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EUGENE, Ore. – Track and field’s sprint stars are descending on Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, promising fast times at this year’s Prefontaine Classic.
This year’s Pre Classic women’s and men’s 100m are headlined by some of the brightest stars in the sport:
Sha’Carri Richardson (U.S.A.) is currently the top 100m runner in the world. Her personal best of 10.65 seconds in the event came with a World Outdoor gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Outdoor Championships in Budapest, which she followed up with a second gold medal in the championship’s 4x100m relay. The 2023 national champion has claimed three Diamond League meeting titles over the course of her professional career so far. She is joined by 14-time Diamond League meeting champion Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith (Côte d’Ivoire), who has a personal best of 10.72 seconds in the event, and reigning World Indoor 60m championJulien Alfred (Saint Lucia), who has a personal best of 10.81 seconds in the 100m.
Christian Coleman (U.S.A.) looks to defend his 2023 Diamond League Final title in the men’s 100m, having run a world-leading 9.83 seconds to earn the diamondtrophy at last year’s event. Coleman is a three-time World Outdoor champion and two-time Diamond League Final winner currently ranked second in the world in the 100m. He will be joined by Kenyan record-holder Ferdinand Omanyala (Kenya), who is currently ranked third in the world in the 100m and has a personal best of 9.77 seconds in the event, as well as reigning World Indoor 60m bronze medalistAckeem Blake (Jamaica), who has a personal best of 9.89 seconds in the 100m.
World medalists highlight the men’s 200m competition:
Erriyon Knighton (U.S.A.) toes the line ranked second in the world in the men’s 200m. The two-time World Outdoor medalist claimed his first national title lastyear at Hayward Field in the 200m, and already has three Wanda Diamond League meeting titles under his belt at just 20 years old. Knighton’s personal best in the event of 19.49 seconds stands as the national under-20 record in the 200m.
Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) claimed two medals at the 2023 World Athletics Outdoor Championships, running 9.88 seconds for second place in the 100m and 19.81 seconds for third place in the 200m. The 20-year-old is currently ranked third in the world in the event with a personal best of 19.50 seconds–the Botswanan national record for the 200m
Kenny Bednarek (U.S.A.) is currently the fourth-ranked 200m runner in the world. Bednarek claimed the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, as well as at the 2022 World Athletics Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field. He enters the Pre Classic with seven Diamond League meeting titles, including the 2021 Diamond League Final.
For a complete list of updated event fields in this year’s Prefontaine Classic Diamond Disciplines, please visit PreClassic.com.
Tickets are now on sale, with prices starting at just $27. A stadium seating map can be viewed here (PreClassic.com). Fans can purchase tickets online at PreClassic.com. Customer service inquiries can be answered by calling 1-800-WEBFOOT (1-800-932-3668).
Accreditation requests for bona fide members of the media wishing to cover the Prefontaine Classic can be placed online at portal.diamondleague.com. Media accreditation questions and other inquiries can be sent to media@gotracktownusa.com.
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About The Prefontaine Classic
The Prefontaine Classic is the premier track and field meet in the United States. Since its inception in 1975, the meet has been a fixture in the global track and field calendar, earning a reputation for bringing the world’s best athletes to Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. The meet is named after Steve Prefontaine and serves as a “living memorial to Pre” (Bill Bowerman, June 1, 1975). The Pre Classic is a member of the Wanda Diamond League circuit and has been sponsored by Nike since 1978. In 2023, The Prefontaine Classic served as host of the prestigious Wanda Diamond League Final and was the top-ranking meet of all-time in World Athletics’ competition scores. For more information, visit PreClassic.com.
About the Wanda Diamond League
The Wanda Diamond League is the premier one-day meeting series in athletics. It comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field. Athletes compete for points at the 14 series meetings in a bid to qualify for the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels on 13th-14th September.
