EUGENE, Ore. -- Befitting a state that claims "Track Town USA" as its own, track and field athletes highlight the contingent of those with Oregon ties who are headed to Beijing.

Kara Goucher, who adopted Portland as her home to train, and native son Galen Rupp are among the state's better-known athletes on the U.S. track team.

But Oregon's list of medal hopefuls also includes Bend's Adam Craig, who will compete in the mountain cycling competition, as well as Beaverton's Mariel Zagunis, who will vie to repeat as an Olympic gold medalist in the women's saber.

Eugene, known for its track-centric nickname and rich history in the sport, hosted the U.S. track trials that determined the sport's Olympic team this past month. | COVERAGE

One of the most memorable moments of the event at Hayward Field came when three runners - all with Oregon ties - made the team in the 800 meters.

The crowd was ecstatic as Nick Symmonds, who went to Willamette University and competes with the Oregon Track Club, came in first, followed by University of Oregon runner Andrew Wheating and the OTC's Christian Smith.

Nick Symmonds | Andrew Wheating | Christian Smith.

"I'm not going to be content winning the trials. When we go to Beijing, I want to make the finals, and I want to make the U.S. proud," Symmonds said at the time.

Goucher, who moved to Oregon with her husband, Adam, to train with Nike's Oregon Project under Alberto Salazar, made the U.S. team by winning the 5,000 meters and coming in second in the 10,000.

Her training partner, Amy Begley, placed third in the 10,000 meters to make the team. Begley lives in Beaverton.

In the men's 10,000 meters, Rupp earned a place on the Olympic team with a second-place finish to Abdi Abdirahman.

Rupp left the University of Oregon in December to train full time for the Olympics. He was a much-heralded prep runner at Central Catholic High School in Portland.

Other athletes who made the U.S team with ties to Oregon include Tom Pappas in the decathlon. Born in Azalea, Pappas has won five U.S. championships and a world title but an Olympic medal has eluded him.

Nicole Teter of Eugene will compete in the 800 meters and Erica Bartolina made the team in the pole vault. Bartolina grew up on a small farm near Philomath.

Ian Dobson, who went to Klamath Union High School before heading to Stanford, will compete in the 5,000 meters.

The U.S. track contingent also includes Dathan Ritzenhein (marathon), Jesse Williams (high jump) and Loree Smith (hammer), all of whom call Eugene home.

Craig grew up in Maine but now lives and trains in Bend. Mountain bike racing became an Olympic sport in 1996.

Zagunis will be joined on the fencing team by Oregon Fencing Alliance club mate Becca Ward, who also will compete in the saber. Ward, who is from Beaverton, will head to Duke after the Olympics.

Elsie Windes, who hails from Portland, is a defender on the U.S. water polo team, while Hillsboro's Josh Inman, who went to Oregon State, is on the nation's rowing team.

Brian Barden, a former infielder for Oregon State who now plays with the Memphis Redbirds in the Pacific Coast League, is on the U.S. baseball team.

Additionally, there are numerous athletes with Oregon connections that will be competing for other nations. University of Oregon shortstop Jenn Salling will compete for the Canadian Olympic team, while fellow Duck Micaela Cocks plays on New Zealand's national basketball team.

Oregon State swimmer Saori Haruguchi will compete for Japan, while gymnastics recruit Olivia Vivian will compete for Australia. Beaver senior Heinrich Barnes will wrestle for his native South Africa.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)