Marion Jones is six-for-six in events she has competed in at the Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix.
Since 1998, the Los Angeles native has won two 100 titles, two 200 titles, and has even two more in the long jump at Hayward Field.
And until Wednesday, it was thought that her perfect record would stay the same until the 29th version of the Pre Classic.
Not anymore.
The 26-year-old graduate of North Carolina was announced Wednesday as the top entrant in the 100, amid speculation she would fail to make an appearance at Hayward for the first time since 1997.
In a Prefontaine field that includes distance runner Hicham El Guerrouj, pole vaulter Stacy Dragila and hurdles legend Gail Devers, Jones stands out. In addition to the six top finishes at the Prefontaine Classic, she has won five Olympic medals — all coming from the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Just before Jones proved her success in Sydney, she won the 100 at the Prefontaine, but with a time that wasn’t satisfactory.
“There weren’t too many things I liked about the 100,” Jones said after the 2000 Pre. “The start was horrible, and the transition was not very good … but that all has to get better.”
It did, and Jones went on to become the world record holder as the woman with the most medals at a single Olympics.
The 2000 woman of the year, as selected by the Associated Press, ESPN and Reuters, Jones holds the Prefontaine record in the 200 (21.81) — set in 1999 — and the long jump (23-11.75), earned during her inaugural trip to the meet in 1998.
She also holds the Hayward Field record in both events.
In her quest to win her seventh title at the Pre Classic, Jones will run against the No. 2 sprinter in the world, LaTasha Jenkins, and Jamaica’s Tanya Lawrence, the eighth best in the world.
The 29th annual Pre Classic begins 1 p.m. Sunday at Hayward Field. ESPN2 will show a delayed broadcast at 8 p.m.