LIVE UPDATING AND STREAMING ABOUT GOLDEN GALA

LIVE UPDATING AND DISCUSSING ABOUT GOLDEN GALA.. LIVESTREAMING WORLDWIDE HERE


 

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PRECLASSIC...THE FRIDAY NIGHT PREVIEW

May 29, 2012
For Immediate Release
 Pre Classic “Hollister Night at Hayward”: FRIDAY NIGHT FREE WITH THE WORLD’S BEST – EVEN MORE STARS ADDED

 Eugene, Oregon – Only at the Prefontaine Classic can the impossible be possible. Two Samsung Diamond League events get even stronger with world-class additions, plus two of the world’s strongest long-distance nations confirm that Eugene is the place to be in terms of how to get to the 2012 London Olympics. Admission is free for the Friday portion called “Hollister Night at Hayward.” That a world-class meet would provide free admission to many of its events is a generous offer from meet organizers and long-time sponsor NIKE. It is a direct result of the respect and love for Geoff Hollister, a beloved Oregonian who helped to make NIKE and instilled a strong spirit to many who wear the Swoosh. Hollister died earlier this year on Feb. 6 after battling cancer for many years. He was 66. The 38th Pre Classic is a major stop on the road to the 2012 London Olympics and part of the elite Samsung Diamond League of international meets. This year’s Pre event will be held over two days, June 1-2 at Hayward Field. Eight of the 24 events will be held on Friday The Rich Get Richer – Men’s Triple Jump and Women’s Throws Three already outstanding fields have received major improvements. The men’s triple jump will add yet another world champion. Phillips Idowu of Great Britain, the 2009 World Champion and 2008 Olympic silver medalist, will join Americans Christian Taylor (2011 World Champion) and Will Claye (2012 World Indoor Champion) in a pre-London showdown. Idowu owns a PR of 58-5.25 (17.81), while Taylor has a best of 58-11.25 (17.96) and Claye has a best of 58-1 (17.70). Even more pre-London drama should come in the women’s discus throw with the confirmation of Cuba’s Yarelis Barrios, owner of four Olympic or World Championship medals, including the 2008 Olympic silver behind American Stephanie Brown-Trafton, also a leader in the field. The women’s hammer field will be enhanced with Yipsi Moreno of Cuba, a two-time World Championships gold medalist and four-time Olympic or World Championships silver medalist. She joins a stellar field including three other former World Championships gold medalists: world record holder Betty Heidler of Germany,Tatyana Lysenko of Russia, and Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland. Men’s 10K – Kenyan Olympic Trials Athletics Kenya (AK) has selected 15 of its best to send to Eugene to race for its three berths in the London Olympics men’s 10K. The event is like none other in history – Kenya hosting an event outside its borders on turf that many know very well. AK hosted a mid-April event at the high-altitude site of Nairobi as part of its selection process. Ten of Kenya’s entrants have PRs under 27 minutes – a staggering number for any other country in the world. The incredible field in order of their personal bests: Kenyan Men’s 10K Olympic Trials Micah Kogo 26:35.63 – 2008 Olympic bronze medalist. 5K PR 13:00.77. 6th in the April Nairobi pre-trial race. Lucas Rotich 26:43.98 – 22-years old – 5K PR 12:55.06. 3rd in the April Nairobi pre-trial race. Josephat Bett 26:48.99 – 3rd in last year’s Pre 10K. 5K PR 12:57.43. 5th in the April Nairobi pre-trial race. Eliud Kipchoge 26:49.02 – 2003 World Championships 5K gold medalist. 5K PR 12:46.53. 2nd in the April Nairobi pre-trial race. Moses Masai 26:49.20 – 2009 World Championships bronze medalist. 4th in 2008 Olympic Games. 5K PR 12:50.55. 1st in the April Nairobi pre-trial race. Paul Tanui 26:50.63 – 21-years old – finalist at last year’s World Championships (9th). 7th in the April Nairobi pre-trial race. Emmanuel Bett 26:51.95 – 8th in the April Nairobi pre-trial race. Mark Kiptoo 26:53.64 – 5K PR 12:53.46. 4th in the April Nairobi pre-trial race. Geoffrey Kirui 26:55.73 – 19 years old. Titus Kipjumba Mbishei 26:59.81 – 21 years old – 5K PR 13:00.04. Bitan Karoki 27:13.67 – 21 years old – won 2011 Kenyan 5K – 9th in the April Nairobi pre-trial race. Wilson Kiprop 27:26.93 (at altitude) – 2010 African Championships gold medalist at 10K and half-marathon. – 10th in the April Nairobi pre-trial race. Mike Kigen 27:30.53 – 5K PR 12:58.58. Kevin Chelimo 27:30.50. Denis Masai 27:32.97 – 20-years old – 2010 World Junior gold medalist. Women’s 10K – “de facto” Ethiopian Olympic Selection Race The women’s 10K at Pre is not an official Ethiopian Olympic Trials event, but it might as well be as that country’s best are approaching Eugene as a stepping stone to the London Olympics gold. Reigning Olympic gold medalist Tirunesh Dibaba, world record holder in the 5K (14:11.15) and second fastest ever at 10K (29:54.66), is aiming for more glory in Eugene and would prefer another sub-30 effort. She will be joined by several other Ethiopians, including two-time OlympianWorknesh Kidane (30:07.15), 2009 World Championships bronze medalist Wude Ayalew (30:11.87), 2009 World half-marathon bronze medalist Aberu Kebede (30:48.26), 21-year-old national champion Belaynesh Oljira (31:17.80), 19-year-old Tigist Kiros Gebreselasse (31:20.38), and Sule Utura (32:06.89). Runners from other countries will also compete, including Kenya’s Pauline Chemning Korikwiang (31:06.29), a former World cross country champion. International Mile – The Return of Matthew Centrowitz American Matthew Centrowitz, bronze medalist in last year’s World Championships 1500 meters, returns to Hayward Field to headline the International Mile. The former University of Oregon star aims to better his mile best of 3:53.92, set earlier this year indoors in winning the venerable Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games. Also among the world-class field is Ethiopian Aman Wote (fourth in the World Indoor Championships 1500 earlier this year) and Americans Jeff See, Will Leer, andDorian Ulrey. Women’s 1500 Meters – World Champ Jenny Simpson among Three Fastest Americans The first American to win a World Championships 1500-meter gold medal since Mary Decker in 1983, Jenny Simpson is the fifth-fastest American ever with a best of 3:59.90. She will be joined by third-fastest American ever, Anna Pierce (3:59.38), and the seventh-fastest American all-time, Shannon Rowbury (4:00.33), as well as CanadianSheila Reid (last year’s NCAA 1500 and 5000 champ at Villanova) and 18-year-old Ethiopian Tizita Bogale (4:03.94).

