Pre Classic Preview

It's called the Prefontaine CLASSIC for a reason.
Because I can't remember there ever being an edition of this meet that was NOT classic, in the most classical sense of that word.
Poor grammar aside, here are the reasons why tonight's and tomorrow's edition WILL be....um, classic!
Event by event, day by day.

Friday, May 29

Men's DT
The Meet Record is Ben Plucknett's 234-0 from 1983.
You can pretty much forget that mark being bettered here.
I say that, even though both Gerd Kanter and Pietr Malachowski have PR's better than the MR.
Those two should battle it out for the win.
But watch for Eloan Hadadi to spoil the party.

Women's LJ
Another great mano-a-mano (Or should this one be womano-a-womano?  LOL) will be between Tianna Bartoletta and Brittney Reese.
I would give this one to Reese without hesitation, but for one glaring flaw she has.
She tends to foul...and foul....and foul....then rips a 7.00 meter jump that blows her competition away.
Nerve-shattering, but always thrilling for her fans.
Expect nothing less tonight!
But watch for a possible upset by Canada's Christobel Nettey or England's Shara Proctor.
BTW, the Meet Record is held by Marion Jones, her 23-11.75 from 1998.

Women's 800
This isn't the "BIG" race.
That's tomorrow.  (See below!)
But this "B" affair ain't so bad.
Not when Maggie Vessey's in it!
What she chooses to wear should be reason enough to watch this one.
(Tonight's part of the meet is available on a USATF-TV webcast--and it's FREE!)
Joining Vessey is my favorite tweeter & blogger, Phoebe Wright.
Also in the mix should be Charlene Lipsey and LaTavia Thomas.

Women's HS 200
Candace Hill should be the clear favorite tonight.
Just a 10th Grader, she's on the verge of breaking the 23 second barrier.
But she has some competition, in the faces of Diamond Spaulding and Symone Mason, both of whom also have low-23 PR's.

Men's HS 200
Watch Ryan Clark MOVE!!
He's the "stud" of this OUTdoor season so far!
But watch also for the INdoor "stud" of 2015, Rai Benjamin.
He's also been HOT this year, both INdoors AND OUTdoors.
He recently ran the 400H in 50.45.  (See a previous post!)

Men's SP
The Meet Record is Christian Cantwell's 73-1.25 from 2010.
He's one of the men in tonight's battle, but don't expect him to break his own MR.
This event is LOADED!!  (I'll be saying that a LOT in this preview!!)
Besides Cantwell, other Americans are Ryan Whiting, Reese Hoffa, and Joe Kovacs, the latter of whom seems best able to get that MR.
Add David Storl  and Tomasz Majewski, and you've got one Hell of a field!

Women's HS Mile
Another "loaded" field!
The only Miler missing isn't eligible for HS Miles anymore.
Alexa Efraimson is a Professional now.
(See my preview of tomorrow's 1500 for more on Alexa!)
But what we DO have is incredible!
Start with Stephanie Jenks and Ryen Frazier.
Then add Colorado-ans (??) Katie Rainsberger and Jordyn Colter.
And Lauren Gregory.
The last ingredient for a "classic" race is 4:16 girl Christina Aragon!
Can they break the HSR of 4:35.24?
Will the race find several going sub-4:40?
Watch this one, folks!

Men's HS Mile
No Grant Fisher or Matt Maton!
However, this race DOES have Mikey Brannigan!
And he's HOT (in the running sense, ladies!!).
Set to join him are Sam Ritz and Elijah Armstrong, the latter possibly better known as a 5000 man!

Men's 5000
This race isn't in Saturday's Main Program for one reason (IMO): TV doesn't like races longer than 4 minutes!
That said, Galen Rupp is set to open his 2015 OUTdoor season here!
What can he do?
The American Record is 12:53.60, and the Meet Record is Mo Farah's 12:56.98 from 2012.
Albert Rop, Ibrahim Jeilan, Isaiah Koech, and Edwin Soi should be at or close to the front.
Collis Birmingham and Lawi Lalang are other foreigners who might contest Rupp.
Bernard Lagat should SHATTER the Age 40 record (13:43!!), but by how much?
Other Americans are Ryan Hill, German Fernandez, and Trevor Dunbar.

