by Larry Eder
The behind-the-scenes battle to have the world’s two most popular and fastest sprinters were won by Nike Pre Classic earlier this week. The long season, preceded by Tokyo 2021 and Eugene 2022, and the spectacular 2023 season, has taken its toll on Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson. The exhilaration, the energy used to win gold in 100m, 200m, and 4x100m for Lyles and 100m gold, 200m bronze, and 4x100m gold for Richardson had to be exhausting.
While Sha’Carri Richardson was not in doubt to appear in Eugene, Noah Lyles was. Last week, after Zurich, Noah Lyles noted his season was over. Two days later, he noted on X, formerly Twitter, ” I might have one more 100m race this season.”
And so, he does!
RunBlogRun will be in Eugene. We hope that you will join us for the Diamond League Finals on September 16-17, 2023.
The world’s fastest athletes promise a thrilling start to The Prefontaine Classic.
EUGENE, Ore. – The world’s fastest athletes, Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles, are expected to take the stage on Saturday, September 16, at The Prefontaine Classic, which serves as this year’s Wanda Diamond League Final. The Prefontaine Classic announced today that both athletes have been confirmed to headline their respective 100-meter races.
Sha’Carri Richardson declared, “I’m not back. I’m better.” following her 100-meter win at the 2023 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships in July at Hayward Field. She followed her national title by taking home gold at the 2023 World Athletics Championships Budapest23 in both the 100-meter and 4×100-meter relay and bronze in the 200-meter. The two-time World Champion intends to keep that promise at this year’s Prefontaine Classic women’s 100-meter.
Fresh off a legendary World Athletics Championships gold medal triple (100-meter, 200-meter, and 4×100-meter relay), Noah Lyles looks to add another Wanda Diamond League Champion trophy to his case. Already a four-time Diamond League Final Champion in the 200m (2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022), Lyles is seeking his first title in the 100-meter from the event. The Olympic medalist’s wind-legal personal best of 9.83s was set just this season and currently has him ranked first globally in the event.
Budapest, Hungary
August 19-27, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris
Saturday’s session of The Prefontaine Classic begins at 11:30 a.m. Pacific time at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. The specific timetable will be released at a future date via Pre Classic’s website, email, and social media channels. Single-day tickets are on sale at PreClassic.com/tickets. Until noon Pacific time on Wednesday, September 6, tickets to Saturday’s session are just $25.
###
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 Wanda Diamond League circuit member and has been sponsored by Nike since 1978. For more information, visit PreClassic.com.