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PACERS IN HENGELO...

According to unofficial news...I can give you the scheme about pacers today in Hengelo..

Very interesting to know how fast will be the race!!

GOLDENGALA ROME....STARTINGLISTS

An impressive startinglist with many big stars
Compeed Golden Gala Rome, Start list and Live results

CHERUIYOT, KEMBOI AND SEMENYA SET FOR COMPEED GOLDEN GALA

CHERUIYOT, KEMBOI AND SEMENYA SET FOR COMPEED GOLDEN GALA

Rome: great champions will be sharing the stage at the Compeed Golden Gala on 31 May, the third stop of the 2012 Samsung Diamond League series Women’s 5000 metres - It will be a much-awaited show in the longest race in the programme of the 2012 Compeed Golden Gala. The line-up will line-up Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot (PB 14’20”87, third fastest time in history), double gold medallist in the 5000 and in the 10000 metres in Daegu, Ethiopian Meseret Defar (14’12”88, second fastest runner in history and former world record holder), who won gold at the Olympic Games in Athens and the bronze medal in Bejing, the world title in Osaka and four world indoor titlesEthiopian Gelete Burka (14’31”20), twice world cross country champion and once world indoor gold medallist in the 1500 metres, and Sylvia Kibet (twice world silver medallist in Berlin and Daegu for dominant distance-running powerhouse Kenya). In the previous clashes Defar clearly prevails over the other rivals. The Ethiopian leads 11-4 over Cheruiyot, 12-2 over Kibet and 8-0 over over Burka. Vivian Cheruiyot prevailed 18 times over Kibet in 20 meets and only once over Burka who often runs over shorter distances, but leads 3-1 over Kibet. Men’s 3000 metres steeplechase - Four Kenyan stand-out runners Paul Kipsiele Koech, Ezekiel Kemboi, Richard Matelong and Brimin Kipruto will be in the spotlight in Rome. Ezekiel Kemboi (PB 7’55”76) won the Olympic title in Athens 2004. He has always won a medal in the last five editions of the World Championships and two gold medals in Berlin and Daegu. Paul Kipsiele Koech (7’56”37 clocked in Rome 2005), won the Olympic bronze medal in Athens 2004 and ran eight of the 32 times in history under the 8 minutes barrier. Brimin Kiprop Kipruto won the Olympic title in Bejing and was Olympic silver medallist in Athens. He won the world title in Osaka, a silver and a bronze world medal. Last year he narrowly missed Shaheen’s world record (7’53”63) by just one hundredth of a second. Richard Matelong is the latest specialist able to dip under the 8 minutes barrier in Doha on 11th May with 7’56”81. He boasts three major medals: the olympic bronze medal in Bejing, a silver and a bronze medal at the World Championships. They will take on Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi Banabbad (8’02”09”, the second fastest time in history in Europe), who won three major medals: the European gold medal in Barcelona 2010, the Olympic silver medal in Bejing and the World bronze medal in Daegu. He also holds the world all-time best performance in the 2000 metres steeplechase with 5’10”68. In the previous clashes Kemboi won over Kipruto 25 times in 35 meets and also leads 27-19 over Koech and 24-10 over Matelong. Paul Kipsiele Koech leads 24-15 over Kipruto and 26-7 over Mateelong who lost 21 races to 16 against Kipruto. Mekhissi lost three races to 1 against Koech and 7-0 against Kipruto but won 5 races to 2 against Kemboi and prevailed in 5 races to 3 against Mateelong. Women’s 800 metres - One of the races with the highest quality of the Compeed Golden Gala with four formidabile athletes in the line-up: Kenyan Pamela Jelimo, who won the Olympic title when she was just 18 years old and set five world junior records. She holds a PB of 1’54”01, the fastest time for 29 years. This year she returned to her best form winning the World indoor gold medal in Istanbul. The other Kenyan stand-out name will be Janeth Jepkosgei, who holds a 1’56”04 PB set when she won the World Championships in Osaka. She is used to winning medals in major events: Olympic silver in Bejing, World silver in Berlin and World bronze medal in Daegu. The other African star will be Caster Semenya, who followed in the footsteps of Jelimo by winning the World title in Berlin 2009. Still a junior, she won the world title in a PB of 1’55”45 backing up this medal two years later in Daegu with her silver medal. Last but not least Russian Mariya Savinova, reigning World and European champion, who set her 1’55”87 PB when she won the world title in Daegu 2011. In the previous clashes between these athletes Savinova surprisingly leads over the African runners. Men’s 800 metres - The most awaited athlete is Pole Marcin Lewandowski, European champion in Barcelona 2010 with a PB of 1’43”84. Lewandowski ran two of his four fastest times on Italian soil (in Rieti), where he has never won during his career. He will take on strong British middle-distance runner Andrew Osagie, who won the World indoor bronze medal in Istanbul. In his seasonal debut he improved his PB to 1’44”64 in the first leg of the Samsung Diamond League in Doha. Lewandowski won all four previous clashed over Osagie. 1500 metres women - The new generation of middle distance running will clash in the women’s 1500 metres. At the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba won the 1500 metres and Kenyan Hellen Obiri clinched the women’s 3000 metres. They met four times and they tied in their previous clashes, although Dibaba won the last two races with a recent 3’57”77 in the recent Samsung Diamond League meeting in Shanghai where she beat Obiri who finished fourth. The third big name is Mariam Yusuf Jamal (PB 3’56”18), the star from Bahrain who won two world medals in Osaka and Berlin. Jamal tied the previous clashes with Obiri, but lost 2-1 against Dibaba. 2011 World seasonal leader Morgan Uceny from the USA, who is in the lead over all other rivals thanks to an outstanding 2011 season.

