The Prefontaine Classic got off to quite a start Friday night as meet records fell left and right. Three-time U.S. champion Alysia Montano set a new meet record in the 800 meter dash, Christian Taylor set a new meet record in the triple jump with a best mark of 57 feet, 9¾ inches and Sandra Perkovic of Croatia set a new meet record with her event-winning throw of 219-7. To top it all off the night ended with a men’s 10,000 meter race as part Kenyan Olympic Trials. Wilson Kiprop, Moses Ndiema Masai and Bitan Karoki placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively, all securing themselves a spot in the men’s 10,000 meter race at the 2012 London Olympics. The Prefontaine Classic will continue Saturday with the first events starting at 11 a.m.
Nine of the fifteen Kenyans competinging in the 10,000 meter race as part of the Kenyan Olympic Trials, pace themselves down a straightway on the track. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Wilson Kiprop waves the Kenyan flag after placing first in the Kenyan Olympic Trials for the men’s 10,000 meter race. By placing in the top three, Kiprop gurantees himself a spot in the 2012 London Olympics for the men’s 10,000 meter race. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Anne Kesselring, a junior track and field athlete at the University of Oregon, embraces three-time U.S, champion Alysia Montano, following Montano’s first place victory in the woman’s 800 meter dash. Kesselring placed 7th in the event. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
A rabbiting Lauren Fleshman leads the pack of runners competing in the women’s 10,000 meter run. Fleshman is a former two-time U.S. champion. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Alison Schmidt, a 30-year-old veteran athlete from the United States, placed 1st in the women’s 1,500 meter dash with a time of 4:05.64. Schmidt is expected to compete in the Olympic Trials later this June. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Alysia Montano of the United States is congratulated for her 1st place finish in the women’s 800 meter dash. Montano finished in 1 minute, 57.37 seconds, setting a new meet record. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
James Kiplagat Magut of Kenya, leads the pack and races around the Bowerman Curve in the men’s international mile. Magut would finish in 1st place with a time of 3:54.16. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Lauren Fleshman, who “rabbited” for a portion of the women’s 10,000 meter race, takes a breather after pulling out of the race. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Tirunesh Diababa reacts as she crosses the finish line and places 1st in the women’s 10,000 meter race. Diaba was among four Ethiopans who all finished in the top five. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Tirunesh Diababa of Ethiopia celebrates after winning the womening the woman’s 10,000 meter run. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Anne Kesselring receives a high-five after running in the woman’s 800 meter dash at the Prefontaine Classic. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
