FOUR PRE CLASSIC SPRINTS, EIGHT BEIJING MEDALISTS - PreClassic.com

Eugene, Oregon--Thirty-four.  Has any American meet ever had more reigning Olympic medalists than this year's 35th annual Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field?  That's the total number of 2008 Olympic medalists entered in Sunday's meet, eight more having been added in the four sprints, with two of the three Beijing medalists in each event!
    Leading the charge in the Nutrilite 300 Meters is Olympic 400 gold medalist LaShawn Merritt, ranked No. 1 in the world in 2008 by Track & Field News magazine. Winner of last year's Prefontaine Classic and Olympic Trials races, Merritt saved his fastest for Beijing, scorching a 43.75 lifetime best, making him the 5th fastest quartermiler in history. He also has the three fastest times thus far in 2009. Also in the race is Olympic bronze medalist David Neville, 300-Meter indoor world recordholder Wallace Spearmon,  the "X-Man", Xavier Carter, and Trinidad's Rennie Quow.
    Matching Merritt's gold on the women's side is 100-Meter champion Shelly-Ann Fraser of Jamaica. Her 10.78 personal best beat silver medalist Kerron Stewart by 2/100ths.  They will be joined in their rematch in the Visa 100 Meters by 2005 World Championships gold medalist Lauryn Williams, and the fastest American so far this year, Carmelita Jeter.
    On the men's side, there will be two incredible sections of the 100 Meters, both of them stacked with top talent. In the featured race, former world recordholder Asafa Powell will face off against Olympic bronze medalist Walter Dix of the U.S., 2009 world-leader (9.97) Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles, and Olympic silver medalist Richard Thompson of Trinidad.  Five of the top 10 from last year are in this race, as ranked by Track & Field News.  What's mind-boggling is that the second section has two more athletes ranked in the top 10 in the world, Nesta Carter and Michael Frater of Jamaica.  Add in 2004 Olympic 200 champion Shawn Crawford,  plus fellow American Rae Edwards, who ran 10.02 into a negative wind last Monday, and you have a field capable of running faster than the first section.
    Finally, in the Nutrilite 400 meters for women, 2008 world No. 1 and Olympic bronze medalist Sanya Richards will be rematched against Olympic silver medalist Shericka Williams, and fellow-Jamaican Novlene Williams, who took the measure of Richards earlier this year.  Richards has been very successful on the Hayward Field oval, however, going back to 2002 when she took second in the 400 as a prep athlete.  Wild-cards in this race are Russians Yuliya Gushchina and Anastasia Kapachinskaya, who ranked 6th and 7th in the world in 2008.  Add in African Champion Amantle Montsho (the first-ever athlete in the Pre Classic from Botswana), and you have six of the top 10 in the world, as ranked by Track & Field News.
    There are still both Reserved and General Admission tickets available from goducks.com or 1-800-WEBFOOT.  The NIKE Prefontaine Classic will be shown live on NBC from 2 till 4 p.m. ET.   NIKE has been the title sponsor of the Prefontaine Classic every year since 1984.

NUTRILITE 300 METERS (MEN)

LaShawn Merritt
Xavier Carter
David Neville
Tyler Christopher (Canada)
Rennie Quow (Trinidad)
Wallace Spearmon
Darold Williamson
Rodney Martin

VISA 100 METERS (WOMEN)

Shelly-Ann Fraser (Jamaica)
Muna Lee
Torri Edwards
Lauryn Williams
Kerron Stewart (Jamaica)
Carmelita Jeter
Marshevet Hooker
Tianna Madison

100 METERS (MEN)  Section I

Michael Frater (Jamaica)
Ivory Williams
Leroy Dixon
Shawn Crawford
Rae Edwards
Nesta Carter (Jamaica)
Ryan Bailey


100 METERS (MEN) Section II

Asafa Powell (Jamaica)
Walter Dix
Michael Rodgers
Churandy Martina (Neth Antilles)
Richard Thompson (Trinidad)
Marc Burns (Trinidad)
Jaysuma Ndure (Norway)
Travis Padgett


