 I was gonna wait to post my film shots until the meet was over, but unfortunately Covid cut it short for me. So here’s my world champs wrap up- I was hired mid-construction of the “Reimagined” Hayward Field. The old stadium represented a lot to me, like many others, and it was hard to imagine the new one cultivating that same energy. But like the death of a loved one, I forced myself to remember the good times we had rather than dwell on the loss of potential. I turned my focus to the future and what this new stadium could offer. I knew it would never be the same, but I saw the possibility for it to become something even better. Something that could revive the soul of track and field in America. It quickly became an uphill battle though. Lockdowns and spectator limitations plagued the first year of its life. What was intended to be a grand opening party, turned into a virtual unboxing over IG live. It’s for these exact reasons that many of 2020’s biggest films were postponed to 2022. All this is to say, I’ve seen Hayward come together, I’ve seen it struggle, and now I’ve seen it thrive. This week truly exemplified the notion that “the people make the place.” From the variety of accents and languages heard around the concourse, to the diehard track fans that drove cross-country, to the youngsters that see Hayward and it’s athletes as Giants, I finally see hope for Hayward Field. Thank you to every fan, photographer, official, broadcaster, volunteer, organizer, and mascot that has played a part in sharing this moment with the world. This place means a lot to me and you all have showed me what’s possible. Also have fun the next 3 days, obv there’s still more work to do for y’all.