2018 Prefontaine Classic Preview

This is my Annual Preview of this prestigious meet, held in its 45th edition (though it went by a different name before Steve died).
Lots to cover, but here's a few guidelines---
Every event--not just DL events--will be covered!
I will list them in order of the schedule!
Special emphasis will be given the Two Mile, with lots of extras!
Included with each event will be the scheduled time (Pacific Time, and all times are p.m.), the Meet Record (with odds for its being broken), who is most likely to be Top 2 or 3 or so, with other names added!
I'll also list any important MIA's!
So let's roll this baby out!!

FRIDAY
6:37     Men's POLE VAULT (19-10.25)
Both PV's are STACKED!!  (I'll be saying that a LOT!!)
You have Renaud Lavillenie, Sam Kendricks, Thiago Braz, Shawn Barber, and MONDO Duplantis!
Need anyone else?
Well, add Piotr Lisek, Pawel Wojcieckowski, Raphael Holzdeppe, and Changriu Xue!!
Yet despite this classiest of fields, the Meet Record is given just 40-60 odds of going down!
Hayward Field is only sometimes good for Vaulters, and big Vaults are rarely assured!

6:42     Men's JAVELIN THROW (286-7)
GONE!!  OUTTA here!!  DONE deal!!
I'm speaking, of course, about this pathetic MR!!
I mean, come on, with THREE 300 footers here, if that MR doesn't get speared (Sic!) in Round One, I'm finished as a seer!!
We have Thomas Rohler, Johannes Vetter, and Andreas Hofmann!!
All of Germany!!
But watch for India's Neeraj Chopra, and Jakub Vadlejch!

7:35     Women's National 800 (The "MR" is held by one of the trio of Un-named, all present in this meet---but in tomorrow's 800!)
That said, tonight's leaders should be among Natoya Goule, Cecilia Barowski, and Kaela Edwards!
What kind of shape is Laura Roesler in?
Watch for Stephanie Brown!

7:42     Women's National 1500 (3:56.41)
This is a good All-American field!
While the MR won't fall (zero odds!), it might be a good race between Katie Mackey, Alexa Efraimson, Rachel Schneider, and Stephanie Garcia!
But watch for Sara Vaughn and Shannon Osika!

7:52     Men's 800 (1:43.63)
Will Emmanuel Korir--who says he'll eventually go sub-1:40!--go out sub-50?
If he does, a 1:42--or even high-1:41 is possible!
He has the speed!
Adam Kszczot, Nijel Amos, and Kipyegon Bett might get in his way!
Erik Sowinski is a great 600 man, but beyond that point, he's average!
Watch for recent British find, Kyle Langford!!

8:06     Men's TWO MILE (8:03.50---Enroute 3000 times WILL be taken--that MR is 7:35.44!)
THIS, friends, is a dream come true!!
Wish they'd done the same for the Women!!)
This may be the greatest Men's Deuce field in history!!
Or at least it has the POTENTIAL to be!!
Instead of the usual Preview, I'm giving you the Place Records for 2nd through 10th, Age Records for all Ages represented here tonight, as well as other essentials!

Place Records are---(2nd) 8:04.83, (3rd) 8:07.07, (4th), 8:11.74, (5th) 8:15.83, (6th) 8:16.50, (7th) 8:17.91, (8th) 8:18.72, (9th) 8:19.11, (10th) 8:21.65!
IF this becomes a speedfest--and all indications are it WILL be!!--then all 9 Place records could fall!!

The following are the relevant Age Records---(18) 8:13.47, (20) 8:03.54, (24) 8:01.08, (25) 8:07.07, (26) 8:01.72, (27) 8:11.16, (28) 8:14.05, (29) 8:15.18, (32) 8:15.90, (33) 8:12.45!
All of those Age Records, EXCEPT the 8:01's, could go!!
(See below for the names!)

Also, 24th A-T US is only 8:24.14!
And NONE of the six US entrants are currently on my list!!
24th on the World list is 8:13.47!
ALL entrants--including all of the Americans!--are capable of making the list!!
NONE are currently on that list!!

Saloman Barega is 18!
Richard Yator is 20!
Age 24 includes Muktar Edris and Ed Cheserek!!
Age 25 is Albert Rop!
Age 26 finds Eric Jenkins!
Age 27 includes Paul Tanui, Henrik Ingebrigtsen, Mo Ahmed, and Paul Chelimo!
Age 28 has Hassan Mead and Ryan Hill!
Age 29 has Shadrack Kipchirchir.
Age 32 finds Ben True, while Age 33 belongs to Lopez Lomong!

