Prefontaine Classic.Meet Notes: Today's meet is the 29th Prefontaine Classic The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field. History The first annual Prefontaine Classic took place in 1974. , an event that was preceded in 1973 and 1974 by the Hayward Field For other uses of "Hayward", see Hayward (disambiguation). Hayward Field at University of Oregon is one of the most well-known historic track and field stadiums in the United States. It has been the home to the University of Oregon Track and Field teams since 1919. Restoration Meet. The meet was renamed following the death of legendary UO distance runner distance runner n. A runner who competes in distance races. Steve Prefontaine Steve Roland Prefontaine (January 25, 1951 – May 30, 1975) (nicknamed Pre) was an American Olympic runner who inspired a running boom in the 1970s along with contemporaries Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers. in May 1975 ... Prize money will be awarded for first through sixth place - $5,000 for first, $3,000 for second, $1,500 for third, $1,000 for fourth, $750 for fifth and $500 for sixth - for each of the 14 events ... The Pre Classic has been a sellout in seven of the last eight years with the record attendance of 13,856 set in 1997 ... The Pre Classic is part of the international IAAF IAAF abbr. International Amateur Athletic Federation Grand Prix Grand Prix n. pl. Grand Prix Any of several competitive international road races for sports cars of specific engine size over an exacting, usually risky course. , featuring the 12 best meets in the world. The Pre meet was the highest-rated outside of Europe in 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002. When: 1 p.m. PDT PDT abbr. Pacific Daylight Time PDT Pacific Daylight Time PDT n abbr (US) (= Pacific Daylight Time) → hora de verano del Pacífico PDT Where: Hayward Field, UO campus. Capacity 9,300. Radio/TV: Delayed telecast on NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. , beginning at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Tickets: Reserved seats are $22.50 each. Adult general admission is $16.50 each, seniors and students (11-17) GA $12.50 each. Children (2-10) GA $2. Tickets will be on sale at 10:30 a.m. at all Hayward Field ticket booths. The field: The two best vaulters in the world are scheduled to take a run at each other - world outdoor record-holder Stacy Dragila Stacy Dragila (born Stacy Mikaelson on March 25 1971, Auburn, California) is an American pole vaulter. She was a standout pole vaulter for the Idaho State University women's track and field team in the mid-1990s. of the U.S. and Russia's Svetlana Feofanova Svetlana Yevgenyevna Feofanova (Russian: Светлана Евгеньевна Феофанова; born 16 July, 1980 in Moscow) is a Russian pole , the world indoor record-holder. Also entered: Kellie Suttle, Mel Mueller, Mary Sauer Mary Sauer (born 31 October 1975 in Green Bay, Wisconsin) is an American pole vaulter. She finished twelfth at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, seventh at the 2002 IAAF World Cup in Madrid and tenth at the 2003 World Championships in Paris. and Jill Schwartz of the U.S., and Iceland's Thorey Edda Elisdottir. The story: Dragila set the world record in 2001 at 15-9 1/4. Feofanova jumped 15-9 to set the indoor mark and win the World Indoor title in 2002. Dragila, the first women's pole vault pole vault Track-and-field event consisting of a vault for height over a crossbar with the aid of a long pole. It became a competitive sport in the mid-19th century and was included in the first modern Olympic Games. Olympic and World champion, broke her own Pre Classic vault mark last year with a jump of 15-5 3/4 , nearly a foot higher than the runner-up and the new Hayward Field standard. Mueller, Sauer and Suttle are members of the 15-foot club. MEN'S SHOT PUT, 1:05 p.m. The field: World-leader Kevin Toth Kevin Toth (born 29 December 1967 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a former American shot put athlete. His personal best throw is 22.67 meters, which places him 7th on the all-time performers list. , who broke through early and in a hurry this season with his 74-4 1/2 heave at the Kansas Relays last month, leads a field drilled by withdrawals, including No. 1-ranked Adam Nelson Adam Nelson (born July 7, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an elite American shotputter. A 1997 graduate of Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, Nelson has competed in two Olympic Games. (back injury) and No. 3 John Godina John Carl Godina (born May 31, 1972 in Fort Sill, Oklahoma) is an American shot putter, whose record includes three World Championship wins and two Olympic medals. He also competes in discus. (finger injury). Others expected to compete include Andy Bloom Andy Bloom is an American radio programmer, consultant and researcher who introduced the "Howard Stern Show" simulcasts in Philadelphia in 1986 and Los Angeles in 1991. Bloom is currently a conservative political communications strategist. , Justin Anlezark Justin Anlezark (born 14 August 1977 in Katherine) is an Australian shot putter. His personal best is 20.96 metres, achieved in April 2003 in Brisbane. This is also the Oceanian record. Achievements Justin Anlezark also enjoys fishing. of Australia, Brad Snyder Brad Snyder may refer to:
