While most of the events at this year’s Prefontaine Classic will be highlighted by one or two stars, the men’s 5,000 meters will be filled with nothing but stars.
The 2001 Pre Classic 5,000 field was released Monday, and it looks to be the most competitive race on the oval. Ten all-stars lead the 16-man field.
Two-time defending 5,000 champion Luke Kipkosgei will aim for a new meet and field record this year. The Kenyan owns a personal best of 12 minutes, 56.5 seconds in the 12 1/2-lap event. Kipkosgei set the meet record at 13:07.3 in 1998.
American record-holder Bob Kennedy, who finished close to Kipkosgei in the two previous 5,000s, will also compete. Kennedy, who owns the U.S. record of 12:58.2, is recovering from a car accident that kept him out of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The Westerville, Ohio, native has run 16 of the fastest 20 times by an American.
Two Oregon alumni who competed in Sydney last September will return to Hayward Field. All-American Karl Keska and No. 4-ranked U.S. 5,000-meter runner Nick Rogers will both chase the leaders at the Classic.
Former Pac-10 competitors Mebrahtom Keflezighi, Abdi Adbirahman and Brad Hauser will make return trips to Eugene for the Pre 5,000. Hauser won the NCAA 5,000 title for Stanford last spring. Keflezighi was a Pac-10 Champion at UCLA and now owns the U.S. record in the 10,000 meters with a time of 27:13. Adbirahman, an Arizona graduate, ranked second last year in the 10,000 meters.
Rounding out the elite entrants is a trio of Kenyans, led by Kipkosgei’s running mate, fellow Kenyan Albert Chepkurui, Abraham Chebii and Ban Maiyo.
The Prefontaine Classic will take place Sunday, May 27, at Hayward Field. Tickets are on sale for $11.50 at the Duck Ticket office at 346-4461.