Weather wasn’t great, but performances were at 49th Pre Classic

England’s Keely Hodgkinson, a silver medalist at Tokyo, claims the women’s 800 title (Courtesy Vinco Sport Ltd)

EUGENE — For nearly half a century, the Prefontaine Classic has been providing track and field drama and excellence at Hayward Field, thanks in no small part to Nike support and sponsorship.

That didn’t change Saturday on the second day of the 49th running of the best non-championship meet every year in North America. There were obstacles to negotiate, however.

Defections are just part of the business, but the losses seemed a bit heavier than usual with the late withdrawal of such stars as Marcell Jacobs, Castor Semenya, Athing Mu, Matthew Centrowitz, Rai Benjamin, Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Sam Kendrick.

Weather was an issue, too. Advance reports of inclement conditions caused meet officials to move three field events — women’s high jump, men’s pole vault and women’s discus — from Saturday afternoon to Friday night, which was cool and cloudy but dry. That left only two field events — men’s shot put and women’s long jump — and 13 events total on Saturday’s championship-level menu. That and the weather report surely contributed to an attendance figure (6,447) that was about half the average for the annual Pre event.

During the 2 1/2 hours of major competition Saturday — the last 90 minutes televised live on NBC — rain fell intermittently, winds gusted and the temperature topped out at 60 degrees. But sun peeked through at times, and the athletes made the most of what amounts to a dry run for the World Championships scheduled at Hayward in July.

There were four meet records set:

• Barlow High grad Ryan Crouser unloaded a 2022 world-best 75-6 1/4 to claim the shot put title.

Barlow High grad exults after unleashing the best throw in the world in 2022 — 75 feet, 6 1/4 inches — in the shot put  (Courtesy Vinco Sport Ltd)

• Former Southern Cal standout Michael Norman brought down Michael Johnson’s 22-year old mark of 43.92 at the 2000 Olympic trials by winning in a world-best 43.60.

• Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi ran away from the field to claim the men’s 5,000 in 12:50.05 — nearly 19 seconds better than his previous best.

• Kenya’s Faith Kipygon, the two-time defending Olympic champion, bettered her own meet women’s 1,500 record of 3:53.23 set last year by racing to victory in 3:52.59.

Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen looked smooth and almost invincible in successfully defending his Bowerman Mile title in 3:49.76.

American Trayvon Bromell, a last-minute replacement for Jacobs in the men’s 100, smoked the field in 9.93, with Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley second in 9.98.

Veterans in the short women’s races produced winning results.

Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica, the defending 100 and 200 Olympic champion who turns 30 on June 8, won the shorter event in 10.79.

Countrywoman Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 35 and with a combined 12 gold medals in Olympics and World Championships claimed the 200 in 22.41. Ex-Oregon great Jenna Prandini got off to a great start but faded to finish fourth in 22.77.

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who has 12 gold medals in the Olympics and World Championships, wins the women’s 200 (Courtesy Vinco Sport Ltd)

A battle between Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and world record-holder Kendra Harrison in the 100 hurdles never materialized. Camacho-Quinn overcame a poor start to win easily in 12.45. Harrison, second to Camacho-Quinn at Tokyo last year, finished eighth in 12.78.

The tightest race of the day was the women’s 800, with all nine finishers still in the running to win until the final 150. England’s Keely Hodgkinson, who won silver at Tokyo, emerged from the pack to win in 1:57.72. Former Oregon star Raevyn Rogers started her kick too late and finished third in 1:58.44.

Kazakhstan’s Norah Jeruto successfully defended her women’s steeplechase title, outdueling Winfred Yavi of Bahrain to win in 8:57.97.

The Hayward field area was Crouser’s stage, and he took advantage of it by unloading the ninth best throw in history in the second round. And he did it with what is called a “static start” — an abbreviated, controlled form of lift and release.

“It’s a safer strategy, especially early in the season,” said Crouser, the two-time defending Olympic champion who set the world record of 76-8 during the Olympic trials at Hayward last June. “This is the point of the season where I’m starting to back off on my training. I was strong, I was explosive —just lacking a bit of finesse today. I don’t feel quite ready to commit to full throws just yet.”

