Eleven Takeaways from the 50th NIKE Pre Classic, July 5, 2025

As one of the few who have been to the NIKE Pre Classic in four different decades, I have a rather rarefied view of this event. Here are my takeaways:

1. The legacy of Steve Prefontaine continues, as the global sport of track and field is celebrated in this modest city in the Pacific Northwest. Nearly perfect conditions, in a fine stadium, and with NIKE’s finest athletes, the event celebrated the sport of athletics.
2. Each year, as I have gone in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and now, 2025, I tried to read the proverbial tea leaves on where NIKE stands in terms of the sport of athletics and the business of running. Since 2006, I have felt that NIKE had truly lost its way, as many of the incredible people that built NIKE were discarded or ignored. It seems that NIKE is, from the top down, looking at running and deciding that the cyclical decreases in interest and quality of product at NIKE have to stop. That requires the best people, but also empowering people to make decisions and make mistakes.
3. The throws showed their importance. The women’s discus with Valerie Allman (Valerie is 12/12 this season) and the men’s discus with Oregon transfer Mykolas Alekna impressed. Joe Kovacs and Chase Jackson dominated the men’s and women’s competition in the shot put. Field events are an integral part of Track & Field, something the folks at Grand Slam missed, but not something missed at NIKE Pre Classic. Steve Prefontaine loved the throws (Mac Wilkins was a big friend), and this would have made him very happy.
4. The Men’s pole vault is always a hit in Eugene. Especially with Renaud Lavillenie, Sam Kendricks and Mondo Duplantis. All three of these fine sportsmen are class acts and great interviews. Mondo was very funny when my brother, Brian and I spoke with him. Mondo told us a story about being hungover in the Eugene airport for nine hours last year while we waited for the plane. (It’s on the interview). Remember, Greg Duplantis, father of Mondo, won the Pre in 1992 (competing for Reebok). This writer was there!
5. Both 100 meter races were spectacular. Kishane Thompson is flying right now as the US athletes build to the US champs and Zharnel Hughes of GB shows his stuff. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, having a spectacular season, is truly running at a whole level of confidence and focus. Sha’Carri Richardson, injured in February, is slowly building to the Tokyo World Champs, where she will defend her titles.
6. Sydney McLaughlin is in a class all of her own. This writer believes that Sydney can break the AR of Sanya Richards-Ross in 2025 while destroying the 400m hurdles as well. My hunch is that Bobby Kersee will decide, with Sydney on what she wants to do in Tokyo after the US Champs. Rai Benjamin, Alison Dos Santos are providing some exciting races in 2025, as is Karsten Warholm. That 400m hurdles final in Tokyo is going to be a true highlight.

   

7. The women’s long jump was a mere tease of what could happen in Tokyo. Tara Davis Woodhall is an adrenaline junkie, riding the wave off the fans and her desire to be the very best in the world. Malaika Mihambo does not want to give up the title, and she will fight Tara to the very end. Add Claire Bryant, Jasmine Moore, Ivana Spanovic, Jazmin Sawyers, among others and you have a final in Tokyo that could be rivetting. Tara Davis Woodhall’s celebration after her 7.07m win in Eugene was one for the ages!
8. Bowerman Mile is always a big event. After the International Mile and Bowerman mile, twenty-five more men joined the sub 4 ranks in Eugene, putting it over 400 plus! Niels Laros of the Netherlands and Yarod Nuguse of the US had the fans on their feet as the Mile race was decided in the last 9.44 meters! What a race! What a competition!
9. What a crowd! 12,606, more than I have seen over the last decade. The NIKE Pre Classic in 2025 was a true celebration of all things good in track and field and all things Pacific Northwest! The house that Phil and Penny Knight built (for a reported $281 million, under the watchful eye of the late John Slusher, Sr. who also oversaw Autzen Stadium, at the request of Mr. Knight), delivered once again.
10. World records and near world record! The women’s 5,000 meters, run by Beatrice Chebet, who ran 13;58.03, with a 61.9 last lap, was a real race. Gudaf Tsegay never gives up and is focused once again. Faith Kipyegon ended the meet with a world record, at the 1,500 meters of 3:48.68! Faith is beloved by the fans and her sponsor, NIKE. Faith was given a special NIKE jacket on her performance. Winifred Yavi, a Kenyan in Bahrain, ran 8:45.24, missing the WR in the 3,000m steeple by oh so little! What drama!
11. What a score! 98,211 points for the Pre Classic version 50. Best score, I believe for a single day Diamond League meeting. I was gently reminded how much I loved the 2023 GP final, which was superb! From the 100 meters to the 400 meters to the steeplechase, to the long jump, pole vault, shot puts and discus, and the mile, 1,500m and 5,000m, the team at Pre put on a wonderous meet. Well done to Jody Smith, Mike Reilly and John Capriotti and the team at TrackTownUSA. Well done to Jeff Oliver, the media director at Pre. They were exhausted post weekend, and their rest was well-deserved. I believe I saw Pre and Dellinger, sitting in the East stands, with a PBR each, laughing and smiling as they enjoyed 4 hours of the sport they love. And it was a great day.