NUTRILITE 400 METERS (WOMEN)

Sanya Richards
Yuliya Guschina (Russia)
Anastasia Kapachinskaia (Russia)
Novlene Williams (Jamaica)
Amantle Montsho (Botswana)
Shericka Williams (Jamaica)
Melaine Walker (Jamaica)
Natasha Hastings

SHOWDOWN IN THE JUMPS AT PRE - PreClassic.com

    Eugene, Oregon--Mano a mano, head to head, No. 1 vs. No. 2.  However you say it, all the jumps at the 35th Prefontaine Classic on June 7th will feature intense competition among athletes who are leading the world in their events.
    Take the men's High Jump.  Not only is the reigning Olympic and Prefontaine Classic champion Andrey Silnov in the field, but so is American outdoor world-leader Andra Manson (2.35/7-8 1/2),  Eugene hometown favorite Jesse Williams (No. 2 at 2.34/7-8), Russia's Ivan Ukhov (No. 3 at 2.34), and Germany's Raul Spank (No. 4 at 2.31/7-7).  Add in 2008 Olympic silver medalist Germaine Mason of Great Britain, bronze medalist Yaroslav Rybakov, and reigning World Champion Donald Thomas of Bahamas into the mix, and you have the best High Jump field ever assembled on American soil--underline, ever.
    In the men's Long Jump, it's reigning Olympic and Prefontaine Classic champion Irving Saladino of Panama, the current world-leader, against No. 2 on the world list, Dwight Phillips, the 2004 Olympic and 2003 & 2005 World Champion.  The distance separating them...2 centimeters, or 3/4 of an inch.  Saladino jumped 8.56/28-1 at Hengelo on Monday, and Phillips was just behind at the same venue with 8.54/28-1/4. Their head-to-head heroics signalled a return to the glory years of long jumping as Phillips became the first man to jump 28-feet and lose since ‘99. Lest they focus on each other too much, current No. 3 in the world, Yahya Berrabah of Morocco is also in the field.
    In the women's Long Jump, the current world leader is matched against the current No. 2 in the world (have we said that before?).  Americans Brittney Reese and Funmi Jimoh are atop the list, Reese with a jump of 7.06/23-2, and Jimoh just behind at 6.96/22-10.  Olympic heptathlon silver medalist Hyleas Fountain will also compete.
    The men's pole vault features Olympic silver medalist, Yevgeniy Lukyanenko of Russia, who was ranked No. 1 in the world last year by Track & Field News magazine. He will face American Derek Miles, who finished 4th in Beijing, and an international field that includes Daichi Sawano of Japan, Alhaji Jeng of Sweden, and 2007 Prefontaine Classic champion Giovanni Lanaro of Mexico.
    With 16 events announced, the count from Beijing now stands at 26 athletes who won individual gold, silver, or bronze medals at the 2008 Olympic Games.
    Tickets are available online at goducks.com, from 1-800-WEBFOOT, and in person at the Casanova Center ticket office. The NIKE Prefontaine Classic will be shown live on NBC from 2-4 p.m. ET on June 7th.
** = member of the U.S. Olympic team in 2008...10 out of a possible 12!

HIGH JUMP (MEN)

**Jesse Williams
Andrey Silnov (Russia)
Raul Spank (Germany)
Ivan Ukhov (Russia)
Yaroslav Rybakov (Russia)
**Andra Manson
**Dusty Jonas
Donald Thomas (Bahamas)
Germaine Mason (Great Britain)
Jamie Nieto

LONG JUMP (MEN)

Irving Saladino (Panama)
Dwight Phillips
Yayah Berrabah (Morocco)
**Miguel Pate
Fabrice Lapierre (Australia)
**Brian Johnson
**Trevell Quinley
Matthew Turner

LONG JUMP (WOMEN)

**Brittney Reese
**Funmi Jimoh
Knjesa Balta (Estonia)
Tianna Madison
Yelena Sokolova (Russia)
**Hyleas Fountain--in Heptathlon
**Grace Upshaw
Tabia Charles (Canada)
Jovanne Jarrett
Brianna Glenn

