by Larry Eder
This is the second of three pressers from July 3, 2025 at the 50th NIKE Pre Classic, featuring Men’s Jumps, specifically, the pole vault, with Mondo Duplantis, Sam Kendricks and Ersu Sasma, special thanks to Jeff Oliver, the man.
This is the 50th anniversary of the Pre Classic, sponsored by NIKE since 1978 and named in his honor after his death in May 1975. The meet was known originally as the Hayward Restoration meet. Many of the greatest athletes in the world have been seen here.
For this American writer, for many years, it was my first approach to seeing the world’s best athletes in a domestic meet. I have to thank Tom Jordan, the dude of dudes at NIKE Pre Classic from 1985 to 2022, I believe, and writer of Pre! Behind the scenes, NIKE sports marketing team, from Geoff Hollister and Tom Sturak, to John Capriotti and now, Brett Holt and his amazing team (Simon Bairu, Paul Moser, Llewellyn Starks, Johnny Nielsen, Robby Lotwis, among others). This team lives and breathes NIke running, and the Pre Classic, in my mind is the litmus test of NIKE’s corporate support of running.
But for the next several hours, I will geek out on the pressers, three on Wednesday, July 3, and Six on Thursday, July 4.
The Men’s jumps featured the pole vault. The Men’s pole vault runway here is unique, per Sam, Mondo and Ersu. In the European meets, the pole vault runway is a chalenge not only of the event, but the winds must be calculated and overcome for success.
Sam Kendricks, two time Olympic medalist, three time Olympian (Rio bronze, Paris silver), and World Champion in 2017 and 2019. My brother, Brian described Sam as the “Matthew McConnaghy of the sport”, always accessible, articulate and relaxed. Of the pole vault, Sam Kendricks noted that he wants to give back to the sport, and hence his “Refuge,” a new training center in his home near Oxford, Mississippi which is his passion project. “The pole vault runway at Hayward is one of my favorite places to compete.”
Mondo Duplantis, 12 time WR holder, Olympic champion, twice, loves the pole vault and he also loves golf. Mondo set a WR here in 2022 at the World Championships. Of his world records, Mondo noted “setting the world record in Sweden was the most imporant. I wanted to share that with my country.” Of Hawyard, Mondo noted, ” the runway and pole vault set up at the new Hayward is the best in the world.”
Ersu Sasma is the national record holder in the pole vault in Turkey. Ersu has broken the record twice in 2025, and it now stands at 5.90m. ” I hope to clear 5.91m, or 5.95m, or perhaps 6.00 meters here. I want to improve.” Ersu’s enthusiasm is obvious, making the pole vault on Saturday an event with much anticipation.