LIVESTREAMING GREATMANCHESTERRUN and GREATCITYGAMES

http://livetv.ru/en/eventinfo/119959_great_manchester_run/

http://www.stopstream.tv/41/9/410912.html

http://www.sportlemon.tv/v-4/0/108/v-410912.html

Hey guys...here are 3 links to see the race in Manchester by livestreaming....links avaliable also in the afternoon for GreatCityGames..

Mo Farah at Bupa London 10000

Bupa London 10,000
Press release For immediate release:
Thursday 18 May 2012
Mo Farah kicks-off campaign at the Bupa London 10,000
Farah will Olympic Games build-up when he defends his title at the Bupa London 10,000 Overall on Sunday 27 May.The 5000m champion an ever-present increasingly popular road since it started finishing third in the inaugural event he has now won three in a row, notching up British records in 2009 and 2010. His winning time two years ago 27 minutes remains the course record, while year he chose relatively a in as he geared brilliant summer on where he set a European record over 10,000m, a British record over 5000m, and became world 5000m champion in Daegu. With all eyes on Farah ahead of the London Olympic Games, this will be a good chance to assess his form and fitness in his first outdoor race of the year just two months before the big event in Hackney Wick. Overall will be he as opponent straight victory annual event, incorporates the 10km road championships and is part of the runbritain Grand Prix series. Overall made a career-changing decision this time last year to become a full-time runner. He qualified Olympics on his debut in Berlin last September, was named in British team and has been preparing for an appearance in his Games ever since. So far this year, Overall won the adidas half Silverstone in March, and set a personal best of 61:25 finishing at the New Marathon, so his 28:49 could come under threat here as he takes the opportunity to test out the Olympic marathon course. Overall will certainly be looking to improve on his only previous appearance in the Bupa 10,000 three years ago when he was seventh in 29:36. Mara Yamauchi will also be keen to get a feel for the route as she takes top billing in the women’s race exactly 10 weeks before her for an Olympic medal on 5 August. It will be her first race of 2012. are few familiar with these streets than Yamauchi who has London Marathon 2009 in including produced a marvelous finish second behind Germany’s Mikitenko, second quickest It was the same result when she took on the German in the first London 10,000 in Yamauchi clocked 32:26, just 24 seconds adrift of the Yamauchi was Beijing Olympic marathon a few weeks later, and she returns to this event following a four-year absence hoping to get close to her PB of 31:43. Yamauchi’s main from Freya north-east based enjoyed an impressive debut at the Virgin London Marathon in Murray was the second home behind Hallissey in 13th place clocking 2 hours 28 minutes 10 seconds. This will be her debut in the London 10,000. of best personal winning the Yorkshire Run in Sheffield, a title she retained in 2010 when she also won the Great Ireland Run. Alongside the elites teams of up to six runners from UK clubs competing for places in UK 10km race, with the cumulative times the first three counting towards the team prize. In among the Britons, there will also be nine Japanese athletes running as guests, members of Olympic marathon teams – men’s, Kentaro who was 10th in the 2011 World marathon, Championships Arata Fujiwara, runner-up in this year’s Tokyo marathon; and in the women’s, Yoshimi Ozaki, the World Championships medalist, Shigetomo, winner of the Osaka marathon this year. Behind them all will runners, celebrities 10,000 fun and charity fund raisers looking for lifetime bests and personal satisfaction on the roads where world’s best runners will race glory in two months’ time.
Bupa London organised by Marathon team. finishes in The Mall and uses Green Park as its assembly area. Runners pass many of London’s famous sights, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, The London Cleopatra’s Millennium Bridge, Monument, Lloyds Market, Leadenhall England, Mansion Cathedral, Parade, Nelson's Admiralty .

OLYMPIC MARATHON COURSE...THE PROFILE AND MAP

Thanks to Prof.Sean Harnett i am able to show this file realized by him where u can find every details about next olympic marathon course.
You can read the story of this former runner HERE
You are curious to see the map of the course around London?? London 2012 Marathon Route Map TO BE UPDATED WITH TWO VIDEOS AND TECHNICAL OPINION OF MOST IMPORTANT MARATHON-COACHES IN THE WORLD..