POLE VAULT (MEN)

Evgenyi Lukyanenko (Russia)
Alhaji Jeng (Sweden)
**Derek Miles
Jacob Pauli
Tim Mack
Giovanni Lanaro (Mexico)
Daichi Sawano (Japan)
Jeremy Scott

RECORDS MAY FALL IN PRE CLASSIC DISTANCES - PreClassic.com

    Eugene, Oregon--How good have the distance races been in the 35-year history of the Prefontaine Classic?  Good enough that the fastest times ever run on American soil in two of the three endurance races in this year's Pre Classic were recorded in prior editions of the meet.  How good will they be on Sunday, June 7th at Hayward Field?  Good enough that all three records--in the women's 2000 meters and men's 3000 Meters and Steeplechase--are in serious jeopardy.

    In the women's 2k, No. 1 ranked middle distance runner Maryam Jamal of Bahrain plans a pace that would bring her under 5 minutes, 30 seconds.  The "American All-Comers Record" is 5:32.7, set 25 years ago by the incomparable Mary Slaney. Jamal is the 2007 1500 Meter World Champion, and her strong season in 2008 earned her the No. 1 ranking by Track & Field News magazine at that distance.  This will be no solo run, however, since Kenyan 5k specialists Vivian Cheriuyot and Linet Masai,  ranked No. 4 and 7 in the world, respectively, are in the race.  New York Marathon 3rd-placer and 2007 World Championships bronze medalist Kara Goucher is also scheduled to compete, along with No. 2 American Jen Rhines, and NCAA cross country champion Sally Kipyego.

    One competitor in the 2009 Pre Classic men's 3000 Meter race is very familiar with the fastest time ever run on American soil.  Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya set the record of 7:35.44 in the 2005 edition of the meet.  Kipchoge, ranked No. 2 in the world at 5000 Meters by T&FN, has to be rated the favorite, but only slightly over double World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist Bernard Lagat of the U.S., Beijing Olympic 10k silver medalist Sileshi Sihine, No. 5 in the world Moses Masai of Kenya, and Steeplechase world recordholder Saif Shaheen of Qatar. The planned pace for the first mile is 4:01, and they'll have nearly another mile to go!

    In the 3000-Meter Steeplechase, World No. 1 Paul Koech, the Hayward Field and Prefontaine Classic recordholder, leads the field.  The American All-Comers best is 8:04.51, set by Brahim Boulami in 2002.  American Olympians Billy Nelson and Josh McAdams are also in the field.

    Olympic Medal Total:  with 12 events announced, the number of Beijing medalists in the 2009 Prefontaine Classic now stands at 19, with the Sprints and Jumps still to be announced.  For announced startlists, go to www.preclassic.com

    Tickets are available online at goducks.com, from 1-800-WEBFOOT, and in person at the Casanova Center ticket office. The NIKE Prefontaine Classic will be shown live on NBC from 2-4 p.m. ET on June 7th.

2000 METERS (WOMEN)

**Maryam Jamal (Bahrain)
**Linet Masai (Kenya)
**Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya)
**Pauline Korikwiang (Kenya)
**Jen Rhines
**Sara Hall
**Sally Kipyego (Kenya)
**Marina Muncan--pace
**Amy Yoder-Begley
**Arianne Lambie
**Kara Goucher

3000 METERS (MEN)

**Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)
**Bernard Lagat
**Sileshi Sihine
**Moses Masai (Kenya)
**Abreham Feleke (Ethiopia)
**Matt Tegenkamp
**Juan Luis Barrios (Mexico)
**Chris Solinsky
**Jonathan Riley
**Leonard Komon (Kenya)
**Ian Dobson
**Matthew Kisorio (Kenya)
**Saif Shaheen (Qatar)
**Brent Vaughn
**Alistair Craig
**Steve Scherer--pace

