Prefontaine Classic

The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field.

History

Originally started as the Hayward Field Restoration Race, in 1975 the name was changed to Prefontaine Classic on the namesake of the legendary University of Oregon distance runner and Olympian Steve Prefontaine who was killed in a car accident a week prior to the meet. The meet is also referred to as the Nike Prefontaine Classic as Nike has been the title sponsor since 1978.

Notable performances and records

Alan Webb's high school record

At the 2001 Prefontaine Classic Alan Webb ran 3:53.43 in the mile and broke Jim Ryun's national high school record that had stood for 36 years. This also was the fastest mile by an American in three years.

Maria Mutola in the 800 m

Maria de Lurdes Mutola has won 16 consecutive (1993-2008) women's 800 m races at the Pre Classic.

Mary Decker Slaney's world record 5k run

In 1982 Mary Decker Slaney set the 5000 m world record with a time of 15:08.26, beating the old world record (held by Ann Audain) by nearly five seconds.

Don Quarrie's world record 220yd dash

In 1975 Don Quarrie ran 19.92 in the 220yd (201.17m) dash and by doing so set a new world record.

Meet records

Men

100 m 9.88 Shawn Crawford, USA, 2004 9.88 Justin Gatlin, USA, 2006 200 m 20.14 Wallace Spearmon, USA, 2008 400 m 43.92 Michael Johnson, USA, 2000 800 m 1:44.01 Alfred Kirwa Yego, Kenya, 2008 1000 m 2:14.54 Joaquim Cruz, Brazil, 1984 1500 m 3:32.81* Daniel K. Komen, Kenya, 2007 (*en route in Mile) Mile 3:48.28 Daniel K. Komen, Kenya, 2007 3000 m 7:35.44* Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 2005 (*en route in 2-Mile) Steeplechase 8:08.08 Paul Koech, Kenya, 2007 2-Mile 8:03.50 Craig Mottram, Australia, 2007 5000 m 13:07.83 Luke Kipkosgei, Kenya, 1998 10000 m 26:25.97 Kenenisa Bekele, Ethiopia, 2008 110 m Hurdles 13.06 Xiang Liu, China, 2005 400 m Hurdles 47.91 Bershawn Jackson, USA, 2005 High Jump 2.35m Charles Clinger, USA, 2002 Pole Vault 6.04m Brad Walker, USA, 2008 Long Jump 8.49m Irving Saladino, Panama, 2007 Triple Jump 17.40m Walter Davis, USA, 2006 Shot Put 22.19m Kevin Toth, USA, 2002 Discus 71.32m Ben Plucknett, USA, 1983 Hammer 82.65m Koji Murofushi, Japan, 2004 Javelin 79.52m Duncan Atwood, USA, 1987

Women

100 m 10.94 Torri Edwards, USA, 2008 200 m 21.81 Marion Jones, USA, 1999 400 m 49.34 Ana Guevara, Mexico, 2003 800 m 1:57.57 Maria de Lurdes Mutola, Mozambique, 1997 1000 m 2:32.33 Maria de Lurdes Mutola, Mozambique, 1995 1500 m 4:00.44 Gelete Burka, Ethiopia, 2008 Mile 4:21.25 Mary Slaney, USA, 1988 2000 m 5:38.80 Annette Peters, USA, 1992 3000 m 8:39.33 Sonia O'Sullivan, Ireland, 1996 Steeplechase Not yet contested 5000 m 14:38.73 Mesaret Defar, Ehiopia, 2008 10,000 m Not yet contested 100 m Hurdles 12.45 Brigitte Foster, Jamaica, 2003 400 m Hurdles 54.14 Melaine Walker, Jamaica, 2007 High Jump 1.99m Yelena Slesarenko, Russia, 2006 Pole Vault 4.72 m Stacy Dragila, USA, 2002 Long Jump 7.31 m Marion Jones, USA, 1998 Triple Jump 13.64m Anastasiya Zharaviyeva, Uzbekistan, 2007 Shot Put 19.19m Connie Price-Smith, USA, 1997 Discus 65.35m Lisa Marie Vizaniari, Australia, 2000 Hammer 73.93m Betty Heidler, Germany, 2008 Javelin 65.20m Barbora Spotakova, Czech Republic, 2007

External links

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* [http://www.prefontainerun.com/ Official website]
* [http://track.flocasts.org/videos/coverage/view/234008-prefontaine-classic Pre-Classic Athlete Interviews & Photos from 2008]
* [http://preclassic.com/ Prefontaine Classic homepage]
* [http://www.stevepre.com/ Stevepre.com: Prefontaine Fan Site]
* [http://www.gopre.com/ GoPre.com: Prefontaine Fan Site]