The King MIGHT WIN this thing!!
He'll surely have the locals cheering loudly!!
But Edris--despite his non-W's recently--is still dangerous!
Watch for Chelimo, Barega, Rop, Tanui, and Ingebrigtsen!
Aw Hell, flip a coin!!

SATURDAY
12:40     Women's POLE VAULT (15-5.75)
The only thing preventing that MR from going would be the weather!
And good weather is predicted!
As with the Men's event (See above!), this baby is STACKED!!
Jenn Suhr, Ekaterina Stefanidi, Sandi Morris, and Katie Nageotte--all 16 footers, are present!
But you can NOT ignore Eliza McCartney, Anzhelika Sidorova, Alysha Newman, Holly Bradshaw, or even Robelys Peinado!!
There are NO really weak links here--as with the Men!
On recent form, go with Suhr, Morris, and Stefanidi.
But McCartney had a NON-legal 16 footer in Australia earlier, so she might be ready to join the Club!

12:43     Men's TRIPLE JUMP (59-5)
Despite all hopes & wishes, I think that MR is safe for another year!
Give it 30-70 odds!
The only real MIA is PPPP, or Pablo Pichardo!
Christian Taylor and his partner in crime, Will Claye, are here, as is China's Bin Dong!
But watch for Almir Dos Santos, Alex Copello, and Max Hess!
Chris Benard and Nelson Evora are also here!

12:48     Men's International MILE (3:47.32--also, the 1500 MR is 3:32.72)
Brody Hasty will be the one to watch--although not for the Win!!
Will he FINALLY get that sub-4 he chased INdoors this year??
He ran a 4:07 a few days ago!!
But the Gold should go to Drew Hunter, who nabbed his 1st Gold recently!
Watch too for Pat Casey, Colby Alexander, and Riley Masters.

1:00     Men's HIGH JUMP (7-10.75)
Mutaz Barshim cleared 2.40 earlier, while missing his trio at 2.42.
The MR falls between those two--at 2.41.
Give him--and him alone!!--60-40 odds of getting at least a tie!
Andriy Protsenko's also here, as are Danil Lysenko, Erik Kynard, and Donald Thomas.

1:03     Women's 400H (53.03)
The person who would be almost guaranteed a new Meet Record ain't here!!
She (Syd the Kid) has "other" obligations!
In her absence, we should expect Shamir Little and Delilah Muhammed to dominate--although the former tends to falter in too many of her big races!
Watch for Georgeann Moline, Zuzana Hejnova, Cassandra Tate, Ashley Spencer, and Janieve Russell, who could surprise!

1:10     Women's 800 (For the so called MR, see earlier event!)
Besides "those 3", we have Ajee Wilson and Charlene Lipsey.
Oh shoot, do I really need to add other names?
Okay, add Raevyn Rogers, Eunice Sum, Habitam Alemu, and Christiane Williams!
Watch for a FAST opening lap!!

1:18     Men's 100 (9.80)
Christian Coleman had been entered in this race and the 200--but he decided to do just the Century!
Why?
To run a 9.6 or low-9.70??
(Give the MR 60-40 odds--and PRAY for legal winds!)
BEHIND Coleman, watch for Bingtian Su, Ronnie Baker, Isaiah Young, Ben Meite, and GB's Reece Prescod.
Justin Gatlin withdrew due to injury--a tight hamstring!

1:26     Men's 3000SC (8:01.71)
It would be so righteous if Evan Jager got his initial sub-8 on US soil!
But as with other DL's, fast time attempts normally end after the first 1000!!
So watch for a possible opening K of 2:36 to 2:38, but then keep a close eye on the clock after that!
With Consesius Kipruto in the field, that fast opener is almost guaranteed!
Is Jairus Birech in top shape?
Nicholas Bett, Amos Kirui, Ben Kigen, PK Koech, and the USA's Andy Bayer are others to watch!
I'll give the MR 60-40 odds!

