by Larry Eder
This is the fifth of six pressers from July 4, 2025 at the 50th NIKE Pre Classic, featuring the Women’s 1,500 meters, with Georgia Hunter-Bell, Olympic bronze 1,500m, Faith Kipyegon, Olympic gold (3x), WR holder, 1,500m, mile and 5,000m, and Jess Hull, Olympic silver medalist. Special thanks to Jeff Oliver and his team at Tracktown USA. Emceed by Paul Swangard.
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 women’s 1,500 meters will end the NIKE Pre Classic numver 50 tomorrow and it should be, well, insane. Mark Cullen, teammate of the late Steve Prefontaine, editor of @trackerati, told this writer on Friday to expect two world records, one in the Men’s Mile and one in the women’s 1,500 meters.
Faith Kipyegon ran her Breaking4 attempt on June 26. She looks relaxed after her 4:06.9 mile, where she came close to 3:48 at the 1,500m mark. Faith Kipyegon, a wonderful interview, kind person and incredibly gracious noted that she wants to run very fast. ” I was honored to be the first women to attempt breaking 4 minutes for the mile.”
Jess Hull is one of the nicest humans that I have ever met. She is also focused, and gutty racer. By taking chances in her racing, she has showcased her talents and moved to a high level. “After the 1,500m world record, Faith came and congratulated me on my national record.” Her fearless running, chasing Faith Kipyegon in Paris last summer, took her to a new level. That is not brashness, but the calculations of Jess and her father, who is her coach, and their confidence in Jess Hull’s training program.
Georgia Hunter-Bell, Olympic bronze medalist at 1,500 meters, began this journey just over a year ago. Quitting her job, and focusing on running gave Georgia a new found enthusiasm and 2024-2025 has seen some very successful racing. She has also had some learning experiences, such as the 1,500m at the European Indoors, where she was sick. At the presser, Georgia Hunter-Bell, who ran in the Breaking4 event, spoke of the honor it was to run with Faith Kipyegon. “The event was inspiring, and Faith is always so kind to her competitors, congratulating me on my Olympic performance.”
