Top U.S. Performances at NIKE Pre Classic, July 3-4, 2026

The Prefontaine Classic was first held in June 1975, just over a week after the tragic death of American athlete/personality Steve Prefontaine. Steve Prefontaine’s sponsor, NIKE, has sponsored the meet from 1983 to the present. Tom Jordan protected the legacy of Prefontaine for nearly forty-two years!

We understand that NIKE athletes compete in the Pre Classic as part of their contracts. That gives Eugene DL an incredible group of athletes from which to pick for fields. Some years, it was a NIKE intrasquad meet. Truth is, NIKE brought in many of the top athletes from other brands in 2026.

The meet is managed by co-meet directors Jody Smith and John Capriotti. Jeff Oliver is manager of communications.

Here are our top moments:

1. What a 100 meters for women! Melissa Jefferson-Wooden battled training partner Sha’Carri Richardson, with Melissa winning in 10.78 and Sha’Carri winning in 10.79.

   

2. Eighteen-year-old Tate Taylor defeated Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo in 19.75 to win the 200 meters. Mind-boggling.

   

3. 100m hurdles: Masai Russell dominated the hurdles in 12.24, with Grace Stark in fourth in 12.41.

   

4. Men’s 110m hurdles: Jamal Britt wins in 12.86 PB, holding off Ja’Kobe Tharp, world record holder, in 12.91. One of the best races of the season.

   

5. Men’s 100 meters: Kenny Bednarek was third in 9.95, with Christian Coleman in 9.96 in fourth place.

   

6. Men’s 400 meters: Running from lane nine, Rai Benjamin took second in PB 44.11, making Collen Kebinatshipi run 44.01 for first. Chris Bailey was third in 44.58.
7. Women’s 400 meters: Aaliyah Butler was second, again under 50 seconds, in 49.97. Alexis Holmes was fourth in 50.36.
8. Men’s 800 meters: One of the best races of the weekend, Brandon Miller upset Cooper Lutkenhaus, 1:43.68 to 1:44.62. Miller ran a spectacular last 175 meters, blitzing the field. Donavan Brazier was third in 1:44.86, and Bryce Hopple was fourth in 1:45.05!

   

9. Nikki Hiltz ended Faith Kipyegon’s five-time Pre winning streak, with her win in 4:17.49 in a truly wonderfully tactical race, the NIKE Women’s Mile. Nikki Hiltz was described to me as “an athlete who knows how to race.” That is an understatement.

   

10. Bowerman Mile: Yared Nuguse made himself hurt, in 3:46.61 for second to Cam Myers’ Australian record. Ethan Strand used a championship kick to take third in 3:46.97 PB, and Hobbs Kessler, World Indoor bronze medalist, ran 3:47.38 PB!

    

11. NIKE Men’s Mile: Liam Murphy took the win with a focused finish, battling to a 3:50.49. Abel Teffra, in third, put two US athletes on the podium, in 3:51.13.

    

12. Men’s two miles: Parker Wolfe showed his stuff, with a controlled win in 8:10.13, with Grant Fisher in 8:10.96, fresh off Fisher’s DL 5000m win in Paris.

    

13. Women’s 800m: Addy Wiley was third in 1:57.70 in a tough women’s 800 meters!

    

14. Women’s 1500 meters: On Friday night, Juliette Whittaker, a well-known 800m runner, was second in the 1,500m in 4:05.78, following with Lindsay Butler in third, 4:06.46.
15. Women’s pole vault: Sandi Morris, 4.85 m, took first, with KatieMoon second in 4.80 meters.
16. Women’s Discus: Valeria Allman Sion totally dominated the discus with a huge 68.64 meters for the discus throw and win!

    

17. Rudy Winkler was second in the Men’s hammer throw in 81.21 meters, with Ethan Katzberg of Canada winning in 83.33m.
18. Women’s long jump: Tara Davis Woodhall leaped 7.13 meters to surpass Larissa Iapichino of Italy’s 7.12m, a new Italian record by one centimeter, breaking the NR of her mother, Fiona May. One of the best battles of the season!