Lananna Headed to Hall of Fame

According to a media release from Tracktown, USA, Vin Lananna, Oregon Associate Athletic Director for Olympic Development is being inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame on Wednesday, December 19 in Orlando, Florida.

Lananna joins legendary Oregon leaders Bill Bowerman, Bill Dellinger, Bill Hayward and Tom Heinonen in this honor.

Vin Lananna has spent 35 years in coaching, leading teams to 11 NCAA titles and 42 conferences championships, with nearly 60 NCAA individual titles.

Lananna has served on the coaching staffs for Team USA in 2011 and was head coach of the US men's team at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

In addition, Lananna's leadership in track and field has had a major impact on the sport as exemplified by his role as president of TrackTown USA, an organization whose goal is to elevate the popularity of track and field in the United States.

According to the release, Lananna has spearheaded the campaign to bring meets to Hayward Field and to establish the Oregon Track Club Elite as an "accomplished club" whose athletes have set world records and won Olympic medals while benefiting youth and community programs throughout the state of Oregon.

From July 22–27, 2014 the next generation of the world’s stars will represent nearly 200 countries when they compete in the 15th IAAF World Junior Championships at Hayward Field, marking the first time since 1992 that the sport’s international governing body has brought one of its championship events to the United States.

The Class of 2012 inductees includes Dick Booth, Dick Hill, Bob Pollock, Fran Welch, and John Zupanc in addition to Lananna.