Men's 10000
Labled by many as THE race of the meet (at least on the Men's side!), it's all up to one man: Mo Farah.
Or maybe it's REALLY up to Geoff Kamworor!!
He's never gone sub-27:00, but he seems determined to shove MoBot to the ranks of the defeated!
Can he push the pace hard enough to limit the sting of Farah's last 400 kick?
Will the race go sub-26:30?
A WORLD Record??
NOPE!
But it very well COULD be a PR for Mo....in 2nd or 3rd place!!
Paul Tanui and Kenneth Kipkemoi could also mix it up.
Cam Levins is seeking the Canadian Record and a sub-27:00 time.
Zane Robertson is going after the National Record of New Zealand (27:41).
Other Americans are Brian Schrader, Hassan Mead, and Diego Estrada.

And that wraps tonight's activity.
But hang on to your hats (or whatever you want to hang on to!  LOL), because here is what you can expect tomorrow!

Women's TJ
The MR is held by Olga Saladuha,her 49-1.75 from 2011.
She's in the field, along with the woman who is now RED HOT!!
Her name is Caterine Ibarguen!
Yekaterina Koneva is also here.
Everyone else, maybe especially the lone American (Amanda Smock), should have stayed home!

Men's PV
Renaud Lavillenie.
That's all, folks!
Brad Walker's 2008 MR of 19-9.75 may not be long for this world!
The best thing about Renaud, IMHO, is that he tries for the WR in almost every meet!
How many athletes do that....or CAN do that??
His brother, Valentin, will also be there, as well as Lavillenie's main rival, Raphael Holzdeppe.

Men's International Mile
This is, by any other name, the "B" race.
But this field, for what it is, is LOADED!!  (I told you I'd be using that word a lot!!  LOL)
Australian Ryan Gregson will be joined by a field of Americans most meet directors would BEG for!
They include Will Leer, Lopez Lomong, Andy Wheating, Garrett Heath, Pat Casey, Mac Fleet, and Ben Blankenship!
Choose your winner, folks!

Women's 400
Forgive me for being repetitive, but this Pre Classic race has a....CLASSIC field of Americans.
Consider this as a Summit Meeting of a quartet of USA All-Time Greats!!
We have Natasha Hastings, Francena McCorory, Allyson Felix, and a woman known to everyone as SRR, aka Sanya Richards-Ross.
And every one of them SEEMS to be in top shape.
The Meet Record of Ana Guevara (49.34 in 2003) could be in jeopardy!
Another American, Phyllis Francis, could surprise.
And NEVER discount the Jamaicans, who are represented by Novlene Williams-Mills and Stephanie McPherson!!
Should be a GREAT race!

Men's 800
Daniel Rudisha is injured, so won't be here.
He says it's not seriious.
But what IS serious is the field of Nijel Amos, Mohammed Aman, Adam Kszczot, Alfred Kipketer, Ferguson Cheruiyot, and Taouflik Makhloufi!
The American side has Charles Jock, who ain't exactly dead meat!!
The Meet Record is Amos's 1:43.63 from last year's edition!

Men's HJ
Bogdan Bondarenko isn't here, but Mutaz Barshim is.
If conditions are right, a 2.40+ jump is VERY likely!
Other 2.40+ jumpers are Derek Drouin, Andriy Protsenko, and Ivan Ukhov.
Americans doing battle are Jesse Williams and Eric Kynard.
The MR is Barshim's 7-10.50 from 2013.

Men's 400H
Maybe the weakest field of the meet.
Or maybe I should say that the entire EVENT is in a slump!!
Yet the MR of 47.91 (by Bershawn Jackson from 2005!) could be broken.
Bershawn--10 years after his MR!!--is back.
Other Americans are Michael Tinsley and Johnny Dutch.
But watch for Jehue Gordon, Javier Culson, and most interesting, the young Jamaican, Jaheel Hyde!

