by Sam FarissRaevyn Rogers has a wicked finish.
In 2019, in Doha, she ran down some of the finest 800m in the world, taking the silver medal in the process, and seeming to surprise herself. In the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, her move down that last straightaway shows superior speed, but also, superior racing skills. Raevyn knows exactly what she is doing.
The Tokyo Olympic 800m was a race for the Ages. As Athing Mu made Olympic history, taking gold, and Keely Hodgkinson took silver, Raevyn Rogers called upon that amazing speed in those fast twitch muscles and willed herself up the final 80 meters, as her compatriots were falling back due to lactic acid buildup, poor pacing and exhaustion. It seems, to this keen observer, that Raevyn Rogers doesn’t even start her race until the rest of field has given up the ghost!
Kate Grace, Raevyn Rogers, Nia Atkins, 800m, U.S. Olympic Trials, photo by Kevin Morris / @kevmofoto
By Sam Fariss, RunBlogRun
The Houston native traveled north when she had the opportunity to compete on the world’s greatest track and field stage for college athletes – the University of Oregon. Raevyn Rogers flew up to Eugene in 2014 to start her first of three seasons with the Ducks.
Rogers’ first victory was before she ever donned an Oregon uniform. In the spring of 2014, she earned her first Hayward gold at the US World Junior Trials, and she would win gold at the US Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championship at Hayward just a year later.
The only Female on the new tower at Hayward Field, amongst a group of Oregon legends. Wow. It’s such an amazing feeling to hear how proud my family is about this accomplishment. Thank you so much @uoregon, @OregonTF and everyone that made this possible💚💛!! pic.twitter.com/hn7vdnxOJE
— Raevyn Rogers (@TheROYALlife21) February 3, 2020
Once her collegiate career began, Rogers’ success at historic Hayward Field only increased. In fact, Rogers finished first in every single women’s 800 Pac-12 Championship and NCAA Outdoor Championship for all three years in which she competed for Oregon.
Alongside these accomplishments, Rogers earned herself two national titles for the women’s indoor 800 meter race as well – in her sophomore and junior seasons.
#Tokyo2020 bronze medalist and former @OregonTF standout @TheROYALlife21 speaks on what it means to be on the Bowerman Tower and a permanent part of the program’s legacy. pic.twitter.com/fGXX3hsNoe
— Ka’Deem Wynn (@KaDeemWynn) August 20, 2021
Rogers declared that she was going pro following her junior year, and a Bowerman Award win, which certainly did not end her Hayward legacy. At the 2019 Prefontaine Classic Rogers placed 3rd at Hayward and in 2021. At the 2020 USATF Olympic Trials, she placed 2nd; running her then personal best of 1:57.66 in Eugene.
This finish at the Olympic Trials eventually led to her running her current PB of 1:56.81.
Up next for Rogers at Hayward, will most likely be the 2022 World Athletics Championships that are being hosted in Eugene. While Houston may remain as Rogers’ hometown, Hayward Field has been and will always be a home away from home for the star-studded athlete.
