01/06/2026
Among the most compelling guest speakers will be Oregon senior discus thrower Mykolas Alekna. The world record holder in the discus at 247-11 (75.56), Alekna is the first male NCAA athlete since LSU’s shot putter Jack Torrance in the 1930s who has held an official outdoor world record while still competing collegiately, an incredibly notable achievement.
Mykolas will be joined on-stage at the OTC Annual Meeting by his new Oregon teammate, Peyton Bair. Bair, while at Mississippi State last year won the NCAA decathlon title and the indoor heptathlon title. The young man also has wheels. He holds the Collegiate Decathlon record for the 100 meters at 10.25. His lifetime best for the ten eventer is 8323 points.
Representing the Duck women will be the reigning NCAA 100-meter hurdle champion Aaliyah McCormack. The senior has the second fastest time ever run by a Duck of 12.74. Indoors McCormack was the runner-up at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 60-meter hurdles. Her lifetime best of 7.91 is also number two on the all-time Oregon list.
OTC’s Jaida Ross, a decorated former Duck, and the fourth-place finisher at the Olympic Summer Game shot put in Paris will be on the rostrum speaking about what her first year in a post-collegiate setting was all about. Ross, with legions of her fans in the stands holding her “big head” set her lifetime best at the Prefontaine Invite last summer at 66-01/2. Ross still holds the Collegiate Record at 65-7 3/4.
Another compelling interviewee at the OTC confab will be USATF Chief Content and Communications Officer, Jay Holder. Before coming to the national governing body in mid-July, Holder served as the Executive Director of Running USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, elevating, and engaging the running event industry. Previously, he was the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Atlanta Track Club. An avid runner, Holder has completed 15 marathons and works annually with major road races and track events worldwide, providing public relations, media and broadcast expertise.