Cantwell's personal best throw is 22.54 meters, or 73 ft 11½ in, set in Gresham on June 5, 2004. As of July 19, 2006, he has 4 out of the 5 longest throws this year. . The story: The big guys put on the big show in the 2002 Pre Classic, each throwing more than 71 feet. Toth, ranked second in the world, was the biggest of them all with a heave of 72-9 3/4 , breaking the meet's oldest record of 70-7 1/2 by Al Feuerbach in 1974. Nelson was second at 72- 1/4, Godina third at 71-10 3/4 . The University of Missouri's Cantwell has the fourth-longest throw in the world this year at 69-5 1/4. WOMEN'S 1,500, 1:07 p.m. The field: Three-time Olympian and Hayward Field crowd favorite Suzy Favor Hamilton makes her outdoor season debut in a race that includes four national record-holders - Jolanda Ceplak of Slovenia (4:05.59), Mexico's Dulce Maria Rodriguez (4:06.12), Leah Pells of Canada (4:03.56) and Jamaica's Mardrea Hyman Mardrea Hyman (born 22 December 1972 in Clarendon) is a Jamaican runner who have specialized in the 3000 metres steeplechase. Achievements Year Tournament Venue Result Extra 1998 Commonwealth Games Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 4th 800 m, 1:59. (4:05.25). Favor Hamilton is the second-fastest American at 1,500 meters (3:57.40). The story: Favor Hamilton's classic battles with PattiSue Plumer in the 1991 mile and with Romania's Gabriela Szabo in the 2000 1,500 at the Pre meet have been well-documented. Favor Hamilton has said that among her goals this season is the American record for the event, 3:57.12 by Mary Slaney in 1983. The chase is on. MEN'S 400, 1:23 p.m. The field: Jamaica's Michael Blackwood
Michael Blackwood (born August 29, 1976) is a Jamaican athlete who specializes in 400 Metres, his personal best being 44. , ranked No. 1 in the world, headlines a 400 lineup that also includes four other runners ranked in the top six. Gregory Haughton of Jamaica is No. 2, Felix Sanchez of Dominican Republic Dominican Republic (dəmĭn`ĭkən), republic (2005 est. pop. 8,950,000), 18,700 sq mi (48,442 sq km), West Indies, on the eastern two thirds of the island of Hispaniola. The capital and largest city is Santo Domingo. is No. 3, Leonard Byrd Leonard Byrd (born 17 March 1975 in Fort Rocker, Alabama) is an American sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres. He won the gold medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, together with teammates Antonio Pettigrew, Derrick Brew and No. 5 and Avard Moncur Avard Moncur (born November 2, 1978 in Nassau) is a Bahamian athlete competing in the 400 metres. Moncur's most successful year came in 2001 when he won the gold medal in the 400m at the 2001 World Championships, however he has not managed to replicate this success. of the Bahamas No. 6. Also entered is Tyree Washington Tyree Washington (born 28 August 1976 in Riverside, California) is an American sprinter. He attended both La Sierra High School and San Bernardino Valley College. , the World Indoor champion, and Derrick Brew, with the world's fastest time this year, 44.83. The story: Last year, 35 athletes ran between 44.53 and 45.53. Michael Johnson's meet record of 43.92 that he set in 2000 appears safe. Blackwood has a PR of 44.60, which he ran in winning the World Cup last year, and Washington has the third-fastest time in the world this year at 44.97. WOMEN'S 100, 1:32 p.m. The field: Notably absent is Marion Jones, the Pre Classic and Hayward Field record-holder who is sitting out the 2003 season because she is pregnant. Filling the blocks are Torri Edwards, this year's World Indoor bronze medalist in the 60 meters, Tayna Lawrence (ranked No. 3 in the world last year), the veteran Chryste Gaines, Angela Williams, Chardra Sturrup of the Bahamas, Kelli White, LaTasha Colander-Richardson and Jamaica's Debbie Ferguson. The story: The highly decorated Jones - the only female athlete to win five medals at a single Olympics - may not be around but her standard, the 10.90 she rang up last year, is. Edwards won the 100 at a cool and damp Oregon Track Classic in Portland last weekend (11.23). Ferguson and White have the fastest time in world this year at 10.97. WOMEN'S 100 HURDLES, 1:40 p.m. The field: Three-time Olympian, two-time Olympic 100-meter