Fans might have a difficult time deciding which event is the most exciting at the 26th annual Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix.
Olympic champion and world record holder Michael Johnson makes a case for the 400 meters, but so does an army of long distance runners in the 5,000. Depending on how many runners break the hallowed four-minute barrier in the mile, that could be the marquee event.
One thing is for certain: There won’t be a dull moment.
Johnson is no stranger to Hayward Field. He owns the field record in the 400, the Classic record in the 200 and has won countless races in between. At this year’s meet, Johnson will attempt to break the meet record in the 400 of 44.13 seconds owned by Derek Mills. Johnson’s world record of 43.18 could surpass that by nearly a second.
The only question is whether anyone can come close to Johnson. Brazil’s Sanderlei Parrela is ranked third in the world with a personal best 44.12. Jerome Davis is ranked seventh in the world with a personal record time of 45.95.
A title is not so certain for another world record holder. Maurice Green, dubbed “The World’s Fastest Man,” should receive a challenge in the 200 meters from former Olympic gold medalist Michael Marsh. After years of rehabilitation from bone spur surgery, Marsh has returned to top form. The 32-year-old Marsh has season bests of 9.90 in the 100 and 20.10 in the 200, .05 seconds faster than the meet record. Green is the two-time defending champion in the 200 and is looking to break Johnson’s records in that event.
For American record holder Jeff Hartwig, the Pre meet is an opportunity for another record in the pole vault. Hartwig recently upped his own record of 19 feet, 9 inches by a quarter of an inch, making it the fourth time he has surpassed an existing record. Oregon graduate Piotr Buciarski will also participate in the pole vault.
The 5,000 meters will also feature a distinctive local flavor with two Oregon alumni participating. Great Britain’s Karl Keska and Nick Rogers are both eager to perform in the friendly confines of Hayward Field. The Classic “is a great tune-up for the Olympic Trials,” Rogers said. “It’s a great atmosphere and the best place in the country to run. I’m fortunate to be able to workout here.”
The favorite in the race is Kenyan Luke Kipkosgei, who is a two-time Prefontaine Classic winner who set both the meet and Hayward Field record at the 1998 Pre Classic with a time of 13 minutes, 07.83 seconds. Kipkosgei’s time nabbed the field record from Kennedy who held the honor for the previous five years. Kipkosgei’s personal best in the 5,000 is 12:57.32.
Several former Pacific-10 Conference runners will also be on hand for the race. Former Stanford twins Brad and Brent Hauser, Arizona’s Abdi Abdiraham and Washington State’s Meb Keflezighi are all looking for personal bests.

A number of runners will be looking for sub-four-minute times in the Bill Bowerman Mile. Leading the way are Kenyan William Chirchir and Stanford’s Gabe Jennings. Chirchir has the fastest 1,500 time in the world this year at 3:32.55, which equates to a 3:49 mile. Jennings, the NCAA 1,500 champion, owns a personal best 3:37.15, which equates to a 3:54 mile.
Joining the field is high schooler Donald Sage, of Elmhurst, Ill. Sage is second on the prep mile list this year behind Alan Webb, who withdrew from the Classic last week.
One of the greatest American 800 runners ever will return to Hayward Field for this year’s meet. American record holder Johnny Gray, who turned 40 on Monday, will have the second fastest time coming into the half mile, behind Kenyan David Leilei.
Gray has a personal best of 1:42.6, but has not broken 1:45 for the last five years. Leilei’s trademark event is the 1,500 but decided on the 800 after running a 1:43.9 earlier this year.
Gray’s successor in the United States, Bryan Woodward, as well as defending Classic champion Khadevis Robinson should push the two-lap pace.
Although no big name stars have entered into the 100 meters, the race will still be competitive to say the least. The 100 will essentially be a college all-star race, with two NCAA champions, a runner-up and a Pacific-10 conference champ.
Florida’s Bernard Williams — this year’s national champion — Auburn’s Coby Miller and Washington’s Ja’Warren Hooker are all entered in the race. The lone “veterans” are John Drummond and Terrance Trammell. Williams’ personal best (9.99) would surpass Carl Lewis’ meet record of 10.08 if ran at the Classic.

For the first time in many years, Eugene resident and fan favorite Lance Deal will not be the favorite in the hammer throw. Hungarian Zsolt Nemeth and Russian Vasily Sidorenko both have better marks this year coming into the throwing event.
Deal has already earned a qualifying mark for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the hammer throw, but he will need a season best to win his third straight Classic title. Fellow New York Athletic Club thrower Kevin McMahon should give Deal a challenge with a 257-8 personal best.
“The Pre Classic is a real community happening,” Deal said. “No where else do athletes feel as comfortable as they do here. It’s just a great place to get some throws in.”