Two University of Oregon students and their journey to a Nike Outdoor Nationals t-shirt — TrackTown USA

They’ve both thought about what it’ll look like for their shirt to hang on a shelf this summer. 

“I’ve been stressing a little bit about this one just because I wanted it to look perfect,” Nelson said. “I feel like if it’s going to have a Nike swoosh on it, I want it to be like my best work ever.”

For him, he said, it’ll feel real when it’s printed. Until then, this seems like a dream.

“Every once in a while, it’ll hit me,” Pollner said. “I’ll be like, ‘Wow, I’m working for Nike right now.’ I feel like it hasn’t really hit me yet, what I’m doing.”

It’s not the only thing. She thinks back to a few months ago, when she told herself she’d never transfer from Ohio Wesleyan.

What would she tell herself now?

“I would tell myself to go for it,” she said. “I didn’t realize until I came out here this summer that change is scary, and that it’s hard to be by yourself and do big things.”

The change was probably the biggest risk she’s ever taken, she thinks.

“But also, I think the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. That’s probably what I would tell myself: Yeah, it’s going to be scary. It’s going to be hard to leave your friends. You’re comfortable where you are, but you have all these goals and ambitions and if you want to accomplish them, it’s going to require big risk and big change.”

Rossi and Pollner’s designs can be found on this year’s Nike Outdoor Nationals merchandise, available for purchase at Hayward Field during the June 19 – 22 event.