MEDAL HAUL CONTINUES IN PRE CLASSIC HURDLES - PreClassic.com

   Eugene, Oregon--Last we counted, after 7 announced events in the Prefontaine Classic, eleven Beijing medal winners were in the fields.  That total takes a significant jump with the addition of the two hurdles events in the Pre Classic on June 7th at Hayward Field.  It's a clean sweep in the men's 400 Hurdles, with 2-time gold medalist Angelo Taylor, silver medalist Kerron Clement, and bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson heading a group that includes No. 6 in the world Isa Phillips and No. 8 in the world Markino Buckley, as ranked by Track & Field News magazine. Jackson was the World Champion in 2005, and Clement in 2007, but Phillips from Jamaica is the current world-leader in the event. Is another American-dominated sprint event in jeopardy?
  
    In the women's 100 Hurdles, surprise Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harper of the U.S. is joined by bronze medalist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada, along with No. 6 Brigitte Foster-Hylton of Jamaica and No. 8 Damu Cherry of the U.S.  Perhaps no other event is as medal-laden, with the last 3 World Champions in the field: Michelle Perry ('07 & '05) and Perdita Felicien ('03).

    With the addition of these two events, the number of Beijing medalists in the 35th Prefontaine Classic now totals sixteen, with the Jumps, Sprints, and Distances still to be announced.

    Tickets are available online at goducks.com, from 1-800-WEBFOOT, and in person at the Casanova Center ticket office. The NIKE Prefontaine Classic will be shown live on NBC from 2-4 p.m. ET on June 7th.


400 METER HURDLES (MEN)

**Angelo Taylor
**Kerron Clement
**Bershawn Jackson
**Isa Phillips (Jamaica)
**Markino Buckley (Jamaica)
**James Carter
**Kenneth Ferguson
**Michael Tinsley

100 HURDLES (WOMEN)

**Dawn Harper
**Brigitte Foster-Hylton (Jamaica)
**Damu Cherry
**Priscilla Lopes-Schliep (Canada)
**Ginny Powell
**Michelle Perry
**Perdita Felicien (Canada)

All of the 2009 Pre Classic Start Lists

"JEOPARDY!"
THE ANSWER:  MEET RECORDS COULD GO
IN PRE CLASSIC MIDDLE DISTANCES - PreClassic.com

    Eugene —In the storied 35 year history of the Prefontaine Classic, never have the meet records in the middle distances been more in jeopardy across the board than at this year’s meet on June 7th in Eugene .
            In the men’s 800, Beijing bronze medalist Alfred Yego returns seeking to break the meet and Hayward Field record of 1:44.01 that he set at last year’s Pre Classic.  Ranked No. 1 in the world by Track & Field News magazine, Yego will be be matched with Olympic silver medalist Ahmad Ismail of Sudan, the Oregon Track Club Elite’s Nick Symmonds, ranked No. 1 in the U.S. , and world-rankers Gary Reed of Canada (No. 5) and Amine Laalou of Morocco (No. 10).  Add in 2004 Olympic gold medalist Yuriy Borzakovskiy of Russia , and you have the best 800 field in Prefontaine Classic history.
            Last year, Maria Mutola retired after 17 straight victories, with her 1:57.57 still intact.  Call it a bittersweet scenario, but Maria’s mark which has stood since 1997 has a real chance of being broken the very first year after her retirement.  Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo of Kenya has been nothing short of spectacular in her brief career. The 19-year-old phenom was undefeated last year, her first-ever in the event, and ran faster than the Pre Classic meet record eleven times!  Jelimo won’t be running a solo time-trial, however, as No. 2 in the world, countrywoman Janeth Jepkosgei, is in the race, as well as No. 8 Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica.  And in case you missed it, Jepkosgei was the Olympic silver medalist behind Jelimo in Beijing .
            In the women’s 1500, surprise Olympic gold medalist Nancy Lagat of Kenya returns the venue where she began her run-up to Beijing success. With just a 4:08 seasonal-best coming into last year’s Prefontaine Classic, Lagat improved to 4:03.80 to take second. She then went on to improve another 3 seconds in Beijing and take home the gold in 4:00.23.  The meet record? 4:00.44 set by Geleta Burka of Ethiopia …who just happens to also be in the race. Not to be forgotten is No. 1 American Shannon Rowbury, who ran 4:00.33 last year and ranked No. 6 in the world, and Spain ’s Nuria Fernandez, who ranked No. 10.
            Finally, the Bowerman Mile will feature a field capable of taking down Daniel K. Komen’s 2007 meet record of 3:48.28, which is also the fastest ever run on U.S. soil.  Led by No. 1 in the world Haron Keitany and No. 3 Asbel Kiprop, both of Kenya, the large field includes five men who have run under 3:50 for the mile or its metric equivalent. American recordholder Alan Webb, Bahrain ’s Belal Mansoor, and Kenya ’s Shedrack Korir join Keitany and Kiprop in the sub-3:50 club.  Another Pre Classic milestone which may go is the all-time record of 13 finishers under 4-minutes.  Every entrant in the field has been well under that mark within the past year.

