865. Paul Swangard, Track & Field Analyst & The Voice of Hayward Field
Ali on the Run Show
Ali Feller
4.9 • 4.2K Ratings
🗓️ 19 February 2026
⏱️ 75 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"I want to be part of making people care. My hope is that my enthusiasm for the sport as a fan of the sport comes through in my calls."
Even if you don't know his face, you definitely know his voice: Paul Swangard is here! Paul, a lifelong resident of Eugene, OR, is known as the Voice of Hayward field, where he's the longtime in-stadium announcer at the University of Oregon. He's an Emmy-award winning member of the NBC sports talent team, where he is an analyst and does play-by-play for track and field and distance events including the Olympics, World Championships, US National Championships, Millrose Games, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Diamond League meets, and more. He also does the world feed broadcasts for the New York City and Boston Marathons. Paul is a professor in the School of Journalism and Communications at the University of Oregon, he's a sought-after media consulstant and strategic advisor for brands in running and beyond, and he is one of the best to ever get on the mic.
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In this episode:
- What is making Paul happy today? (3:00)
- What Paul hopes his University of Oregon students take from his classes and his teachings (5:40)
- Paul's road to Hayward Field — and the microphone (13:25)
- What it was like working World Championships in 2022 at Hayward Field (24:05)
- Paul explains his role on any given NBC broadcast (31:55)\
- Paul's most meaningful memories on the mic (37:15)
- What makes a broadcast a success? (47:30)
- On getting nervous before going on air (56:50)
- What Paul wishes the viewers at home understood about a race broadcast (59:25)
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Allie on the Run show. I'm your host, Allie Feller, and this is where I talk with |
| 0:08.9 | people who are doing exciting things on the run and beyond. From professional athletes and celebrity |
| 0:14.3 | runners to the everyday, amateur, and back of the pack runner, we are here to celebrate everyone |
| 0:19.5 | and anyone who enjoys a life on the run. |
| 0:22.7 | So whether you are running towards something big or away from something that has been holding |
| 0:26.1 | you back, I am here to hold your hand and help you pick up the pace. My guest today is a voice |
| 0:31.4 | you will certainly recognize. It's Paul Swan Guard. Paul is the voice of Hayward Field, |
| 0:37.4 | where he's the in-stadium announcer at the University of Oregon. |
| 0:40.8 | He's an Emmy Award-winning member of the NBC Sports Talent Team, where he serves as a play-by-play analyst for track and field events. |
| 0:47.9 | He's worked the Olympics, World Championships, U.S. ATF Outdoor Championships, Milrose Games, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix meets, |
| 0:54.8 | Diamond League meets, just to name a few. He also does the World Feed broadcasts for the New York |
| 0:59.8 | City and Boston Marathons. Paul is a professor in the School of Journalism and Communications |
| 1:04.5 | at the University of Oregon, and he is a sought-after media consultant and strategic advisor |
| 1:09.5 | for brands in the running industry and beyond. |
| 1:12.9 | I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Paul in Boston and in New York and in addition |
| 1:18.5 | to being consistently blown away by his expertise and professionalism. I also just love getting to |
| 1:24.5 | work with Paul. He is funny. He is kind. He is helpful. He is so good at what he does. |
| 1:30.4 | So it is my pleasure today to get to ask Paul some of the questions I've always wanted to ask. |
| 1:36.1 | He has so much knowledge, so many insights, and such interesting takes on this sport. And I really |
| 1:40.7 | hated that I wanted to be respectful of his time because what I really wanted to do |
| 1:44.9 | was keep him here forever and keep picking that brilliant brain. |
| 1:48.3 | So without further yapping from me, let's get to the main event. |
... |
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