The 2023 edition of the Prefontaine Classic was one for the record books. Literally.
For the first time ever, the historic event served as the Diamond League Final, and the athletes who competed did not disappoint. The meet showcased the world’s best, and the athletes showed why they’re the best in the world, as multiple national records and even two world records were broken in the two-day competition.
Mondo Duplantis continues to defy logic and human comprehension when it comes to the men’s pole vault. His performance at the Pre Classic proved that he is leaps and bounds above the competition when it comes to his dominance in the event.
Duplantis cleared his first attempt at 6.23m, which not only secured him the win, but it gave him his seven world record in the event.
“The limit is very high, and I hope that I can continue to jump well and keep jumping higher than I did today,” Duplantis said after the world-record setting win. “But, for now, I’m not really thinking about anything except enjoying this moment and enjoying what I just did.”
The women’s 800m went down in the history books on the last day of the Pre Classic. Athing Mu wasn’t eligible to win the Diamond League Championship trophy, as she was a wild-card entry in the women’s 800m. That still did not stop one of the greatest 800m runners of all-time from delivering a jaw-dropping performance against an elite field that included this year’s world champion Mary Mora and this year’s Diamond League Champion, Keeley Hodgkinson. Mu delivered an incredible performance in the race, breaking the American record in the women’s 800m with her time of 1:54.97, which was also the fastest time in the world. Hodgkinson ran a new personal best time of 1:55.19, which also set a new British national record. Natoya Goule-Toppin of Jamaica set a new national record with her time of 1:55.96, which was good for third place in the race.
Shericka Jackson has been a nightmare for opponents in the women’s short sprints this season. The talented Jamaican took home the silver medal at the world championships in the women’s 100m, while securing the gold medal in the women’s 200m later on in the meet. She showed her dominance yet again in Eugene, completing the sprint double and earning two Diamond League titles.
She took home the win in the women’s 100m with her time of 10.70. In the 200m, she left the competition in the dust from the start, dominating the race from the start of the gun. Her winning time of 21.57 set a meet record in the women’s 200m.
Of all of the remarkable performances that took place, there are three that stood out to me in particular. Would you care to know which three performances stood out to me? Check out the latest episode of Track Talk to find out.
