The Hayward Magic effect was on full display at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic, as some of the world’s best athletes put on a show for a large, energetic and enthusiastic crowd at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
The incredible matchups and performances that were on display at the Pre Classic could serve as a preview of what we could witness later this summer at the Olympic Games in Paris later on this summer. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of all of the action from Eugene.
Josh Kerr takes the Bowerman Mile
The race that we’ve all been waiting for after months of trash talk did not disappoint. Josh Kerr was the class of the field on Saturday afternoon in the men’s Bowerman Mile, defeating a world-class group of runners, including rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
Kerr took the lead with 600m to go in the race and never looked back, winning with a time of 3:45.34, which also set the British record. Ingebrigtsen finished as the runner-up with his time of 3:45.60, while Yared Nuguse finished in third place with a new season’s best time of 3:46.22.
“I was available for whatever pace it was,” he said after the race. “I just rolled with the punches and raced it like a championship race, and I knew that I could run pretty fast.”
Beatrice Chebet kicks the action off with a world record in the Kenyan Trials
The Kenyan Olympic selection race took place prior to the official start of the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday afternoon. In the women’s 10000m, Beatrice Chebet wasted no time on the track, breaking the women’s world record in the 10,000m with her time of 28:54.14.
Finishing as the runner-up in the race was Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia, who ran 29:05.92, which is No. 3 all-time in the event.
Daniel Mateiko won the men’s 10,000m race with his time of 26:50.81, holding off Nicholas Kipkorir, who finished in second place with his time of 26:50.94.
Cool air couldn’t slow down the sprints
Make no mistake about it, Sha’Carri Richardson is ready for the big stage, and she proved it at the Pre Classic. The world champion in the women’s 100m made a statement in the race, winning with a new season’s best time of 10.83. Julien Alfred, who briefly held the lead in the opening stages of the race, had a strong showing as well, finishing in second place, running 10.93.
Christian Coleman defended his men’s 100m Prefontaine title against an elite field, running a new season’s best time of 9.95 to take the win. He held off Ferdinand Omanyala, who made a late charge in the back half of the race to run a new season’s best time of 9.98.
Grant Holloway put away the field of 110m hurdlers as soon as the gun was fired. He ran a new world-leading time of 13.03 to take home the win. Daniel Roberts finished in second place with his time of 13.13. Reigning Olympic Champion Hansle Parchment finished in fourth place after falling behind in the race early on.
Kenny Bednarek came into the men’s 200m at the Prefontaine Classic with the world lead in the event. He continued on with his impressive season with another win in cool conditions, with his time of 19.89. He currently holds the world lead in the event with his time of 19.67, and his performance at the Prefontaine Classic was just another example of the consistency that he’s been able to display.
Keely Hodgkison sets the track ablaze in the women’s 800m
Keely Hodgkison timed her move in the women’s 800m field perfectly and stormed down the backstretch to take the win against a loaded field of women.
The talented superstar 800m specialist from Great Britain stayed patient throughout the race, as Mary Moraa led the way until under 200m to go. That’s when Hodgkison closed the gap and made her way from fourth to eventually first as the runners headed down the backstretch of the race. Once she saw daylight, no one could catch her, as she stormed her way to the win and a world leading time of 1:55.78.
Statements were made in the women’s 1500m
The women’s 1500m showcased some of the world’s best talent, and the race proved why it will be one to watch closely in Paris later on this summer at the Olympic Games.
Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia took home the win after holding the lead for the entirety of the race outside of Jazz Shukla, who paced the race. Welteji was able to create separation from the field and won with a new personal best time of 3:53.75.
Behind her, Jessica Hull set a new personal best and a new Australian record with her time of 3:55.97 to finish in second place.
Team USA had a strong showing, as Elle St. Pierre recorded a remarkable performance, running a new personal best time of 3:56.00 to finish third. Her time was also the second fastest time in American history as well, which she found out about shortly after the race.
Allman, Kovacs and Rogers take home wins in the throws
It was greatness as usual for some of the world’s greatest throwers in their respective events. In the women’s discus, Valarie Allman took home the win in the women’s discus with her mark of 67.36m, which she secured on her last throw. She was challenged by Yaimé Pérez, who finished in second place with her mark of 67.25m, just 11 cm short of Allman’s winning throw.
Joe Kovacs had a masterful performance at the Prefontaine Classic in the men’s shot put. The reigning Diamond League champion tossed a new world leading mark of 23.13m, which was just shy of Ryan Crouser’s all-time meet record.
Camryn Rogers was not going to be denied in the women’s hammer throw. She trailed DeAnna Price until she unleashed a monster throw of 77.23m in the fifth round, and then bettered her throw in the sixth and final round with her mark of 77.76m. Her throw set a new Diamond League record in the event.
Other notable performances from the Pre Classic
- The women’s 5000m was dominated by Ethiopia, who took the top six places in the race. Tsigie Gebreselama was able to hold off Ejgayehu Taye, as the two battled down the homestretch. Gebreselama took home the win with a new personal best and world leading time of 14:18.76. Weini Kelati secured a top 10 finish, running 14:35.43 in the event.
- Peruth Chemutai destroyed her personal best in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase to earn the win over a loaded field. Her time of 8:55.09 is also the world lead. Team USA finished 5-8, with Valerie Constien leading the way with her fifth place finish, and a new personal best time of 9:14.29.
- The women’s 100m hurdles never disappoints, and this time around was no different. Cyréna Samba-Mayela of France held off a late charge from Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and took home the win, running a French national record and a new personal best time of 12.52. Camacho-Quinn finished as the runner-up with her time of 12.54.
- The women’s pole vault is always full of surprises and thrill, and this was no different at the Prefontaine Classic this year. Emily Grove pulled off the upset with her mark of 4.63m, defeating Olympic and World Champion Katie Moon, who jumped 4.53m on the day.
- In the women’s triple jump, one jump was all it took for Leyanis Pérez Hernández to secure the win in the event. She recorded her winning mark of 14.73m on her first jump of the competition. Thea Lafond finished as the runner-up in the competition with her mark of 14.62m.
For the full results from this year’s Prefontaine Classic, be sure to visit the official website for the meet.