PreClassic..400m PREVIEW

May 16, 2012
For Immediate Release
 Pre Classic Men’s & Women’s 400s: GOLD MEDALISTS JAMES AND MONTSHO READY TO TAKE ON MORE GOLD MEDALISTS

 Eugene, Oregon – Even the best in the world have competition, and the reigning World Champions in the men’s and women’s 400 meters at the 38th Prefontaine Classic are no exception. Each will feel pressure from previous Olympic or World gold medalists as the Pre Classic has assembled astonishing fields in both events. The Pre Classic, a major stop on the road to the 2012 London Olympics, and part of the elite Samsung Diamong League of international meets, will be held June 1-2 at Eugene, Ore. The men’s 400 headlines Kirani James of Grenada, who won the World Championships in Daegu last year as an 18-year old. James has already made a path of gold: 2009 World Youth gold, 2010 World Junior gold, 2011 World Championships gold. An Olympic gold in London would make him the first teenager to accomplish such a feat since Steve Lewis of the U.S. in 1988. In Daegu today, he affirmed his fitness with a nearly one-second win in 44.72 over an international field. At Pre, James will contend with four other Olympic or World Championships gold medalists, led by the reigning Olympic champion, LaShawn Merritt of the U.S. Merritt and James waged a memorable duel last year at the World Championships in Daegu, with James better by just 0.03. Merritt, also the 2009 World Champion, seeks to reclaim the top spot. American Jeremy Wariner, 2004 Olympic gold medalist, had an “off” year in 2011 but has more gold than anyone in the field. He “only” ranked No. 7 last year in the world by Track & Field News while recovering from injury. He feels healthy, which means trouble for the rest of the world as he was ranked No. 1 in the world five times from 2004-2010 (the other two years he was No. 2). The Pre 400 field isn’t nearly finished. Completing the sweep of medalists from last year’s World Championships is Kevin Borlée of Belgium, the bronze medalist. He is also the reigning European Championships gold medalist. American Angelo Taylor has beaucoup gold, two in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2000 and 2008 Olympics. As outstanding as he has been in the 400-meter hurdles, he has quite a resume in the 400, ranking among the top 10 by T&FN in the world five times in the event even while concentrating on the 400-meter hurdles. Taylor is the defending Prefontaine Classic 400 champion. Christopher Brown of the Bahamas, ranked No. 4 in the world last year by T&FN, is another gold medalist confirmed. He is a three-time Olympic veteran and the 2010 World Indoor Championships gold medalist. Bahamian countrymate Demetrius Pinder, silver medalist at this year’s World Indoor Championships, will join him. Brown and Pinder aim to mount a charge to challenge the U.S. in the 4x400 relay in London. Yet another medalist, Oscar Pistorius of South Africa, is in the field. Called by many the “Blade Runner,” he is a double amputee who has successfully climbed to compete among the world’s elite. He was a member of South Africa’s 4 x 400-meter relay team that earned the silver medal at last year’s World Championships. Men’s 400 Meters Kirani James (Grenada) LaShawn Merritt (USA) Kevin Borlée (Belgium) Christopher Brown (Bahamas) Jeremy Wariner (USA) Angelo Taylor (USA) Demetrius Pinder (Bahamas) Oscar Pistorius (South Africa) Returning to Eugene will be the top-rated women’s 400 runner in the world, Amantle Montsho of Botswana. Montsho won the gold medal at last year’s World Championships in Daegu after a series of years knocking on the door and not giving up. Without much fanfare, she ranked No. 2 in the world by T&FN in 2010. The gold in Daegu was her first, and still only, global medal at any level as she rose to No. 1 in 2011. Her best is 49.56 from last year. But Montsho has many of the world’s very best looking to move ahead. Prime among them is American Sanya Richards-Ross, the 2009 World Championships gold medalist and ranked No. 1 in the world by T&FN five straight years (2005-09). Richards-Ross, among those vanquished in Daegu by Montsho last year, is looking to return to No. 1 form. She proved she is once again healthy by winning the World Indoor Championships gold medal in Istanbul in March. Her PR is 48.60 from 2006. Another of the world’s best, Anastastiya Kapachinskaya of Russia, will challenge the field. She’s the bronze medalist at last year’s World Championships and was ranked No. 3 in the world last year by T&FN. She posted her PR of 49.35 last year Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills set off a sound-alarm in early May when she defeated Richards-Ross at the Jamaica Invitational in 49.99, not far off her best of 49.63 from 2006. Ranked as high as No. 2 in the world by T&FN in 2006, she has eight Olympic or World Championships medals, but none gold – she aims to change that statistic. Fueling the U.S.-Jamaica rivalry is Shericka Williams, the 2008 Olympic and 2009 World Championships silver medalist. She has been ranked as high as No. 2 in the world by T&FN in 2009 and has a best of 49.32 from 2009. American Debbie Dunn (49.64) was ranked as high as No. 3 in the world by T&FN in 2010, and compatriot Natasha Hastings has a PR of 49.84, meaning every entry so far in this year’s Samsung Diamond League 400 Meters has broken 50-seconds in her career! Women’s 400 Meters Amantle Montsho (Botswana) Sanya Richards-Ross (USA) Anastasiya Kapachinskaya (Russia) Novlene Williams-Mills (Jamaica) Shericka Williams (Jamaica) Debbie Dunn (USA) Natasha Hastings (USA) With the addition of the men’s and women’s 400 meters, 55 athletes in this year’s Pre Classic have won 76 Olympic or World Championships gold medals. Meet organizers expect the greatest collection of talent ever for an invitational on this continent, as the 55 athletes account for 172 medals (76 gold, 52 silver, 44 bronze). And more events are still to be announced. Tickets for the 38th annual edition of the Prefontaine Classic, to be held June 1-2 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., are on sale now from www.preclassic.com and from 1-800-WEBFOOT. Sponsored by NIKE continuously since 1984, the Prefontaine Classic will be shown live to an international audience and on NBC from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 2. The Prefontaine Classic is the longest-running outdoor invitational track and field meet in America and is part of the elite Samsung Diamond League of 14 meets held worldwide annually. Last year’s Pre Classic results ranked highest among all of the 14 meets, according to All-Athletics.com, the official data Partnerof the Samsung Diamond League. Steve Prefontaine is a legend in the sport of track & field and is perhaps the most inspirational distance runner in American history. He set a national high school 2-mile record while at Coos Bay High School that lasted nearly two decades. While competing for the University of Oregon, he won national cross country championships (3) and outdoor track 3-mile/5000-meter championships (4) every time he competed, and never lost a collegiate race at any distance. As a collegiate junior, he made the 1972 U.S. Olympic Team and nearly won an Olympic medal, finishing 4th in the 5K at the 1972 Munich Olympics, at age 22. After finishing college in 1973 and preparing for a return to the Olympics in 1976, he continued to improve, setting many American records. His life ended tragically on May 30, 1975, the result of an auto accident, at age 24. The Pre Classic began soon after and has been held every year since.

