Barack Obama doesn't sweat it at a University of Oregon track meet and greet

A candidate and his staff can never be too careful when it comes to unscripted moments.

It was late afternoon on a recent spring day when Barack Obama visited a track meet at the University of Oregon. Obama stepped onto the track, surrounded by reporters and photographers, just as Virginia Tech runner Tasmin Fanning won the 5,000-meter race.

Obama crossed the field to congratulate a very surprised Fanning, who told him she's a big supporter. Then he strolled around the track, shaking hands and tossing Oregon T-shirts into the stands.

Although some in his entourage urged him to show his athletic prowess, Obama stepped gingerly over a hurdle. "I'd split my pants," he said.

But one of his aides, Jen Psaki, was less cautious. She opened a seam of her pants when she leaped a hurdle.

"We'll put him in that race as a 'did not finish,' " boomed the announcer's voice.

Obama smiled and responded, "I got my own race to run."

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Robin Abcarian