1:41     Women's 100 (10.70)
NO Meet Record here--ZERO odds!
But it's a whale of a field, folks!!
There's ET (aka Elaine Thompson), Tori Bowie, Blessing Okagbare, Muriel Ahoure, and Marie Josee Ta Lou!
I hesitate--and am somewhat saddened!--to give Ms Dafne Schippers only a 2nd tier rating!
But she's recently been nowhere near her best form!
Yet watch for her, as well as possible shockers Dina Asher-Smith and Javianne Oliver!

1:50     Women's 1500 (3:56.41)
MIA in this event (She's in the 5000 later today--See below!) is WR holder Genzebe Dibaba!
But who needs HER when you have Laura Muir, Dawit Seyaum, and Jenny Simpson present??!!
(How well does Jenny's 9:16 Deuce at Drake translate here?)
Watch for Brenda Martinez, Colleen Quigley, Kate Grace, and Beatrice Chepkoech!
Also tagging along will be Winnie Chebet and Lisa Weightman!
The MR gets "just" 40-60 odds!

1:58     Men's SHOT PUT (73-7.25)
The "Big 4" are present, but not so sure Konrad Bukowiecki should be included in that Super Elite quartet!
The other 3 are, of course, Joe Kovacs, Tom Walsh, and Ryan Crouser--any of whom  could explode out past 74 feet!!
Could be a dandy little battle!!
Darrell Hill, Darlan Romani, Michel Haratyk, Stipe Zunic, and David Storl are the rest!
But don't blink when those Europeans are throwing!!

2:03     Men's 110H (12.90)
No MR, folks!
At best, maybe 5-95 odds!
The wheels just ain't turning in this historic event!
Even WITH Omar McLeod and Orlando Ortega in the fast lanes!
(Sure wish MIA Grant Holloway was here!!)
If some of the above named hurdles crash, watch for local hero Devon Allen to surprise, as well as Aries Merritt, Sergey Shubenkov, Andy Pozzi, Aleec Harris, and Ron Levy!

2:10     Women's 5000 (14:19.76)
Will she--aka G-D, so to speak!--make yet another WR attempt??
She HAS the wheels, but I'm not sure if they're of 2018 vintage!
(For the WR, see if they pass 3000 in 8:30 or close to it!!)
Helen Obiri's here too, and you can forget her abysmal showing in Doha's 3K!!)
Alice Nawowuna (or Aprot) is here too, but MIA, among others, is Konstanze Klosterhalfen!
Choose from among Margaret Kipkemoi, Lilian Rengerek, Letesenbet Gidey, and Meref Bahta to play Follow the Leader.
Lauren Paquette might be ready for a big PR drop--to 15:00??

2:31     Women's 400 (49.34)
Allyson Felix scratched--for no known reason!
(Although cynics said she knew she wasn't in shape to place better than 4th or 5th, and didn't want that!!)
SMU--aka Shaunae Miller-Uibo should be a decisive winner!
There's a good to great field of Americans here, as this is again becoming a VERY strong event for the USA crowd!
Shakima Wimbley, Courtney Okolo, Jessica Beard, Phyllis Francis, and Jaide Stepter are to be watched closely!
Add Stephanie McPherson for good measure!
Also MIA are Sydney McLaughlin, Kendall Ellis, and Salwa Naser, 2017's huge surprise, who scratched!
Give SMU 40-60 odds for getting the MR!

2:45     Men's 200 (19.68)
As noted above, Christian Coleman decided to do just the 100!
But Noah Lyles is here, and apparently ready, as he's talked of a possible 19.6 or 19.7!!
But windy???
Watch for Isaac Makwala, Jereem Richards, and Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake to follow Lyles to the line.  Add Ameer Webb, Anaso Jobodwana, and Ramil Guliyev to your watch list!

Finally, the---
2:52     Men's BOWERMAN MILE (3:47.32 and 3:32.72)
Asbel Kiprop isn't here!
Is he still embroiled in that alleged positive drug test I reported in an earlier post??
Elijah Manangoi, Tim Cheruiyot, and Silas Kiplagat are here, but have no idea what kind of shape they're in!
Matthew Centrowitz is present also, but he may not be ready to hold a sub-3:50 pace!
Watch too for Aman Wote, Vince Kibet, Bethwell Bergen, Samuel Teferi, as well as Americans Johnny Gregorek, Ben Blankenship, and Clay Murphy!
Keep your eye on super youngster Jakob Ingebrigtsen!!!
No MR!
Sorry, but no!

Finished JUST in time to post before the first event!
WHEW!!
Enjoy the meet!!

See you soon!!