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PRE-CLASSIC MILE...THE PREVIEW

May 15, 2012
 For Immediate Release
 Pre Classic Mile: REMATCH IN EUGENE
 Eugene, Oregon – Nobody does it better when it comes to the Mile than the Prefontaine Classic, and this year’s 38th edition will add to that with a grudge match of the two best milers in the world. The Pre Classic, a major stop on the road to the 2012 London Olympics, and part of the elite Samsung Diamong League of international meets, will be held June 1-2 at Eugene, Ore. The meet features not one, but two world-class competitions of the men’s Mile, an historic event with a following like none other. The more famous or the two races at Pre is the Bowerman Mile, since 2000 named after legendary Oregon coach and Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman. The more recent is named the International Mile, begun in 2010 as a result of athlete demand. It featured 10 runners under 3:58 in its inaugural year, and 8 runners under 3:58 last year. Seeding of the Bowerman and International fields will be finalized over the next two and a half weeks leading up to the events, but sure to be included in the Bowerman are the No. 1 and No. 2 milers in world, Kenyans Asbel Kiprop and Silas Kiplagat. The two Kenyans are fierce competitive rivals. Both are 22 years old, and they have met 11 times throughout their young careers at either the mile or the 1500 meters. Kiplagat holds a 6-5 edge, but it’s not without controversy. Kiplagat’s latest win, at the May 11 Samsung Diamond League meet in Doha, Qatar, came as Kiplagat – in some viewers’ eyes – fouled Kiprop with about 100 meters left. However, no foul was called. Kiplagat won the 1500-meter event in a world-leading 3:29.63, just 0.15 seconds ahead of Kiprop. Kiprop, who won the gold medal at last year’s World Championships in Daegu as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 1500 meters, has been ranked No.1 in the world the last three straight years by Track & Field News. Kiprop is familiar with Pre and Eugene – he has run sub-3:50 Miles at Pre the last three years, winning the 2010 and 2009 Bowerman Miles. His best ever is 3:48.50 from his 2009 victory. Kiplagat, the closest to recently challenge Kiprop, was silver medalist at last year’s World Championships. Kiplagat, who even defeated Kiprop at last year’s Bowerman Mile, was ranked No. 2 in the world by T&FN. His best is 3:49.39 from last year. American Matthew Centrowitz completes the sweep of last year’s World Championships 1500 medalists. He electrified American fans by earning a bronze medal in Daegu, but is at age 22 a relative newcomer to the international scene. His Mile best is “only” 3:53.92, a time he achieved winning this year’s venerable Wannamaker Mile at the Millrose Games in February. But there are loads more fast Milers in this year’s Pre Classic, including the winner of last year’s Bowerman Mile, Haron Keitany of Kenya, who beat both Kiprop and Kiplagat as all three broke 3:50. Keitany, ranked No. 4 in the world last year by T&FN, has a best of 3:48.78 from 2009, when he was runner-up to Kiprop in the Bowerman Mile. Centrowitz has an American teammate in the field, and perhaps the best veteran ever. Bernard Lagat has won five World Championships gold medals, but none of them the gold that he desires – the Olympic variety. Lagat, though 37, is still one of the best in the world – he proved so in Istanbul by winning the World Indoor Championships 3000 meters. He is a two-time winner of the Bowerman Mile with a PR in the Mile of 3:47.28. The Kenyans and Americans will be surrounded by world-class competition, led by Mekonnen Gebremedhin of Ethiopia and Abdelaati Iguider of Morocco. Gebremedhin, ranked No. 6 in the world last year by T&FN, was third in the Bowerman Mile in 2010 and fourth last year, when he recorded his PR of 3:49.70. Iguider, a 2008 Olympic finalist at age 21, won the gold medal at this year’s World Indoor Championships in Istanbul. He hasn’t run the Mile distance since 2007, but his best 1500 time of 3:31.47 converts to a Mile time of 3:48.39. It doesn’t stop there. The Bowerman Mile meet record is held by Daniel Kipchirchir Komen of Kenya, who ran 3:48.28 in 2007. Twice ranked No. 1 in the world by T&FN, he was sixth in loaded field last year at 3:50.29. New Zealand’s Nick Willis, silver medalist at the 2008 Olympics, is a two-time former runner-up in the Bowerman Mile whose 1500 best of 3:31.79 converts to a Mile time of 3:48.74. Amine Laalou of Morocco, a two-time Olympian in the 800 with a best of 1:43.25, is also quite fast in the Mile. Ranked No. 2 in the Mile in the world by T&FNin 2010, he has a best of 3:50.22 (as runner-up in the 2010 Bowerman Mile) and a 1500 PR of 3:29.53 that converts to a Mile of 3:46.30, which would make him the fastest in the field. Several Americans are also aiming to run fast in Eugene, led by hometown favorite Andrew Wheating, on the comeback trail after being injured in 2011; American record holder Alan Webb (3:46.91 in 2007), fastest in the field but also seeking to bounce back after injury; and Russell Brown, who has thrown a first dart at the target of making the U.S. Olympic team by posting a PR 3:34.11 in the 1500 to become the fastest American thus far this year (that 1500 converts to a mile of 3:51.24). Among the other top Americans expected are Leonel Manzano (3:49.36 converted), David Torrence (3:51.39 converted), Lopez Lomong (3:49.18 converted), Will Leer (3:53.64 converted), Dorian Ulrey (3:52.45 converted), and Jeff See (3:55.47). Bowerman and International Miles Silas Kiplagat (Kenya) Asbel Kiprop (Kenya) Abdelaati Iguider (Morocco) Mekonnen Gebremedhin (Ethiopia) Haron Keitany (Kenya) Nick Willis (New Zealand) Collins Cheboi (Kenya) Russell Brown (USA) Amine Laalou (Morocco) Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (Kenya) Matthew Centrowitz (USA) David Torrence (USA) Leonel Manzano (USA) Andrew Wheating (USA) Aman Wote (Ethiopia) Bethwell Birgen (Kenya) Bernard Lagat (USA) Dawit Wolde (Ethiopia) Tesfaye Cheru (Ethiopia) Lopez Lomong (USA) Nicholas Kemboi (Qatar) Will Leer (USA) Dorian Ulrey (USA) Jeff See (USA) Alan Webb (USA) Gideon Gathimba (Kenya) Mohamed Al Garni (Qatar) Remmy Limo Ndiwa (Kenya) Mohammed Shaween (Kuwait) With the addition of the Bowerman and International Miles to the to the previously announced seven events, 44 athletes in this year’s Prefontaine Classic have won a total of 114 Olympic or World Championships medals (44 gold, 37 silver, 33 bronze). The 44 medalists include 21 with at least one gold medal. Tickets for the 38th annual edition of the Prefontaine Classic, to be held June 1-2 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., are on sale now from www.preclassic.com and from 1-800-WEBFOOT. Sponsored by NIKE continuously since 1984, the Prefontaine Classic will be shown live to an international audience and on NBC from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 2.

