by Alfonz JuckThe Nike Pre Classic is being held on Memorial Day Weekend. It is just less than 50 days before the World Athletics Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. For many of the elite athletes competing, it is a time to familiarize themselves with the newly renovated Hayward Field. The fields are impressive, and a night and day of global class track & field will wet the appetites of fans for this upcoming season.
This is EME event by event preview.
Mondo Duplantis, photo by Diamond League AG
EUGENE (USA): Three world record attempts outside of the Diamond League, plus the US 10,000m championships, open proceedings tomorrow night at Prefontaine Classic. Meanwhile, Armand Duplantis, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Ryan Crouser and Jakob Ingebrigtsen are some of the big names on Saturday.
Short previews
Men
100m: Christian Coleman, Trayvon Bromell, and Fred Kerley face-off but Erriyon Knighton may be due his first sub-10 after the 200m breakthrough.
400m: The field features four sub-44 runners in Kirani James, Michael Cherry, Michael Norman and Isaac Makwala.
Bowerman Mile: Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen takes on world champion Timothy Cheruiyot, with world leader Abel Kipsang looking to break in.
5000m (Non-DL; Friday): Joshua Cheptegei is due to go after his own world record of 12:35.36.
5000m: A second 5000m treat of the weekend sees Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega stepping down and world indoor 1500m champion Samuel Tefera in his first race over 3000m. However, Mo Ahmed, competing for the first time since his 26:34 10,000m in March, could be strong.
10,000m (US Champs, Friday): Grant Fisher heads the way with his 26:33 from April. William Kincaid and Ben True are among eight sub-27:30 runners.
400m hurdles: Alison Dos Santos looks to follow up his great opener with. Khallifah Rosser is the next quickest this year int he field, while Yasmani Copello looks to bounce back from Doha sixth.
Pole vault: Mondo Duplantis looks to hit the huge heights again. Chris Nilsen and Renaud Lavillenie are looking to challenge.
Shot: Ryan Crouser returns to the venue of his world record last year. The field includes the next three on the world list, Joe Kovacs, Zane Weir and Nick Ponzio, plus Tomas Walsh.
Women
100m: Elaine Thompson-Herah returns to the scene of her 10.54 from last summer. Shericka Jackson, Dina Asher-Smith, and Sha’Carri Richardson are also involved in a loaded field.
200m: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce moves up and will be the favorite, with Brittany Brown among the challengers. Mujinga Kambundji competes internationally for the first time since her world indoor 60m win.
800m: Olympic silver winner Keely Hodgkinson leads the way after Athing Mu’s withdrawal. Jemma Reekie, Raevyn Rogers and Ajee Wilson are the other biggest names. With WL holder Allie Wilson.
1500m: The top two from Tokyo meet in Faith Kipyegon and Laura Muir. World indoor record-holder Gudaf Tsegay is also there.
2 miles (Friday): Francine Niyonsaba and Sifan Hassan will attempt to break the world best of 8:58.58 set by Meseret Defar in 2007.
5000m (Friday): Letsenbet Gidey will attack her own world record. Winny Chebet and Rahel Daniel are among the opposition.
10,000m (US Champs, Friday): Elise Cranny is a late withdrawal. Karissa Schweizer and Emily Infeld are next fastest.
3000m steeplechase: Peruth Chemutai and Courtney Frerichs go-ahead to head after their Olympics 1-2. Norah Jeruto is quickest in the field with her win from this meeting last year.
100m hurdles: Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn faces world record-holder Keni Harrison.
High jump: Yaroslava Mahuchikh makes her season debut against Vashti Cunningham.
Long jump: Ivana Vuleta returns to the long jump with Ese Brume and Tara Davis two other 7m jumpers in the field.
Discus: Valerie Allman is a big favorite. Sandra Perkovic and Kristin Prudenz are among the challengers.
