by Alfonz JuckThe 2019 Nike Pre Classic is unusual, in that it will be held at Stanford on 30 June. The meet shows many of the finest athletes on the world athletic scene. We look forward to seeing them on 30 June.
Christian Coleman, photo by PhotoRun.net
Michael Norman, photo by PhotoRun.net
Ryan Crouser, photo by PhotoRun.net
Coleman, Norman, Crouser and much more
STANFORD (USA): The 45th edition of Prefontaine Classic (part of IAAF Diamond League) at a special venue in California (due to renovation works at Hayward Field in Eugene) is promising again special one day of superb athletics. Nearly in every event a super star is competing. Christian Coleman, Michael Norman, Ryan Crouser, but also Mariya Lasitskene and Caster Semenya. All special headlines for itself, here they are only one of many.
Event by event
Men
100 – All eight entrants have sub-10 PBs. Christian Coleman (9.85), pro debut Cravon Gillespie (9.93) and Zharnel Hughes (9.97) are the only sprinters to have broken the 10 second-barrier in 2019 although Justin Gatlin, Mike Rodgers and Jamaica’s Tyquendo Tracey have all clocked 10.00 this year.
400m – World leader Mike Norman will be looking for his second Diamond League win of the second over 400m after winning in Stockholm with 44.53.
Bowerman Mile – Final event on the programme features Kenyans Elijah Manangoi and Timothy Cheruiyot, world indoor champion Samuel Tefera from Ethiopia along with Jakob and Filip Ingebrigtsen. Olympic champion Matt Centrowitz also makes his season’s debut.
Two miles (non-DL) – First and second over 3000m in Oslo, Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega and Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei are among the top names along with Olympic 5000m silver medallist Paul Chelimo.
110m hurdles – Will Omar McLeod return to winning ways after falling in Rabat? Sergey Shubenkov won’t compete due to injuries he sustained in that race.
400m hurdles – Rai Benjamin, who has clocked 47.58 this year, is the outstanding favourite with Abderrahman Samba and Karsten Warholm both absent.
Pole vault – World leader Armand Duplantis will be looking to improve on his fourth-place finish in Oslo. He faces world champion Sam Kendricks while Renaud Lavillenie returns to international action after injury.
Shot put – The top four throwers based on the 2019 world list will all compete: Olympic champion Ryan Crouser (22.74m), world champion Tom Walsh (22.27m), European champion Michal Haratyk (21.98m) and European silver medallist Konrad Bukowiecki (21.97m).
Women
100m (non-DL) – Sha’Carri Richardson makes her professional debut after winning the 100m at the NCAA Championships in 10.75. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is back in top shape after clocking 10.73 to finish a close second to Elaine Thompson at the Jamaican Championships, her fastest time since 2013.
200m – Dina Asher-Smith will be looking for a hat-trick of Diamond League wins in 2019 but Elaine Thompson is back in form with a 10.73/22.00 double at the Jamaican Championships.
800m – After the Swiss Courts suspended the IAAF’s gender classification, Caster Semenya will return to her favoured distance.
1500m (non-DL) – Laura Muir races for the first time since clocking 3:56.73 in the Rome Diamond League. Shelby Houlihan makes her season’s debut while Kenya’s world and Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon makes her return to racing after maternity leave.
3000m – World 5000m champion Hellen Obiri returns to action after falling in Stockholm. She will renew her rivalry with Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba who pushed her right to the line in Doha. What sort of form will Almaz Ayana show in her first track race since the 2017 World Championships? European 5000m champion Sifan Hassan and Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen are also part of a loaded field.
3000m steeplechase – World record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech leads the field but she was beaten by Kenyan teammate Norah Jeruto in Oslo earlier this month. World champion Emma Coburn and world silver medallist Courtney Frerichs will also be in contention along with former world champion Hyvin Kiyeng from Kenya.
High jump – Mariya Lasitskene is back in imperious form with a 2.06m clearance in Ostrava.
Shot put – The line-up features world champion Gong Lijiao, world indoor champion Anita Marton, European champion Paulina Guba and Olympic champion Michelle Carter.
