by RBR Admin
Fans will look forward to this race all spring. In fact, the upcoming Pre Classic Mile could be one of the finest races in mile history at the house that Phil and Penny Knight built, Hayward Field.
For over thirty years, the NIKE Pre Classic has given fans a chance to see many of the finest athletes in our sport, but bringing together Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Yared Nuguse, and Josh Kerr may be one of the finest, if not the finest, mile fields in Bowerman history.
The social bantering between Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr has social media following each comment. The build-up on the Bowerman Mile is great for the sport. The NIKE Pre-Class does a beautiful series of press releases yearly, building interest in every field. NIKE athletes have shown up worldwide to celebrate the late American star’s legacy. It is important to see that the top non-NIKE stars are included in this race, which allows the NIKE Pre-Class to be a truly global meeting.
Last year, The NIKE Pre-Classic was the Diamond League Final host, and we had two beautiful days of track and field on a tight schedule. There was a WR by Gudaf Tsegay at 5,000m, two of the men’s fastest miles in 23 years, and the European record at 3,000 meters, plus a new AR at 800m by Athing Mu in a fantastic women’s two-lapper.
What else will the NIKE Pre Classic announce this season? Well, you will just have to wait and read the releases! The NIKE Pre Classic is May 25, 2024.
Ingebrigtsen, Nuguse & Kerr Set To Headline The Prefontaine Classic’s Bowerman Mile
EUGENE, Ore. – Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Yared Nuguse, and Josh Kerr will headline the Bowerman Mile at this year’s Prefontaine Classic, the meet announced today.
The 2024 Bowerman Mile promises to add to the race’s legacy with a headlining trio of record-holders and World Champions.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) returns to Pre-Class for the seventh time to defend his 2023 Bowerman Mile title, which earned him the Diamond League Final trophy at last year’s event. His 3:43.73 mile set a national and meet record and was the third-fastest mile ever run.
Yared Nuguse (U.S.A.) ran a blistering 3:43.97 in the Bowerman Mile last year to break the 16-year-old American record in the mile and become the fourth-fastest man ever to run one mile. Nuguse is fresh off a national title and World Athletics Indoor Championships silver medal this season in the 3000-meter short track.
Josh Kerr (Great Britain) will make his Prefontaine Classic debut in The Bowerman Mile. Recently crowned a World Athletics Indoor Champion in the 3000 meters, Kerr is also the reigning World Athletics Outdoor Championships 1500m champion. His personal best over the mile currently stands at 3:48.87 (2022).
Named in honor of legendary coach Bill Bowerman, The Prefontaine Classic’s signature event is the world’s premier mile race. The Bowerman Mile has produced 389 sub-4:00 mile performances in its history, a mark more than any other American meet.
In 2019, the legacy of the Bowerman Mile was awarded a Heritage Plaque from World Athletics. The World Athletics Heritage Plaque is a location-based recognition that highlights celebrates, and links iconic and historic athletics competitions, careers, performances, cities, venues, landmarks, and culture worldwide.
The 2024 Pre Classic will be held on May 25, 2024, at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. A part of the Wanda Diamond League circuit, the world’s top athletes will descend upon Hayward Field for the Pre-Classic and earn points in their respective events based on their performance. The top-performing athletes with the most points will earn a trip to the 2024 Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels, Belgium. In September 2023, The Prefontaine Classic hosted the prestigious Diamond League Final and earned the best score in competition performance rankings.
Tickets are now on sale, with prices starting at just $25. Customers are limited to purchasing a maximum of eight tickets, and order processing fees will be added to the cost of each ticket. Groups of nine or more people should contact tickets@gotracktownusa.com for information on group ticket packages. A stadium seating map can be viewed here (PreClassic.com).
Fans can purchase tickets online at PreClassic.com or by calling 1-800-WEBFOOT (1-800-932-3668). They can also purchase in-person tickets at the University of Oregon Athletics ticket office at the Moshofsky Center inside the Autzen Complex (2727 Leo Harris Parkway, Eugene, OR 97401).
Accreditation requests for bona fide members of the media wishing to cover the Prefontaine Classic can be placed online at portal.diamondleague.com. Media accreditation questions and other inquiries can be sent to media@gotracktownusa.com.
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About The Prefontaine Classic
The Prefontaine Classic is the premier track and field meet in the United States. Since its inception in 1975, the meet has been a fixture in the global track and field calendar, earning a reputation for bringing the world’s best athletes to Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. The meet is named after Steve Prefontaine and serves as a “living memorial to Pre” (Bill Bowerman, June 1, 1975). The Pre Classic is a Wanda Diamond League circuit member and has been sponsored by Nike since 1978. For more information, visit PreClassic.com.
About the Wanda Diamond League
The Wanda Diamond League is the premier one-day meeting series in athletics. It comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field. Athletes compete for points at the 14 series meetings to qualify for the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 13th and 14th.
