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Vin Lananna, pictured here at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, will spearhead the Portland effort.

(Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian)

USA Track & Field

for the 2016 World Indoor Track & Field Championships.

The bid be will presented to the IAAF, the international governing body for track and field, on Nov. 15 in Monaco.

"I think what this does is create a fantastic environment for the sport of track and field," said Vin Lananna, president of TrackTown USA Inc.

TrackTown USA, which put on the U.S. Olympic trials for track and field at Hayward Field in Eugene in 2008 and 2012, and

would form the backbone of the local organizing committee.

The Portland

If the IAAF chooses Portland, it will mark the first time the world indoor championships have taken place in the U.S. since 1987, when they were in Indianapolis.

Lananna said the meet would be staged at the Oregon Convention Center, should Portland's bid be accepted.

Lananna said the convention center could seat 8,000 or more spectators, and provides the necessary space for a 200-meter indoor track, and areas for warm-ups, sponsors and hospitality.

"One of the things that is exciting about this space is that we can build up to whatever the demand is," Lananna said. "That's one of the beautiful things and pluses about not having it in a current stadium."

Eugene is considered by many to be the center of U.S. track and field. But there isn't a place for a competition-quality, indoor venue in Eugene. And

of Lane County.

"I think TrackTown USA is much bigger than just a geographic location," Lananna said. "The heart and soul of the sport is located in Eugene, but we need to reach beyond that. I think the infrastructure in Portland, the hotels and airport, will make it very easy for athletes from the around the world to attend."

Alberto Salazar coaches the elite, Portland-based Nike Oregon Project distance training group. Members of the Oregon Project regularly compete in the world indoor championships.

"This is a real exciting possibility for our athletes and it's great for the state of Oregon," Salazar said. "We've had all these national championships in Oregon. But a world championships is a different thing. It's a nice opportunity to grow the sport."

Lananna said he is expecting a large public response.

"We have a tremendous base of athletes from the West Coast, and the state of Oregon has a fantastic fan base," he said. "I think the large number of people from Portland, Eugene and the state of Oregon who attend meets at Hayward Field will support this thing. It would be exciting to bring the world's best athletes to Oregon, and to Portland."

The

to be preparing a bid.

“As a member of the IAAF family, USATF considers it an honor as well as a duty to try to bring a world championship event back to U.S. soil,” USATF CEO Max Siegel said in a prepared statement. “Having hosted two very successful Olympic Trials in 2008 and 2012, TrackTown USA has shown itself to be the premier host of world-class track events in this country. We look forward to presenting the bid and continuing to elevate the off-track profile of the United States in the international sports world.”

Lananna has said

in Track & Field to Hayward Field.

-- Ken Goe