June 16, 2010

For Immediate Release

MEDAL MANIA IN MEN’S THROWS AT PRE CLASSIC

            Eugene , Oregon —Gold medalists headline the shot put and discus throw at the 36^th annual Prefontaine Classic on July 3^rd at Hayward Field.

            Berlin World Champion Christian Cantwell of the USA and Beijing Olympic Champion Gerd Kanter of Estonia head fields that have won an astonishing 20 Olympic and World Championships medals among them.

            Cantwell, ranked No. 1 in the world last year by Track & Field News magazine, will be pressed in the shot by reigning Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski of Poland,  Reese Hoffa, dominator at the Osaka World Championships,  world-leader Cory Martin, newly minted NCAA champion Ryan Whiting , who just joined the 72-foot club, and crowd favorite Adam Nelson , twice the Olympic silver medalist.  In all, the field includes the Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9 throwers from last year.

            Backing up Kanter in the discus are two-time Olympic gold medalist Virgilijus Alekna from Lithuania , America ’s No. 1, Casey Malone; Athens Olympic silver medalist Zoltan Kovago of Hungary , and Beijing silver medalist Piotr Malachowski of Poland .  Throwers 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 last year by T&FN make this discus field the most decorated in Pre Classic history.

            The NIKE Prefontaine Classic will be shown live on NBC and to an international audience in more than 100 countries. Tickets are still available from 1-800-WEBFOOT or www.goducks.com

                                                                                    #          #          #