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GREAT MANCHESTER RUN ..THE GUIDE

Next Sunday an incredible road race in Manchester (UK) 

i will try to create a guide with this post:

COURSE a quite fast course around the streets of Manchester..

LIVESTREAMING on BBC2 on Sunday from 10AM GMT to 12.30AM GMT 

(ATTENTION:this streaming will be avaliable only in uk!!I will be able to publish a worldwide streaming-link few moments before race)

STARTINGLISTS ELITE ATHLETES:

Terrible!!One kenian against 3 incredible ethiopians!!Kenian will be Patrick Makau,out of Olympics kenian marathon team,but still WR holder of marathon in last BerlinMarathon.I hope he will demostrate it was a big mistake leave him home from Olympics.Against him Haile Gebresilassie,the real king and legend of our world!!Two last WR holder in marathon one against one...as Berlin last september!!..Who will win this time??Very difficult to make a name!!

Ethiopian Kebede will return to race less than one month after LondonMarathon:in my opinion a little bit early!!Hoping better for him!!

I am really too curious to see Ayele Abshero,new name of ethiopian marathon movemente.In January he was able to run the fastest time in marathon of 2012 winning Dubai in 2h04'23...still remember that race!!astonishing and amazing!!this young guy will run his second marathon in Olympics and this will be his first race after Dubai,very curious to see what he can do...in my opinion he can really win!!Ugandan Stephen  Kiprotich,Ukrainan Sergey Lebid and my friend Stefano Scaini will complete the top ten!!

In women race who else?..Linet Masai...the most elegant athlete in the world.Against her english Yamauchi and the big talent of Charlotte Purdue,one of the possible surprise of the race.Outsider will be kenian Jerotich,british Gemma Steel,the other kenian Changeiywo and the italians Anna Incerti and Nadia Ejjafini.

Difficult to find a similar road race all around..

Dont' forget in the afternoon the GreatCityGames in DeansGate in center of Manchester

LOCATION AND TIMETABLE in GMT times

LIVESTREAMING from 3.30 PM GMT to 5PM GMT ON BBC2 (for streaming the same as the morning)

STARTINGLISTS OFFICIAL of GreatCityGames

TO BE UPDATED!!

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SHANGHAI DIAMOND LEAGUE...MY PREVIEW

This week Shanghai DL...here is my preview race by race

SHOT PUT MEN:

Dylan Armstrong and Adam Nelson will be the probably two top contenders in this race with 5 men over 21m in season-lists.Outsider the US Ryan Whiting.

LONG JUMP WOMEN:

Wow...what a race!!..Rybalko,Procto,Zaytseva,Jimoh and nigerian Okgabare...over 6,80m season.!!!

DISCUS THROW WOMEN:

The return of Sandra Perkovic in DL.What will do Dani Samuels??American Stephanie Brown-Trafton could do more??..3 questions we will receive answers!!

HIGH JUMP WOMEN:

Too early in the season...but american Chaunte Lowe could be the best!!

POLE VAULT MEN:

Curious to see the improving of german school,very good in this 2012!!Don't forget Brad Walker e aussie Steven Hooker.

400Hm MEN:

A grear race with a battle between Bershawn Jackson and Angelo Taylor.SouthAfrican Lj Vanzyl the top outsider

1500m WOMEN:

My preferred races are coming..:)... kenyan duo bye Janeth Jepkosgei and Eunice Sum are the strongest on the paper.For the two trainingmates the enemies will be moroccan Lakhouad and kenian Obiri.Attention to the young Faith Kipyegon.Not a very fast race in my opinion.

