Wayne Martin of Eugene has a reason to celebrate as his family gathers at Hayward Field to witness the race of two of the three Hoey brothers in the 800-meter event during the 2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field and Para National Championships, running from July 31 to August 3.
While Wayne, along with his siblings and six grandchildren, initially hoped to see all three of his grandsons—Josh, Jaxson, and Jonah—compete together, Jaxson’s aspiration fell short by a mere 0.01 seconds, causing disappointment. Josh, the 25-year-old runner who boasts the second-best 800-meter time in American history (1:42.01), expressed disbelief over Jaxson’s near miss. Jonah, the youngest brother at 23, successfully qualified and is set to race alongside Josh in their heat.
Jonah, a former collegiate standout at Boston University, shares his brother’s excitement about making it to this prestigious meet. Meanwhile, Jaxson, the oldest at 27, held a personal best of 1:46.79, just shy of the qualifying mark.
Despite the heartache of not seeing all three brothers compete, the family is united in their enthusiasm. Wayne, who has been a community advocate since moving to Eugene, expressed pride in his family’s journey. He credits his daughter, Leslee Hoey, who was a distinguished distance runner herself at Penn State, for raising such talented athletes.
Leslee and her husband Fran have gathered family to support their sons, purchasing 16 seats for the event. Wayne hopes for Josh to win, believing he is currently the fastest in America. Following a stunning performance at a meet in Monaco, Josh is a strong contender for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
As both brothers prepare for the semifinals on Friday, the family is optimistic about seeing at least one Hoey in the finals on Sunday. The spirit of competition and family legacy at Hayward Field highlights the heartwarming aspect of sports and the community’s support for these talented young athletes.