Men's 3000SC
First question:  Will Jairus Birech take the field under 8:00?
Second question: Will Evan Jager be right there with him?
The MR is "just" 8:03.54 (by Consesius Kipruto in 2013).Sub-8:00 men Paul Koech, Ezekiel Kemboi, and Birech are in the field.
Another to watch is Abel Mutai, whose PR is 8:01.67.
The American Record is Jager's 8:04.71.

Women's International 100
Again, this so called "B" race has a good field, with some interesting side stories.
For one, English Gardner is coming back to her "home" track at the U of O!
Barbara Pierre showed great promise a year or 3 ago.
Is she ready to compete again with the top girls?
Ditto with Kim Duncan, who perhaps is better at 200 meters!
You also have Brazil's (and all of South America's!!) record holder, Ana Lemos, whose PR is 11.01.
Don't leave out the veteran's veteran, Kelly Ann Baptiste, who surprisingly is just 28 years young!!
Last but not least, you have the "slowest" (in terms of PR's!) in the field, High School Professional Kaylin Whitney, who is all of 17 years old!!
She's been better at 200 this season (so far!), but she's due for a fast 100, so watch for her!

Women's JT
The MR is by Christina Obergfoll, 222-1 from 2013.
That mark is vulnerable here.
Besides Obergfoll, you have 236-2 woman Mariya Abakumova, and "comebacking" American Kara Winger (formerly Patterson).
But don't overlook Barbora Spotakova, even though she BOMBED in her most recent meet!!

Women's 100
Okay, here we go again!
This event is CLASSIC!!
In fact, this field is CLASSICALLY classic!!
Forget the MR of 10.70 by Carmelita Jeter in 2011.
(Although, given PERFECT conditions, it CAN go down!!)
Any words I choose to describe this field can't come close to the greatness they represent, so I'll just list the entrants!  (In alphabetical order....to be fair!  LOL)
Murielle Ahoure
Michelle Lee Ahye
Tianna Bartoletta
Tori Bowie
Carmelita Jeter
Blessing Okagbare
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (aka SAFP)
Elaine Thompson
Will the World Championships field be any better??

Men's 100
The MR is Steve Mullings's 9.80 from 2011.
With Tyson Gay leading the pack, that record could go....if the Eugene winds are just right!
But watch for Mike Rodgers, Nesta Carter, James Dasaolu, Richard Thompson, and Ryan Bailey.
Then you have the Ancient Warrior, Kim Collins, here also!
He recently SHATTERED the Age 39 record with a 10.03 time.
Can he take it south of 10.00 on this VERY fast track?

Men's 400
It SHOULD come down to a last straightaway battle between LaShawn Merritt and Kirani James.
But Merritt has been slow (pun intended!  LOL) to come around this year.
The MR is held by the legendary Michael Johnson, his 43.92 dating from 2000!
But don't overlook Isaac Makwala, who could upset both of the superstars!
Another Age Record could fall here.
Chris Brown has already got the Age 36 record, with his earlier 44.76.
Can he go faster here?

Women's 800
The MR is Francine Niyonsaba's 1:56.72 from 2013.
This race has the best US field---maybe EVER!!
Check out these names:
Brenda Martinez
Ajee Wilson
Chanelle Price
Alysia Montano
Yes, the last named is BAAACCCKKKK!!!!
Now a Mama, she seems ready to do her usual 55-56 opening lap, then hang tough the rest of the way against a great field!
Throw Yekaterina Poistagova, Eunice Sum, Janeth Jepkosgei,  Abeba Aregawi, and Lynsey Sharp into the mix, and you've got yourself a RACE!!

Men's 110H
With no one yet going sub-13.00 this year, this is a relatively weak event....on the surface.
But you have some NAMES here.
They include Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, Orlando Ortega, Aleec Harris, David Oliver, and the WR holder, Aries Merritt.
The MR is Oliver's 12.90 from 2010.

