Young Taylor wins 200 m, Myers dominated in the mile
EUGENE (USA, Jul 4): 51st Prefontaine Classic on Independence Day before capacity crowd impressed. Three World leads, one outdoor WL and 2 meet records were special. Britt beat Tharp, young Taylor and also young Myers dominated. Olympic gold medalists Hodgkinson, Rogers, Tebogo did not win, surprise from Hiltz, long jump depth and Ajayi beat Seville. Great duel Alekna vs Ceh or Kebinatshipi vs Benjamin. Despite no WR, fast hurdles as Russell beats Amusan and close women 100 m finish.
Short event by event reviews
Women
100m: Top 3 in close finish. Jefferson-Wooden 10.78 (0.0), Richardson 10.79 and Hodge in DL debut 10.80. Fourth J. Smith 10.89 PB.
Mutola 800: Tokyo deja vu: Odira 1:56.19 SB beats Hodgkinson 1:56.73.
Mile: Hiltz’s fast finish was a surprise win at 4:17.49 WL; Ewoi 4:17.62; and Kipyegon, first time in her career, lost a mile race as third at 4:17.80; Kazimierska 4:17.90 NR; Hull 5th; H-Bell 8th.
2 miles: First DL win for Baweke (20) 9:20.02 WL in close finish over Meshesha 9:20.20 and Houlihan 9:21.413 with Alemayo 9:21.420.
100mH: Russell fulfilled favorite role 12.24 (+0.9) MR eq, Amusan also fast 12.34 and rare tie for 3rd Charlton and Stark 12.404.
Steeple: Cherotich with top finish 8:51.74 over Yavi 8:52.84 and Bouzayani 8:54.32 NR and best fourth place ever Lemngole 8:57.89 PB.
Long jump: High-quality with several jumps over 7 m. Davis-Woodhall 713 (+0.8) and 712 (+2.5). Iapichino NR in 1st round 712 (+1.8), Nichols 705 (+3.0, legal 682) but also A. Jones 699 (+1.6), Mihambo 692 (+1.9) and Askag 680 PB (-1.0).
Shot put: Chase Jackson in 1st round with 20.56, enough to win; World champ Schilder 20.11 in 2nd round; Roos 19.70 PB.
Hammer (non-DL): Sensation in the last round as Chinese Zhang Jiale set a PB of 77.94, beating World champion Rogers’ 77.81 from round 1. Only 2nd loss of Rogers since May 2024.
Men
100 m (non-DL): NCAA Champ beats World champ. Ajayi 9.84 NR eq (+0.1) and Seville 9.89. Behind them, SB for Coleman at 9.95, with Bednarek at 9.96.
200 m: Big improvement and win for Tate Taylor 19.75 PB (-0.9, will be 19 in September), third best ever U20. Tebogo clear 2nd at 19.93, and Charamba clear 3rd at 20.11.
400 m: Kebinatshipi with a strong finish, 44.00, beat Benjamin in the outside lane, leading until the last 100 m. 44.11 PB. Third Bailey 44.58.
Bowerman mile: Myers ruled 3:46.06, Oceania record and outdoor WL; great depth behind him, top 7 under 3:48. In 2nd Nuguse 3:46.61 and 3rd Strand 3:46.97 PB. Several PBs and a German record, too.
110mH: Britt is rolling, another PB of 12.86 (+1.8), which is also MR and the 5th-best all-time performer. WR breaker Tharp 12.91 (his 3rd-best ever), Jamaican Prince 13.01 PB, and World champ Tinch 13.07 SB.
SP: Fabbri exploded with a 1st-throw WL of 22.74. Also 2nd Campbell 22.16, his best from first throw, and third Geist 21.98.
DT: Alekna hit the big one in 5th with 71.06 SB over Ceh 69.94 and third Stona 67.42.
