Prefontaine DL Preview

It's here!
When thinking of my intro, I wanted to avoid saying the fields are STACKED or LOADED---or this could be the GREATEST PRE EVER!
Really, I did!
But I CAN'T!!
Because the 2017 edition of this Memorial meet just might BE the greatest ever!!
The POTENTIAL at least is there!!
So enough of this bullshit!

I will Preview the entire meet (tonight and tomorrow) event-by-event--in the order of the schedule!!
I'll give you the time the event starts (Pacific Time), the Meet Record, the entrants to watch, and just a general overview!

NOTE: Two athletes withdrew---Sergey Shubenkov from the 110H, because of visa approval delays, and Matthew Centrowitz from the Bowerman Mile, because of either an "illness" or "slight" injury problems.  (He said he'd attend & watch & root for the other athletes!!)

BTW, you might notice that EVERY Friday event is a Women's event!!
That's to honor Joan Benoit Samuelson, who just turned 60 years young!!

Friday

7:34 p.m. Women's JT (222-1)
I'll be saying this a LOT, but the MR could fall!  65-35 odds!
While WR holder Barbora Spotakova is here, she's not the favorite, IMO!
Instead, watch for new China NR holder Shiying Liu to steal the show.
Also Tatsiana Khalodovich, Sara Kolak, Kathy Molitor, Kara Winger, and Canadian Liz Gleadle, who's been hot lately!

7:37 p.m. Women's LJ (23-11.75)
Brittney Reese.
If she's ON (Meaning, she doesn't foul out!!), this MR is in danger!
She recently went 6.98, so she's ready.
But give her 35-65 odds.
Tianna Bartoletta might challenge, but watch also for Lorraine Ugen, Christobel Nettey, Darya Klishina, Shara Proctor, and Blessing Okagbare.

7:59 p.m. High School Women's 200 (No MR!)
Even without HS PRO Candace Hill, or the injured Lauren Rain Williams, this is a (Ahem!) LOADED field!!
You need a 23.01 to make my HS list.
While just 1 girl is in that range (Symone Mason), by race's end, we could see a few!!
EVERY girl in the race is capable of 23.5 or (MUCH!) faster!!

8:06 p.m. Women's 800 (Won't list MR!  (See Saturday's 800 for the reason why!)
Sammy Watson!
No, she's NOT the fastest gal here!
But she just might break Mary Cain's HSR of 1:59.51---while losing!!
Laura Roesler has been sub-2 this year already.
Charlene Lipsey had that 1:58.64 INdoors!
Chrishuna Williams and Chanelle Price could be close!
If Watson comes through 600 in 1:28.5 or faster, watch the clock!!!

8:14 p.m. Women's 1500 (3:56.41)
You'll have to wait for tomorrow's 1500 to see a potential MR challenge!
Tonight, watch for comebacking Canadian rebel Sheila Reid to win!
Maybe sub-4:05...or even sub-4:03!!
Katie Mackey is ready, and Emily Lipari just cut 4 seconds off her PR!
Alexa Efraimson might surprise.
But for me, I WANT Gabe Grunewald to WIN!!
Battling cancer, she's delaying treatments so she can race a few more times this year!!
Watch her, and stand in sheer AWE!

8:25 p.m. Women's 3000SC  (8:59.97)
Ruth Jebet should challenge this MR!
Give her 70-30 odds!
But watch for teen sensation Celiphine Chespol, Purity Kirui, and Beatrice Chepkoech!!
Emma Coburn could get her own AR here, but probably won't, as she'd want to peak at USATF!
Germany's Gesa Krause is always fast.
Besides Coburn, Americans include Stephanie Garcia, Courtney Frerichs, Leah O'Connor, and Oiselle's Mel Lawrence, who was added late!!
BTW, discount Frerichs's slow Doha time--she had food poisoning there!!

8:41 p.m. Women's 5000 (14:19.76)
Will Genzebe Dibaba's promised WR attempt unfold as planned?
Oh, how I'd LOVE to say YES!!!
But I'm giving her just 25-75 odds!
It might be too hot--or the pacing won't be good--or she's just not ready!!
That said, I expect her to give it the old college try!!
She'll have Geleta Burka for company---up to a point!!--but after halfway, it will be G-D vs The CLOCK!!
She needs to AVERAGE 68 second 400's---all the way!!
Sifan Hassan might surprise.
Other Africans (past or present!  LOL) are Belaynesh Oljira, Getytom Gebreslase, Dera Dida, and Meref Bahta!
Will we see multiple sub-15's from the Americans??
I'll give THAT 60-40 odds!!
Molly Huddle should lead the way, but Emily Sisson could SHOCK!!
Kim Conley and Marielle Hall are 2 other USA gals to watch!
NOTE: The MR's for 3000 meters and 2 Miles are 8:34.47 and 9:13.27.
It would be SWEET if official splits were taken at those two points!
Genzebe could smash BOTH enroute!!

