The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field.

History

Originally started as the Hayward Field Restoration Race, in 1975 the name was changed to Prefontaine Classic on the namesake of the legendary University of Oregon distance runner and Olympian Steve Prefontaine who was killed in a car accident a week prior to the meet. The meet is also referred to as the Nike Prefontaine Classic as Nike has been the title sponsor since 1978.

Notable performances and records

Alan Webb's high school record

At the 2001 Prefontaine Classic Alan Webb ran 3:53.43 in the mile and broke Jim Ryun's national high school record that had stood for 36 years. This also was the fastest mile by an American in three years.

Maria Mutola in the 800 m

Maria de Lurdes Mutola has won 16 consecutive (1993-2008) women's 800 m races at the Pre Classic.

Mary Decker Slaney's world record 5k run

In 1982 Mary Decker Slaney set the 5000 m world record with a time of 15:08.26, beating the old world record (held by Ann Audain) by nearly five seconds.

Don Quarrie's world record 220yd dash

In 1975 Don Quarrie ran 19.92 in the 220yd (201.17m) dash and by doing so set a new world record.

Meet records

Men

100 m         9.88     Shawn Crawford, USA, 2004

              9.88     Justin Gatlin,  USA, 2006

200 m         20.14   Wallace Spearmon, USA, 2008

400 m         43.92    Michael Johnson, USA, 2000

800 m         1:44.01  Alfred Kirwa Yego, Kenya, 2008

1000 m        2:14.54  Joaquim Cruz, Brazil, 1984

1500 m        3:32.81* Daniel K. Komen, Kenya, 2007 (*en route in Mile)

Mile          3:48.28  Daniel K. Komen, Kenya, 2007

3000 m        7:35.44* Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 2005 (*en route in 2-Mile)

Steeplechase  8:08.08  Paul Koech, Kenya, 2007

2-Mile        8:03.50  Craig Mottram, Australia, 2007

5000 m        13:07.83 Luke Kipkosgei, Kenya, 1998

10000 m       26:25.97 Kenenisa Bekele, Ethiopia, 2008

110 m Hurdles 13.06    Xiang Liu, China, 2005

400 m Hurdles 47.91    Bershawn Jackson, USA, 2005

High Jump     2.35m    Charles Clinger, USA, 2002

Pole Vault    6.04m   Brad Walker, USA, 2008

Long Jump     8.49m    Irving Saladino, Panama, 2007

Triple Jump   17.40m   Walter Davis, USA, 2006

Shot Put      22.19m   Kevin Toth, USA, 2002

Discus        71.32m   Ben Plucknett, USA, 1983

Hammer        82.65m   Koji Murofushi, Japan, 2004

Javelin       79.52m   Duncan Atwood, USA, 1987

Women

100 m         10.94   Torri Edwards, USA, 2008

200 m         21.81    Marion Jones, USA, 1999

400 m         49.34    Ana Guevara, Mexico, 2003

800 m         1:57.57  Maria de Lurdes Mutola, Mozambique, 1997

1000 m        2:32.33  Maria de Lurdes Mutola, Mozambique, 1995

1500 m        4:00.44  Gelete Burka, Ethiopia, 2008

Mile          4:21.25  Mary Slaney, USA, 1988

2000 m        5:38.80  Annette Peters, USA, 1992

3000 m        8:39.33  Sonia O'Sullivan, Ireland, 1996

Steeplechase  Not yet contested

5000 m        14:38.73 Mesaret Defar, Ehiopia, 2008

10,000 m      Not yet contested

100 m Hurdles 12.45    Brigitte Foster, Jamaica, 2003

400 m Hurdles 54.14    Melaine Walker, Jamaica, 2007

High Jump     1.99m    Yelena Slesarenko, Russia, 2006

Pole Vault    4.72 m   Stacy Dragila, USA, 2002

Long Jump     7.31 m   Marion Jones, USA, 1998

Triple Jump   13.64m   Anastasiya Zharaviyeva, Uzbekistan, 2007

Shot Put      19.19m   Connie Price-Smith, USA, 1997

Discus        65.35m   Lisa Marie Vizaniari, Australia, 2000

Hammer        73.93m   Betty Heidler, Germany, 2008

Javelin       65.20m   Barbora Spotakova, Czech Republic, 2007

External links

• Official website
• Pre-Classic Athlete Interviews & Photos from 2008
• Prefontaine Classic homepage
• Stevepre.com: Prefontaine Fan Site
• GoPre.com: Prefontaine Fan Site