Because the ring got wet and more slippery as the competition went on, Crouser passed on what would have been his final attempt.

“I already had a good one out there,” he said. “I told the guys (before the final round), ‘If you get one out past 23 meters (75-5 1/2) on that ring, props to you.’ ”

Crouser’s previous best employing the static technique was 75-1 3/4 while qualifying for the ’21 Olympic trials.

“I’m really happy with (75-6 1/4),” the 6-7, 310-pound Crouser said. “To throw this far under heavy load without a taper is a real indicator of what I can be eight weeks from now.”

The reference is to the World Championships, scheduled for Hayward from July 15-24, the first time the event has ever been held in this country. Before that, there are the U.S. Championships June 23-26 at Hayward, in which he must finish among the top three to qualify for the Worlds.

Crouser, who turns 30 in December, finished second to U.S. teammate Joe Kovacs in the 2019 Worlds. Crouser placed sixth in the 2017 Worlds.

“I want to win my first World Championship gold,” he said. “It’s the only thing missing from my list of accolades. That’s the next goal for me.”

It could be coming. So could another world record. Crouser said you can figure on an extra 40 to 60 centimeters when using a full throw instead of the static start. Based on Saturday’s result, that would put him somewhere between 76-10 and 77-6.

For the past three years, Crouser has lived in Fayetteville, Ark., serving as volunteer throws coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He recently bought a house there and installed a shot ring in the backyard.

Oregon remains home, though, with his parents, Mitch and Lisa, living in Bend and various other relatives throughout the state.

“I’m super excited for (the World Championships for) two reasons,” Ryan said. “One, to be part of the first World Championships on U.S. soil. And it’s especially meaningful in that I grew up in Oregon, had all my major meets here growing up, and even (while competing for Texas) for the NCAAs. I’m excited for another chance to compete close to home in front of friends and family.”

Ingebrigsten is also seeking further glory on the world stage. The 21-year-old Norwegian, who won Olympic gold in record-setting fashion last summer, took control early and was never seriously challenged in successfully defending his Bowerman Mile title. Australian Oliver Hoare was second in 3:50.65 in a race in which all 14 finishers bettered 3:57.

Jakob Ingebrigsten of Norway is the toast of the field in the Bowerman Mile (Courtesy Vinco Sport Ltd)

Last year, Ingebrigsten ran the fastest time ever on U.S. soil, 3:47.24, in winning at Hayward. Saturday’s time was a bit slower, though he didn’t blame the weather.

“This is pretty similar to our weather in Norway,” he said. “It was a bit windy, but it worked out OK. I went out at an OK pace, tried to keep the momentum and saved something for the last lap. Pretty satisfied. All in all, a great race.”

Asked how he felt when no competitors went out with him as he kicked home, the Norwegian quipped, “You can’t be disappointed when people aren’t better (than you).”

A Nike athlete, Ingebrigsten has already run several races in Eugene.

“Hayward is starting to feel like home,” he said with a smile. “It’s always a lot of fun coming here with Nike hosting. With the World Championships coming up, it’s nice to get used to the new stadium. I’ll take that with me into the next couple of weeks.”

Ingebrigsten said he plans to double in the 1,500 and 5,000 at the Worlds.

“I’d like to run the 800, steeplechase and 10,000, too, but the schedule won’t allow that,” he said, smiling again.

The 49th Pre Classic offered some cool accoutrements. I liked the green rail lights to help spectators track the leaders of distance races. And Runnerspace.com pre-recorded video in which competitors in the men’s shot put and women’s long jump introduced themselves while listing their accomplishments on the big screen, allowing fans to hear a few words from the entrants.

There was a world record set in the women’s para 100, with Martina Caironi of Italy covering the distance in 14.02. I was amazed, too, watching Johannes Floors from Germany fly around the oval to claim the men’s para 400 crown in 48.13.

Then there was Colin Sahlman, a senior in high school in Newbury Park, Calif., who finished 13th in the Bowerman Mile in a crisp 3:56.24 — the third fastest prep mile ever.

Good stuff all around.

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