The NIKE Prefontaine Classic will be shown live on NBC, from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1-800-WEBFOOT or going online to www.goducks.com.

800 METERS (MEN)

**Nick Symmonds
**Khadevis Robinson
**Gary Reed (Canada)
**Alfred Yego (Kenya)
**Yuriy Borzakovskiy (Russia)
**Amine Laalou (Morocco)
**Ahmad Ismail (Sudan)
**Boaz Lalang (Kenya)
**Christian Smith
**Matt Scherer--pace

800 METERS (WOMEN)

**Pamela Jelimo (Kenya)
**Hazel Clark
**Janet Jepkosgei (Kenya)
**Kenia Sinclair (Jamaica)
**Alysia Johnson
**Tatyana Andrianova (Russia)
**Jemma Simpson (Great Britain)
**Jesse Carlin--pace

1500 METERS (WOMEN)

**Nancy Lagat (Kenya)
**Gelete Burka (Ethiopia)
**Anna Alminova (Russia)
**Shannon Rowbury
**Christin Wurth-Thomas
**Nuria Fernandez (Spain)
**Erin Donohue
**Meskerem Assefa (Ethiopia)
**Anna Willard
**Jenny Barringer
**Nikeya Green--pace
**Shayne Culpepper
**Shalane Flanagan
**Treniere Clement

BOWERMAN MILE (MEN)

**Haron Keitany (Kenya)
**Shedrack Korir (Kenya)
**Asbel Kiprop (Kenya)
**Belal Mansoor (Bahrain)
**Alan Webb
**Lopez Lomong
**Juan van Deventer (South Africa)
**Leonel Manzano
**Nicholas Kemboi (Kenya)
**Josephat Kithii (Kenya)
**Moise Joseph (Haiti)--pace
**Nate Brannen (Canada)
**Jackson Kivuna (Kenya)--pace
**Evan Jager
**Peter van der Westhuisen (S Africa)
**Henok Legesse (Ethiopia)
**Steve Sherer--pace

Pre opened with sunny skies, little to no wind, and a double world record attempt.  Kenenisa Bekele's confidence from yesterday's press conference was clearly no joke.  As the pacers dropped he continued on alone for 5000 meters to chase lapped traffic, and the records fell.  His time of 26:25, the fourth fastest 10000 meter race ever run, was short of his own personal best and world record, but crushed the Pre, Hayward Field, and American Soil records all by over 30 seconds.  Even after Bekele crossed the line, the story continued to unfold as Abdi Abdirahman chased fellow Pac 10 alumni Meb Keflezighi's American mark. Abdi's 27:17 also fell just short becoming the second fastest time run by an American.  This was just an appetizer!

The women took the stage next in the 5k chasing another world record as Meseret Defar looked to recapture her world record broken just last week by fellow Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba.  As the pacers fell off so did the pace, but her Pre win was sealed, along with the fates of Mary Slaney's Pre and Hayward records with a 14:38 performance.  On the American front Kara Goucher dipped under 15 minutes with a 14:58.1.