Saturday

12:45 p.m. Men's PV  (19-10.25)
Mondo!
Yes, we'll be in thrall over seeing Renaud Lavillenie, Thiago Braz, and Sam Kendricks renew their Rio podium fight!
And 2 or 3 others will be there to keep things lively!
But---MONDO DUPLANTIS IS HERE!!!
And he says he's ready to PR!!
Can he split up the "Rio 3"---and even WIN???
I'll give THAT just 30-70 odds!
The MR is given 60-40 odds, with Renaud seen as the leading light!
But who will really care about anything other than the fact we are seeing High School HISTORY in the making!
Savor the moment!

12:49 p.m. Men's TJ  (58-3.25)
While Jonathan Edwards's WR of 60-0.25 hasn't been challenged since 2015--and won't be challenged here--I believe this MR is GONE!!
Give it 90-10 odds!!
Christian Taylor and Will Claye should control the action, but watch for China's Bin Dong!
Alex Copello is also good.

12:53 p.m. High School Men's 200 (No MR!)
Unlike the Women's HS 200 (See above!), the guys have "just" 3 real SuperStuds!!
And the US's own Tyrese Cooper might NOT win!!
Japan's Abdul Sani-Brown is 18, and fast!
So is Jamal Walton!
In fact, their 3 PR's are within one-tenth of a second of each other!
It could be THAT close!

1:03 p.m. Women's 400H  (53.03)
They're BACK!!
Meaning those then-Collegiate WonderGals Georgeanne Moline and Kori Carter.
Carter ran 54.53 to lead the world, then Moline topped that with 54.10!
Based on that, I'd settle Delilah Muhammed, Zuzana Hejnova, and Ashley Spencer on the back burner somewhere!
Shamier Little might surprise, as could Sara Petersen and Janeive Russell.
No MR (20-80 odds), but should be interesting!

1:08 p.m. Women's HJ  (6-7.50)
Seems like a fairly easy MR target, but 2.00 (6-6.75) has been hard to come by the past 2 years, so it should survive to 2018!
(30-70 odds)
Vashti Cunningham (19) will face Ruth Beitia (38) in an Ageless face-off!
But it could be 3XMom Chaunte Lowe (33) who splits them apart!
Kamila Licwinko and steady Lavern Spencer are also here.

1:13 p.m. Men's 5000  (12:56.98)
PLEASE, Guys, CRUSH that Meet Record!!
Sir Mo Farah is the NAME!
But he may NOT be the main TALENT!!
He was out-kicked by Centro at Oxy in the 1500 (See earlier post!), but that might not matter here.
What WILL matter is if anyone tries to take it out---FAST!!
Geoff Kamworor has vowed to go after Mo, but he'll have to push out steady 62's to do it!
That's a pace of about 12:55, folks!
While Yomif Kejelcha, Hagos Gebrhiwet, Isaiah Koech, Albert Rop, Caleb Ndiku, and Paul Tanui might seem (in addition to Kamworor) Mo's most serious rivals, watch for the North Americans!!
Paul Chelimo, Len Korir, Ben True, Ryan Hill, Eric Jenkins, Mo Ahmed, and Hassan Mead could---in a FAST race---challenge the American Record!!
Give the MR 60-40 odds!

1:33 p.m. Women's 100H  (12.24)
Another---Pardon me!---LOADED field!!
Kendra Harrison and Brianna Rollins are NOT here!
So no MR!
Odds are 20-80!
But with MOST of America's (and therefore, the World's!!) best here, this should be a BLAZER!!
Toss a coin to see if Nia Ali, Kristi Castlin, Sharika Nelvis, Jasmine Stowers, Christina Manning, Queen Harrison, or Dawn Harper-Nelson will take USA honors!!
But watch for Alina Talay to mix it up with the US crew!

1:41 p.m. Men's 110H  (12.90)
NO Meet Record today, folks!!
Not unless Omar McLeod finds the perfect wind and the perfect race!
Aleec Harris and Devon Allen are a pair to watch!
Super Vets David Oliver and Aries Merritt are here.
Give Merritt the odds over Oliver---but it won't matter!
Dimitri Bascou and Andrew Pozzi are potential threats!

1:50 p.m. Women's 100  (10.70)
No MR!
And no English Gardner!
She scratched, and was replaced by Barbara Pierre.
But watch for recent Jamaica victor Morolake Akinosun to snatch the win.
Tianna Bartoletta, doubling back from the LJ (See above!) is here, as is Michelle Lee-Ahye, who was a VERY close 2nd to Akinosun in that Jam race!
Murielle Ahoure and Veronica Campbell-Brown might surprise!

1:56 p.m. Men's SP  (73-6.25)
They're ALL here!
Tom Walsh, David Storl, Konrad Bukowiecki, Kurt Roberts, Darrell Hill.
Yawn.
The two to REALLY watch are OG Gold winner Ryan Crouser and HOT-HOT Joe Kovacs, who just topped 74 feet!!
If Joey does that here, it's Bye-Bye MR!!
Give him/it 70-30 odds!!

