As is the case every year, it’s difficult to formulate a list of the top races at the Prefontaine Classic, considering the loaded fields in every event. But, here’s a primer on the five events that have the most hype coming in.
1) Men’s 5,000 meters 
The 5,000 meter at the Prefontaine Classic is the only venue on U.S. soil that has produced sub-13:00 times. Five to be exact. And the runners competing in it every year have made this a staple event.
America’s top-ranked 5k runner, Galen Rupp, will compete in the race a year after setting the American record in the 10,000 meters at the Pre Classic. Joining him in the field is Bernard Lagat, who owns seven American 5k crowns.
Kenya’s Isiah Kiplangat Koech is the fastest runner in the field at 12:48.64. Trailing him in the rankings are Yenew Alamirew (12:48.77) of Ethiopia and Edwin Cheruiyot Soi of Kenya (12:51.34).
2) Men’s 10,000 meters
Mo Farah will be participating in this one. A little background: He won the 2012 Olympic gold medals in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and headlines a race in which Rupp created buzz around last year, after he broke the American record.
Farah, who trains with the Portland-based Nike Oregon Project, hasn’t lost a 10k in four years.
Joining him are a record seven runners with personal records under 27 minutes. Of that group, Geoffrey Kamworor, the reigning world cross country champion, will likely be Farah’s stiffest competition.
3) Women’s 400 meters
Sanya Richards-Ross and Allyson Felix are set to duel in the women’s 400 meters on May 30. Richards-Ross has won this event five times at the Pre Classic, the only athlete with more than two wins. Felix owns the distinction of being the only IAAF Diamond League winner in two events (400 in 2010, 200 in 2010 and 2014).
Elsewhere in the field, former Duck Phyllis Francis will make her Prefontaine Classic debut.
4) Men’s 800 meters
Here’s a stat for you: All but three runners in the event are current continental or national champions.
Nigel Amos of Botswana and Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia figure to contest for first. Amos won the IAAF Diamond Trophy last year and was also ranked first in Track and Field News’ world rankings. In addition, in his first U.S. appearance, he won last year’s Pre Classic in 1:43.63.
Aman won gold in the 2013 World Championships. He ranked first in Track and Field News’ world rankings in 2013. So, it goes without saying, both Amos and Botswana have decorated resumes and the two should give fans a tightly contested battle worth seeing.
Qatar’s Musaeb Abdulrahman Balla is the 2015 world indoor leader in the 800. He will be making his first U.S. appearance.
5) Women’s Javelin 
As the Prefontaine Classic official press release points out, there is a unique rivalry that exists between Barbora Spotakova (Czech Republic) and Christina Obergfoll (Germany).
“Either one or the other has earned the No. 1 Track & Field News world ranking every year from 2007 on, and they are the only winners of the IAAF Diamond Trophy in this event.  And each missed one of the last two seasons while on maternity leave,” The Pre Classic press release says.
Spotakova is the reigning Olympic champion, and was ranked No. 1 in the T&F News world rankings last year. Obergfoll is the reigning World champion. She also owns the meet record at 222-1 (67.70).
Russia’s Mariya Abakumova is another major gold medalist in the field, and like her competitors, missed a portion of her career on maternity leave. She gave birth to twin daughters in May 2014.
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JustinFWise
 
For a full schedule of events, visit the Pre Classic webpage.