The fans were treated to some more extras with a field of qualifying events with notables coming from Gabe Jennings in the 1500 running 3:40.58  and Oregon High School junior Elijah Greer taking runner up honors in section 3 of the 800 with a 1:50.31. 

The Field events posted record book assaults of their own with Brad Walker paying special attention to Sergey Bubka.  Bubka's Pre record fell first, then fellow 2008 vaulter Jeff Hartwig watched as his Hayward Field and American Record's were broken.  Walker then turned his attention back to Bubka, the bar was set over 20 feet!  Walker would have one attempt as he took a time foul for his first and ran through his second.  His day ended short of the 20 foot barrier, but he walked away with a new personal best and American Record of 6.04 meters, 19-9.75.

While Walker took on the 20 foot barrier, Adam Nelson (with his crowd pleasing flare) and Reese Hoffa looked beyond 70 feet in the shot put with Nelson coming out on top with a put of 22.12, 72-07, just two inches off Kevin Toth's meet record.  This was followed by the news from the booth that Hayward Field is the home of a record of its own, the most throws over 70 feet in track and field history.  

Not to be outdone, the women put up a record shattering battle in the hammer ring.  On her first throw Ivana Brkjacic of Croatia broke Erin Gilreath's Pre and Hayward records, only to watch Germany's Betty Heidler step in the ring and steal her thunder on her very first throw.  The battle continued as Brkjacic would step in the ring and take back the records with her second attempt.  In the end the battle for Hayward history would be won by Heidler with a mark of 73.93 meters 242-07.

In 2007 the diminutive Gelete Burka was crowned the queen of the Pre 1500 as she set a meet record.  2008 saw her add another gem to this crown as she broke her own meet record in 4:00.44.  Her win came only with the help of a rabbit as she was out front the entire time and took the title by over 3 seconds.  

This year's Prefontaine Classic was not only about the distances as the men and women of the sprints each walked away with a meet record with Torri Edwards slipped under Gwen Torrance's Pre and Hayward Records with a clocking of 10.94 in the 100 meter dash.  After performing well below his own standards in other visits to Hayward Wallace Spearmon Jr. took away any doubt breaking the meet record of one of the sports great sprint figures, Michael Johnson, with a 200 meter time of 20.14.

More distance action in Track Town saw Bernard Lagat best a great 2 mile field in a sprint finish running 8:12.45.  Shadrack Korir lead 9 more men under 4 minutes in the Bowerman 1 Mile Run making it 208 times the 4 minute barrier has been broken here at Pre.  In an utterly loaded mens 800 meter Alfred Kirwa Yego broke the tape in 1:44.01 to break Nick Symmond's 2007 Prefontaine Record and the shared Hayward record held by Mark Everett and Dave Wottle.  Three men went under 1:45 with Yusuf Saad Kamel and Khadevis Robinson taking second and third. Duck fans were excited to see another personal best out of former Oregon 400 meter star Matt Scherer as he broke the Olympic A standard running a PR of 1:46.01.  However, the afternoon belonged to Hayward field legend Maria Mutola 

Mutola extended her winning ways at the Prefontaine Classic for the 16th year taking home the women's 800 meter with a 1:59.24 after being challenged by a talented field including prep star Chanelle Price who's efforts to become the first prep under 2:00 will have to wait another day.  Price's time of 2:01.61 however is now #2 all time.  This win was an emotional one for Mutola who's ties to the Eugene/Springfield area run deep.  With the one of a kind sound of a Hayward standing ovation she took her final victory lap and handed the newly minted Maria Mutola Outstanding Performer award to pole vaulter Brad Walker.  An award designed after her bib number, number 1.  An award to immortalize her winning ways, an award to embody the spirit of the Prefontaine Classic, an award to symbolize her place in the heart of Track Town.  

Thanks Maria.

-Rossco-

Keep your eyes and ears open for Maria Mutola!  The meet announcer seems to have something special planned as she is set to defend her Pre Classic title for the 16th time in what looks to be her last Olympic year.  She describes this year as an exciting and emotional year, especially at Pre, as Eugene/Springfield is a special place for her.  This should be another great day at Hayward Field!