100m MEN:

Asafa will catch the victory after defeated in Doha??Or Nesta Carter will give him another trouble??Darvis Patton and Michael Rodgers the outsiders.To check the shape of Kim Collins!!

JAVELIN MEN:

Mathias DeZordo against Thorkildsen...what else??

400m WOMEN:

Amantle Montsho and the jamaicans for a race sure under 50" in my opinion!!American Debbie Dunn and ukrainan Antonina Yefremova will be very near them.

TRIPLE JUMP MEN:

Difficult to tell a name...it could be a race with a duel between Philip Idowu and Christian Taylor!!Chinese Bin Dong after them??

3000sc WOMEN:

The first time of the season for the steeple:too easy say the name of Milka Chemos.Lydia Rotich and Mercy Njoroge could create a big trouble to Chemos especially Njoroge given in a good shape after defense champs in Kenya.

800m MEN:

Sorry guys...but Asbel Kiprop one and the only!!..Polish Lewandoski can do well and i am curious about the young kenians Timothy Kitum and Leonard Kosencha.

200M WOMEN:

Carmelita Jeter and Veronica Campbell-Brown the top!!..I see Jeter a little bit ahead the jamaican.

5000m MEN:

Difficult to say if Bekele can do a good race,it looked like not very wel in Doha!Probably the best will be Augustine Choge after the great 3k last friday.Longosiwa and Chepkok real contenders but surprise should be Kipkoech John winner today of Defense champ in Kenya so in good shape.New ethiopians could give us some good news...but i am also curious about the young kenian Albert Rop.

A great meeting with this TIMETABLE.during week i will publish livestreaming links worldwide

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PRE-CLASSIC MIDDLE DISTANCES PREVIEW

