by Alfonz JuckThe Nike Prefontaine Classic was a classic once again. In this report, EME News, the finest daily global athletics news service, founded by Alfons Juck, provides this service (thanks to Steven Mills, Paul Halford, and Carles Baronet). This is their event-by-event review, which we use with their permission (subscriptions can be found at eme@emenews.org).
Ryan Crouser, 2022 Nike Pre Classic, May 28, 2022, photo by Kevin Morris / @kevmofoto
EUGENE (the USA, May 27-28): Despite cold weather and some rain on Saturday Prefontaine Classic showed a lot of high quality. The track is fast and athletes are in shape. In total 12 World leads over two days, also 5 meet records, and two Diamond League records. Some sprint times in that weather were remarkable. Favorites also confirmed in most the cases their worldwide status.
PREFONTAINE CLASSIC DAY TWO
Men
100 m: Trayvon Bromell had the best end with 9.93 (-0.2) over Kerley’s 9.98 and Coleman’s 10.04.
400 m: Michael Norman is back to top shape with 43.62 WL and Diamond League record. Kirani James remains very fast with 44.02 and Hudson-Smith with a British record 44.35 missed the European record only by 0.02.
1500 m (non-DL): PBs for non-US runners, Sam Tanner of New Zealand 3:34.37 over Briton Gourley 3:34.85.
Bowerman Mile: Olympic winner Jakob Ingebrigtsen confirmed his own league with 3:49.76 WL clearly ahead of Hoare’s 3:50.65 PB, World champ Cheruiyot 3:50.77 and winner of previous races Kipsang 3:50.87.
5000 m: Berihu Aregawi in big solo achieved super time 12:50.05 WL and MR with PB. His teammates clearly beaten Tefera at 13:06.86 and Olympic winner Barega at 13:07.30.
400mH: Alison Santos is still in his own yard with 47.23 WL. The second wave improved: Rosser 48.091, Hall 48.098, and Sweden´s Bergstrom 48.52.
Shot put: King of shot Ryan Crouser had a massive 23.02 WL in the second attempt. 7th best-ever performance. Kovacs 22.49 beat Walsh 21.96 for a second.
Women
100 m: Elaine Thompson-Herah so sign of health issues in excellent 10.79 (+0.7). Sha´Carri Richardson returned to sub 11 with 10.913 just edging S. Jackson 11.1914 with Asher-Smith 10.98.
200 m (non-DL): Shelly-Ann clocked 22.41 (+0.8) to get a win when second Brittany Brown had 22.74.
800 m: Keely Hodgkinson had no problems with 1:57.72 WL win but Ajee Wilson was closing in 1:58.06 followed by Raevyn Rogers at 1:58.44.
1500 m: Another splendid performance of the day as Faith Kipyegon got 3:52.59 WL and MR (5th best time ever non-Chinese). Gudaf Tsegay was brave second 3:54.21 with five more getting sub 4. Muir 11th 4:04.45.
Steeple: Kenyans in Asian vests dominated, Norah Jeruto 8:57.97 WL for Kazakhstan and Winfred Yavi 8:58.71 PB for Bahrain. Oly winner Chemutai fourth 9:05.54.
100mH (non-DL): Olympic winner Camacho-Quinn dominated in 12.45 (-0.7) as WR holder Harrison finished 8th (12.78).
LJ: PB for Sweden´s Khaddi Sagnia 695 (+1.0) for a good win ahead of Ese Brume 682 (+1.9) and Tara Davis 673 (+1.7).
PREFONTAINE CLASSIC DAY ONE
Men
Pole vault – Armand Duplantis cleared 5.91m on his second attempt before three attempts at a meeting record of 6.07m. Chris Nilsen was second with 5.81m while Sondre Guttormsen tied his Norwegian record with 5.81m to finish third on countback. Event was moved one day before due to weather worries.
Women
Two miles (non-DL) – Second fastest time in history for Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba who clocked 8:59.08 (also WL/MR/DLR) to become just the second woman to break nine minutes after Meseret Defar who holds the world’s best with 8:58.58.
5000m (non-DL) – Ejgayehu Taye ran down world record-holder and Ethiopian teammate Letesenbet Gidey for victory, 14:12.98 WL and MR to 14:24.59. Rahel Daniel was third in a big Eritrean record of 14:36.66.
High jump – First 2.00m clearance of the outdoor season (WL) from Yaroslava Mahuchikh who won by seven centimeters from Vashti Cunningham.
Discus – Another victory for Valarie Allman over Sandra Perkovic, 68.35m to 65.50m.
