Tom Jordan’s labor of love will end with this year’s Prefontaine Classic

An era with the Prefontaine Classic is ending. And no, I’m not talking about a demise of the greatest single-day event this side of Civil War football on the state’s sports calendar.

The 46th running of the best track and field meet in the United States is set for August 20-21 at revamped Hayward Field, and — with fingers crossed due to COVID-19 implications — it promises to provide 2 1/2 hours of sensational entertainment as always.

But this will be the swan song of Tom Jordan, who serves for the 37th year as meet director.

Jordan, 72, is stepping aside because, frankly, the job calls for the energy of a younger person.