champion and seven times ranked No. 1 in the 100 hurdles, Gail Devers leads an all-star cast for the event. Eight of the world's top 10 hurdlers are entered, including No. 1 Brigeitte Foster, No. 5 Miesha McKelvy, No. 6 Jenny Adams, No. 7 Lacena Golding-Clarke, No. 8 Donica Merriman, No. 9 Vonette Dixon and No. 10 Melissa Morrison. The story: The 36-year-old Devers has been ranked the top hurdler in each of the last four years. She has the American record (12.33) and the Pre meet and Hayward Field record (12.64). The field, which includes three Jamaicans (Foster, Golding-Clarke and Dixon), should give Devers a run for her money. McKelvy won the event at last week's adidas meet in Portland in 12.93, the fourth-fastest time in the world this year. MEN'S 110 HURDLES, 1:47 p.m. The field: One of the two men who share the American record in the 110 hurdles - Larry Wade - leads a field that includes Dudley Dorival of Haiti, Duane Ross, Ron Bramlett, Mark Crear, Sweden's Robert Kronberg and UO record-holder Micah Harris. Allen Johnson, who shares the AR with Wade at 12.92 and was ranked No. 2 in the world, has withdrawn from the meet because of a calf muscle injury. The vacancy left by Johnson enabled UO freshman Eric Mitchum to enter the race. The story: Wade, ranked No. 3 in the world, ran 13.23 to win at the Modesto Relays earlier this month, the second-fastest time in the world this year. Wade also shares with Johnson the Pre Classic and Hayward Field record of 13.12. Harris, since setting the Oregon record of 13.67, has lowered his PR to 13.43. Mitchum, second at the Pac-10 meet last week, is second on the UO list at 13.75. WOMEN'S HIGH JUMP, 1:52 p.m. The field: Three of the world's top 10 high jumpers are entered, led by Sweden's Kajsa Bergqvist who was ranked No. 1 last year after jumping 6-8 3/4 . Tisha Waller and Amy Acuff, both of the U.S., are ranked sixth and 10th, respectively, in the IAAF world rankings. Gwen Wentlund, Canada's Nicole Forrester, Karol Rovelto and Ifoma Jones also are entered. The story: Acuff set the Pre Classic record of 6-6 in 2001, Waller set the Hayward Field mark of 6-6 1/4 in 1999 and Bergqvist - a former SMU SMU Southern Methodist University SMU Solid (Waste) Management Unit SMU Saint Mary's University (Halifax, Nova Scotia; Philippines) SMU Singapore Management University SMU Saint Mary's University of Minnesota athlete who competed at Hayward in the 1996 NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association meet and the 2001 Pre Classic - already has jumped 6-8 this year, though indoors. Bergqvist, who cleared 6-6 3/4 10 times last year, is the reigning two-time World Indoor champion. WOMEN'S 800, 2:10 p.m. The field: Mozambique's Maria Mutola, the reigning Olympic, World Outdoor and World Indoor champion at 800 meters, headlines the field that is a star-studded one. American record-holder Jearl Miles Clark (1:56.40) and Regina Jacobs, ranked No. 1 in the event in 2001, are joined by Canadian record-holder Diane Cummins, Slovenia's Brigita Langerholc and Jen Toomey, ranked No. 3 in the U.S. last year. The story: Mutola, who resided in the Eugene-Springfield area in the 1990s, has 10 straight victories at the Pre Classic, a meet record. She has medaled in every Olympic, World Indoor and World Outdoor championship since 1996, has a PR of 1:55.19, set in 1994, and owns the meet and field record of 1:57.57. Miles Clark, 36, has been world-ranked in the 400 or 800 14 times. Jacobs, 39, has a PR of 1:58.08. MEN'S LONG JUMP, 2:15 p.m. The field: The top three long jumpers in the world last year fuel the field for what is considered the best in Pre meet history, and all are Americans. Savante Stringfellow was No. 1, Miguel Pate No. 2 and Dwight Phillips No. 3. Kevin Dilworth was ranked No. 7. Also entered are Walter Davis, a former NCAA triple jump champion, and Kuwait's Hussein Al-Saba. The story: Stringfellow, the defending U.S. champion, has jumped 27-11 1/2 , Pate (the USA runner-up last year) 28-2 1/4 (indoors) and Phillips 27-6. The Hayward Field record of 27-10 1/4 by Mike Powell in 1993 and the Prefontaine Classic record of 27-6 by Joe Greene in 1992 could be in jeopardy. All three - Stringfellow, Pate and Phillips - have equaled or cleared Greene's mark. MEN'S 100, 2:17 p.m. The field: It is a fast field, led by Great Britain's Dwain Chambers (9.87), ranked No. 2 in the world. Coby Miller, who owns the Pre Classic record (10.00 in 2000) also is scheduled to be in the blocks, as well as Kim Collins of St. Kitts, Bernard Williams, Jon Drummond, Trinidad's Darrel Brown, Ato Boldon and Shawn Crawford. The story: World record-holder and No. 1-ranked Tim Montgomery (9.78) has withdrawn from the race because of Achilles tendinitis Achilles tendinitis Sports medicine A condition characterized