2:00 p.m. Men's International Mile  (For MR, see Bowerman Mile below!)
While not quite the same as it was in 2001, with Alan Webb getting the HSR, this year's "B" Mile has DJ (David) Principe, one of a FEW High Schoolers knocking on the sub-4 door this year!!
He'll get his chance to become OUTdoor sub-4 guy Number Ten here!
He says he's rested and in TOP shape, sooooo....!!
Chris O'Hare, John Gregorek, Lopez Lomong, an in shape Andy Wheating, plus two of Norway's Ingebrigtsen family of Milers should help Principe with the pacing!
Jakub Ingebrigtsen, BTW, is just 16 years old!!
Would he be the YOUNGEST to ever go sub-4??
That's what some sources are saying!!

2:09 p.m. Men's 400  (43.92)
Sorry, friends, but without Wayde Van Niekerk and Collegiate Stormer Fred Kerley, this field is one of the LEAST interesting!!
Tell that to Lashawn Merritt, who should prevail over a couple of young pretenders--Baboloki Thebe (just turned 20) and Karabo Thibanda (19 on July 2nd), both with low 44.2-ish PR's!
Tony McQuay has run 44.24, but not too recently!
Vernon Norwood and Pavel Maslak are here too!
MR odds are 40-60.

2:16 p.m.  Women's 800  (The "MR" is held by Francine Niyonsaba, and is 1:56.72.  As I have "banned" Niyonsaba, as well as Margaret Wambui and Caster Semenya from any & all consideration for my Record Book's records & lists, I am saying this MR is NOT Niyonsaba's!!  So no odds will be given!  Sorry!!)
Other than "those 3", we have Melissa Bishop, Habitam Alemu, Lynsey Sharp, Joanna Jozwik, and Selina Buchel to vie for the podium!
Kendra Chambers could be in the mix too!
Watch for Marina Arzamosova!

2:24 p.m.  Men's 100  (9.80)
Normally, with Justin Gatlin in the field, I'd just print his name on the medal and leave it at that!
But his season opener---and general "quiet" year so far---makes me have SOME doubts!
At his "normal", Gatlin should win, and even challenge the MR---given Eugene's quixotic winds!!
Andre De Grasse is another with a mixed-2017.
Ronnie Baker just went 9.98---legal wind!
Mike Rodgers, Bingtian Su, and Adam Gemili are others to watch!

2:32 p.m.  Women's 1500  (3:56.41)
Sorry (Again!!), but this is a VERY LOADED field, folks!!
No truer words have been said!
Except for WR holder Genzebe Dibaba (In Friday's 5000!  See above!), EVERYONE is here!!
Laura Muir!
Jenny Simpson & Shannon Rowbury!!
Faith Kipyegon & Dawit Seyaum!!
Helen Obiri!!
Then we have two Americans who have the TALENT to run 3:59 or faster, and who---in the perfect race, COULD do it here!!
Kate Grace & Brenda Martinez!
Add the Brit Laura Weightman--stir--and VOILA!---maybe the BEST Women's 1500 EVER!!
Odds for the MR?
70-30!!

2:46 p.m.  Women's 200  (21.81)
THIS is the race---and the field--everyone & their Grandmothers are talking about!!
Place your bets!!
Elaine Thompson, the "ET" who's come home--and then some!!
Tori Bowie, the American who might/could/will??
Dafne Schippers, the Dutch beauty who is, um, slightly FAST?
Allyson Felix, the Veteran?
The Hyphenates??
(Marie-Josee Ta Lou, Ivet Lalova-Collio, Shaunae Miller-Uibo)
Or even Eugene Darling Jenna Prandini??
Line 'em up, and say the words---On your marks....!!
MR odds---given Hayward's wicked winds---are 60-40!

2:52 p.m. Men's Bowerman Mile  (3:47.32--and 3:32.72 for 1500 meters!)
Centro has scratched!  (See above!)
But despite his recent win over Sir Mo at Oxy, he'd just be one of the crowd!
The main question is---Will it go like last year's--SLOW---or like it did in 2014, when the MR was set?
If the latter, watch for Asbel Kiprop, Silas Kiplagat, Elijah Manangoi, MR holder Ayanleh Souleiman, and Ronald Kwemoi to be the decisive factors!
The 3rd Ingebrigtsen (Filip) is here too, as is Australia's Ryan Gregson, but the Africans should prevail.
Interesting for Americans will be to see if Clay Murphy has Mile wheels---in addition to his prowess at half the distance!!
If any American is to challenge Centro for supremacy, it could be Murphy!
Ben Blankenship is the other American.

I hope the meet lives up to my hyperbolic Preview!
And I hope my Preview helps you in enjoying the meet!!
Greatest Pre ever??
We shall see!