by Larry Eder
This is the first of three pressers from July 3, 2025 at the 50th NIKE Pre Classic, featuring Men’s sprints, 100 meters to 400 meters, 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 first presser on Day 1 was the Men’s Sprints. It featured Christian Coleman, Quincy Hall and Matthew Hudson-Smith.
Christian Coleman is the senior sprinter at the super elite world level for the U.S. Christian first competed at the NIKE Pre Classic in 2015, and through World Champs, Wold Indoor Champs, winning gold in 2019 , silver in 2017 at the 100 meters outdoors, and golds in 2019, 2023 in 4x100m relay and silver in 2017 and 2022 in 4x100m relay. Christian Coleman is focused. He has raced alot in 2025 and is focused on making the team in Tokyo 2025. “I have a new training program and group, and I am looking at the 100m and 200m at USATF. The 100 meters is my focus.” Enough said.
Matthew Hudson-Smith is the British record holder at the 400 meters, European record holder at the 400 meters, European champion at 400 meters, Olympic silver medalist at the 400 meters. Hudson-Smith is one tough athlete. ” No one loves the 400 meters, it is something that you are drawn to. ” Matthew Hudson-Smith has been at NIKE Pre Classic before and his fitness suggests a big time is coming.
Quincy Hall is the Olympic champion at the 400 meters. He also ran cross country in high school as a 400 meter /800 meter runner. ” I want high school kids to run cross country…the 400m in Paris was crazy. Matthew Hudson-Smith flew through the first 200m in Paris, I had never seen anyone go 20.4 at that point in the race. I had to bide my time and run my race.” To say that Quincy Hall is ready for the NIKE Pre Classic may be an understatement.
Kishane Thompson is the fastest man in the world in 2025 with a 9.75 run over 100 meters at the Jamaican Nationals. He is also the Olympic 100 meter silver medalist, in that earth shattering 100 meters in Paris last year. When I asked Kishane what is the difference between 10.00 and 9.75 in the 100m, he had this to say: “In fast races, I am the most relaxed, and many times, I find that the the slower races take the most effort. I am not sure why.” Kishane looks and sounds ready for the battle over 100 meters tomorrow!