by pain and swelling along the tendon sheath proximal to the calcaneus Clinical Stiffness with ankle movement, tenderness, crepitus Imaging Usually nada, rarely, soft tissue thickening Management , eliminating the No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup. Chambers' time is the second-fastest in history. Each of the athletes in the field has run under 10 seconds except Brown, the world junior champion. MEN'S 5,000, 2:23 p.m. The field: Four-time Pre Classic 5,000 winner Luke Kipkosgei of Kenya returns to Hayward Field, as does the 2002 winner, Kenya's Abraham Chebii. Another Kenyan, Benjamin Limo, is ranked No. 1 in the world and making his first Pre appearance. There are a slew of Olympians in the field, including American record-holder Bob Kennedy, Abdi Abdirahman, former UO runner Karl Keska of Great Britain, Adam Goucher, Eugene's Nick Rogers and Brad Hauser. The story: Kenyans have won the 5,000 the last six times the event has been contested at the Pre Classic. Kipkosgei own the meet and Hayward Field record of 13:07.83, which he set in 1998. Kennedy's AR is 12:58.21 in 1996. Chebii won in 13:13.53 last year. Limo's PR is 12:55.82, and he ran 12:57.24 last year. Todd Williams is the last American to win the Pre 5K when he ran 13:20.13 in 1993. This year's world-leader is Shadrack Kosgei of Kenya (13:16.47). WOMEN'S 400, 2:45 p.m. The field: Australia's Cathy Freeman, the 2000 Olympic champion at 400 meters who has been ranked No. 1 in the world three times, joins Mexico's Ana Guevara, currently ranked No. 1 in the world. They expect to set the pace in the one-lap event that includes World Indoor 200 champion Michelle Collins, 2001 World Outdoor champion Amy Mbacke Thiam Amy Mbacke Thiam (born November 10, 1976) is a Senegalese athlete competing in the 400 metres. She has won medals in two World Championships, but at the 2004 Olympics she was knocked out in the heats. of Senegal, Kaltouma Nadjina of Chad and Monique Hennagan of the U.S. The story: Freeman is returning to the Pre Classic and Hayward Field, where she set the meet record in 1998 (50.02). Guevara is making her first visit to the Pre meet but brings impressive credentials - undefeated in 2002, winning all 11 of her races, and clocking the fastest 400 in six years (49.16). Collins won the event at last year's Pre Classic in 50.87. MEN'S MILE, 2:52 p.m. The field: For the first time in three years, world record-holder Hicham El Guerrouj Hicham El Guerrouj (Arabic: هشام الكروج, born September 14, 1974, Berkane) is a retired Moroccan middle distance runner. He is the world record holder for the 1,500 metres (3:26.00), the mile (3:43. of Morocco is not in the lineup but at least a half-dozen sub-3:54 milers are expected to be in the race, led by Kenya's Bernard Lagat, Cornelius Chirchir, Laban Rotich and Noah Ngeny. The American contingent includes Seneca Lassiter, Michael Stember and Jason Lunn, former prep superstar Alan Webb and current high school phenoms Mike McGrath and Steve Magness. The story: El Guerrouj owns the Pre Classic record (3:49.92 in 2001, the fastest time ever recorded on U.S. soil) but last week Lagat ran a world-leading 3:34.13 in the 1,500 at Portland - the equivalent of a mile under 3:52. In the same 2001 mile at Pre, Webb broke a 36-year-old U.S. prep mile record with his time of 3:53.43. McGrath, a Portland prep star and UO signee sign·ee n. One who has signed a document, such as a contract or petition. , could become the first high school runner from Oregon to break the 4-minute barrier. Meet Notes: Today's meet is the 29th Prefontaine Classic, an event that was preceded in 1973 and 1974 by the Hayward Field Restoration Meet. The meet was renamed following the death of legendary UO distance runner Steve Prefontaine in May 1975 ... Prize money will be awarded for first through sixth place - $5,000 for first, $3,000 for second, $1,500 for third, $1,000 for fourth, $750 for fifth and $500 for sixth - for each of the 14 events ... The Pre Classic has been a sellout in seven of the last eight years with the record attendance of 13,856 set in 1997 ... The Pre Classic is part of the international IAAF Grand Prix, featuring the 12 best meets in the world. The Pre meet was the highest-rated outside of Europe in 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002. When: 1 p.m. PDT Where: Hayward Field, UO campus. Capacity 9,300. Radio/TV: Delayed telecast on NBC, beginning at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Tickets: Reserved seats are $22.50 each. Adult general admission is $16.50 each, seniors and students (11-17) GA $12.50 each. Children (2-10) GA $2. Tickets will be on sale at 10:30 a.m. at all Hayward Field ticket booths. - Compiled by Bob Rodman |
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