Women's 5000
Will Genzebe Dibaba, holder of FOUR World Records INdoors, go after the WR here??
She SAID she will!
But saying it, and DOING it, are two entirely different babies!!
Almaz Ayana, who recently ran 14:14.32 (For comparison, Dibaba's INdoor WR is 14:18!!), was SUPPOSED to be in this race!
But someone---and some are saying it was the Ethiopian federation!!---took her from the entry list!
Sad!
It COULD have been quite a race!
The MR is just 14:33.96, which Vivian Cheruiyot ran in 2011.
Sally Kipyego is fast, as are Viola Kibiwot, Sentajeha Ejigu, and American Record holder Molly Huddle.
Then you have Faith Kipyegon, who won the 2012 WJC 1500, but whose 5000 track debut is THIS race!
Can she run as fast over 12.5 laps as over 3.75?
We'll see.
Other Americans are Marielle Hall and Gabe Grunewald.
Alexi Pappas is also listed, but I believe she's in this as the rabbit!
If she is, she has her work cut out for her, trying to keep up with, let alone lead, Genzebe Dibaba!!
Good luck with THAT!!
(BTW, Jordan Hasay was also supposed to be in this race, but she came up with some sort of injury.)

Men's 200
Justin Gatlin
Okay, that's a wrap!
Just kidding!  (Or was I??)
If you go by the Twitterverse (and several other sources!), Gatlin is perhaps T&F's most REVILED personage!
So, even though the Eugene crowds are normally lenient with their "boo's", you might expect to hear a few when he's introduced.
Will Gatlin win?
YES....barring some disaster!!
Nickel Ashmeade and Isaiah Young should be his main rivals.
Walter Dix's 19.72 from 2010 is the Meet Record.

Women's 1500
Another fierce rivalry happens here!
While Jenny Simpson's collection of medals and fast times is clearly superior to Shannon Rowbury's, it was their race in Zurich last summer which set the stage for this "rivalry".
Have you seen the video of that race, especially the finish?
Simpson won, 3:59.92 to 3:59.93, but as she crossed the finish line, Rowbury came up on her inside and ALMOST nipped her!
While she didn't NIP her, she CLIPPED her (or so it seemed!), and down both went, CRASHING to the track in one cringe-worthy moment!!
Hopefully, both will stay on their feet this time!!  LOL
Because they'll HAVE to, as 3:57+ girl Sifan Hassan is here too!
Helen Obiri's 2014 MR of 3:57.05 could be broken!
And if it is, will Simpson be the one to do it, thus breaking Mary Slaney's 1982 AR of 3:57.12??
Or is Shannon ready to take over the power position on the American front?
Mercy Cherono, Axumawit Embaye (I just LOVE that name!!), Hannah England, Laura Weightman, and Zoe Buckman are the other foreigners in the race.
Other Americans are Aisha Praught, Treniere Moser, Katie Mackey, and Emma Coburn.
Oh yes, almost forgot!
HS Professional Alexa Efraimson, now all of 18 years old, is also here!
She ran 4:09.43 at Mt SAC as her OUTdoor season "rust-buster".
Then she proceeded to break her 800 best---TWICE---first by just 0.03 seconds, then with a solid 2:01.13!  (She won both races!!)
Her coach, Mike Hickey, once said she was ready to go 3:59, but more recently has said it's more likely she'll run 4:02, after a slight setback this past winter.
If she runs that time, she'll be the American Junior record holder, beating....Mary Cain!!
(For my "brilliant" editorial on Cain's departure from NOP to return home to Bronxville NY, see my previous post, "That Bronxville Girl"!!  LOL)


Men's Bowerman Mile
This race always ends the Pre meet, as it should, as Bill Bowerman was Steve Prefontaine's coach while he was at UO.
The Meet Record is Ayanleh Soulaiman's 3:47.32 from last year.
This CLASSIC field has at least SEVEN who have broken 3:50.
Silas Kiplagat
Collins Cheboi
Aman Wote
James Magut
Silas Kiplagat
Abdelati Iguider
Asbel Kiprop
Then you have a couple of Americans who would LOVE to be towed to a sub-3:50 time.
They are America's best, Leo Manzano, and Matthew Centrowitz!
This should be the perfect way to end a truly CLASSIC (sic!!) meet!!

Tonight's events, as noted, will be livestreamed FREE by USATF-TV!!
You can bet I will be watching!
Will you?