May 8, 2012
For Immediate Release

 Pre Classic Middle Distances (non-Mile): FAN FAVORITE JENNY SIMPSON LEADING THE 1500 Eugene, Oregon— Jenny Simpson impressed fans around the world with her gritty gold medal victory at last year’s World Championships 1500 meters. Now she’s looking for the Olympic variety. She has plenty of company as the 38th Prefontaine Classic has assembled world-class fields in the women’s 1500 meters and men’s and women’s 800 meters. The Pre Classic, a major stop on the road to the 2012 London Olympics, will be held June 1-2 at Eugene, Ore. While the men’s 800 will be held on Saturday, the women’s 1500 and 800 will be held as part of the Friday portion of this year’s edition that has been named Hollister Night at Hayward, in tribute to the late Geoff Hollister. Admission is free on Friday, thanks to long-time sponsor NIKE, in tribute to Hollister, one of the original executives at the company. Simpson’s victory last August in Daegu gave the U.S. its first gold in the women’s 1500 since Mary Decker in 1983, about three years before Simpson was born as Jennifer Barringer, her maiden name. A former steeplechaser with 3-time NCAA champion and 2008 Olympic experience, she has concentrated on the 1500 since graduating from Colorado in 2009. She is the fifth-fastest American ever with a best of 3:59.90. Several others will contest Simpson. One of the most prominent is AmericanAnna Pierce, a fellow former steeplechaser who also has world-class credentials, having been ranked by Track & Field NewsNo. 6 in the world in the 1500 in 2009 and a 2008 Olympian in the event. Pierce has an amazing range of talent, having ranked as high as No. 2 in the world by T&FN in the 800 (2009). She is the third-fastest American in history with a best of 3:59.38. Also looking toward London is another American, Shannon Rowbury, the 2009 World Championships bronze medalist and a 2008 Olympian. Rowbury, a teammate of Simpson on the 2011 World Championships team, has a best of 4:00.33, seventh-best in U.S. history. A Canadian with impressive experience, Sheila Reid will enter the contest. Last June she became the first woman to sweep the 1500 and 5000 at the NCAA Championships while running for Villanova. She continued such winning ways in the fall by winning the NCAA cross country title. An 18-year-old from Ethiopia, Tizita Bogale, will likely keep the race honest. She has a best of 4:03.94 and won the World Junior Championships gold in 2010 at age 16. Women’s 1500 meters Jenny Simpson (USA) Tizita Bogale (Ethiopia) Anna Pierce (USA) Shannon Rowbury (USA) Brenda Martinez (USA) Gabreile Anderson (USA) Katie Follett Mackey (USA) Jemma Simpson (GBR) Lidia Chojecka (POL) Bertukan Feyesa (ETH) Sheila Reid (CAN) The men’s 800 meters features great examples of the extremes of experience and youth, both from America and beyond. Abubaker Kaki of Sudan earned the silver medal at last year’s World Championships as a 22-year-old. With a best of 1:42.23, he is the fifth-fastest ever at 800 and was ranked No. 2 in the world last year by T&FN. Four other finalists from Daegu will be on hand for a pre-London reunion. The most decorated of the group is bronze medalist Yuriy Borzakovskiy of Russia. The 31-year-old is the 2004 Olympic gold medalist whose bronze last year in Daegu is just one of four World Championships medals (he also has two silvers and another bronze from that meet). His best of 1:42.47 makes him the eighth-fastest in history, and he ranked No. 3 in world last year by T&FN. Perhaps the most intriguing of the entrants is the youngest, 18-year-oldMohamed Aman of Ethiopia. He opened the world’s eyes last year by making the Daegu final as a 17-year-old with a best of 1:43.37 in the semifinals. He made the world look even closer last September, when he ended world record holder and gold medalist David Rudisha’s 34-meet winning streak in Milan. T&FN ranked him No. 5 in the world last year. He has started 2012 on a tear, winning the World Indoor Championships gold in Instanbul in March. The two other Daegu finalists, Nick Symmonds of the U.S. and Adam Kszczot of Poland, were ranked No. 6 and No. 7, respectively by T&FN last year after finishing fifth and sixth in Daegu. Kszczot has a PR of 1:43.30, while 2008 Olympian Symmonds’ best of 1:43.76 makes him the eighth-fastest American ever. One of Symmonds’s U.S. teammates is Olympian Khadevis Robinson, who at age 35 is the clearly the most experienced in the field. But the veteran of seven World Championships is still world class, able to rank No. 9 in the world last year by T&FN. His best of 1:43.68, No. 6 in U.S. history, is the best of any American currently competing. Robinson has company in the 30-plus club. Mbulaeni Mulaudzi is a 31-year-old South African with medals of all colors: gold (2009 World Championships), silver (2004 Olympics), and bronze (2003 World Championships). He has a best o f 1:42.86 and will be joined by yet another sub-1:43 runner, 2008 Olympian Boaz Kiplagat Lalang of Kenya (1:42.95). American Tyler Mulder, a former NCAA Indoor champion who trains locally with the Oregon Track Club Elite, completes the field. He has improved every year of his career and owns a best of 1:44.83. Men’s 800 meters Abubaker Kaki (Sudan) Adam Kszczot (Poland) Mohamed Aman (Ethiopia) Nick Symmonds (USA) Khadevis Robinson (USA) Yuriy Borzakovskiy (Russia) Boaz Kiplagat Lalang (Kenya) Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (South Africa) Anthony Chemut (Kenya) Tyler Mulder (USA) The women’s 800 meters brings together an elite field led by two world-class Americans who are the fastest since the turn of the century in Alysia Montano and Maggie Vessey. Both Montano and Vessey were finalists at last year’s World Championships in Daegu. Montano was just out of the medals in fourth and Vessey a stride back in sixth. Montano, a three-time U.S. champion who earned bronze at the 2010 World Indoor Championships, has a best of 1:57.34, making her the fifth-fastest in U.S. history. Vessey, with a best of 1:57.84, is not far behind as the eighth-fastest American. Several others with Olympic dreams are entered, including one attempting to repeat past success. Last year’s 3rd-ranked American Alice Schmidt is a veteran of the 2008 Olympics as well as three World Championships. Among those in the field are American Erica Moore, bronze medalist at this year’s World Indoor Championships, and Ethiopian Fantu Magiso Manedo, a 19-year-old who finished fourth at this year’s World Indoor Championships. Two other key entrants are Molly Beckwith, winner of the Penn Relays mile last week, and past NCAA champions Phoebe Wright and Geena Gall. Women's 800 meters Alysia Montano (USA) Maggie Vessey (USA) Molly Beckwith (USA) Alice Schmidt (USA) Erica Moore (USA) Phobe Wright (USA) Fantu Magiso Manedo (Ethiopia) Geena Gall (USA) LaTavia Thomas (USA) With the addition of the men’s and women’s 800 and women’s 1500 to the previously announced four events, 17 athletes in this year’s Prefontaine Classic have won a total of 43 Olympic or World Championships medals (22 gold, 9 silver, 12 bronze). The 17 medalists include 10 with at least one gold medal. Tickets for the 38th annual edition of the Prefontaine Classic, to be held June 1-2 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., are on sale now from www.preclassic.com and from 1-800-WEBFOOT. Sponsored by NIKE continuously since 1984, the Prefontaine Classic will be shown live to an international audience and on NBC from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 2. The Prefontaine Classic is the longest-running outdoor invitational track and field meet in America and is part of the elite Samsung Diamond League of 14 meets held worldwide annually. Last year’s Pre Classic results ranked highest among all of the 14 meets, according to All-Athletics.com, the official data Partnerof the Samsung Diamond League. Steve Prefontaine is a legend in the sport of track & field and is perhaps the most inspirational distance runner in American history. He set a national high school 2-mile record while at Coos Bay High School that lasted nearly two decades. While competing for the University of Oregon, he won national cross country championships (3) and outdoor track 3-mile/5000-meter championships (4) every time he competed, and never lost a collegiate race at any distance. As a collegiate junior, he made the 1972 U.S. Olympic Team and nearly won an Olympic medal, finishing 4th in the 5K at the 1972 Munich Olympics, at age 22. After finishing college in 1973 and preparing for a return to the Olympics in 1976, he continued to improve, setting many American records. His life ended tragically on May 30, 1975, the result of an auto accident, at age 24. The Pre Classic began soon after and has been held every year since.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS KAWASAKI MEETING

OFFICIAL RESULTS of Golden Gran Prix Kawasaki Japan

FIRST RACE OF USAIN BOLT AND KAWASAKI MEETING..GUIDE OF WEEKEND

This weekend always amazing events of athletics...


JAMAICA INTERNATIONAL INVITATIONAL:

OFFICIAL STARTINGLISTS

TIMETABLE AND LIVE RESULTS


IAAF PREVIEW

and livestreaming (not avaliable in Italy for now...geoblocked it looks like) from 1AM GMT till 4AM GMT

KAWASAKI MEETING:

On Sunday another importan meeting of World Challenge in Japan.This meeting will be broadcast in livestreaming by japanese TBS avaliable all around world by little sure software KEYHOLE (thanks to http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.com ) from 7AM to 10 AM GMT.

OFFICIAL STARTINGLIST

OFFICIAL TIMETABLE IN ENGLISH

IAAF PREVIEW

HANNOVER MARATHON:

Still one marathon this weekend..

PRESS RELEASE WITH TOP NAMES

LIVESTREAMING from 7.50 AM GMT to 11 AM GMT

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COMPEED GOLDEN GALA: A STAR PARADE IN ROME

For immediate release

The Compeed Golden Gala in Rome will be the third leg of the 2012 Samsung Diamond League and the first meeting in Europe after Doha (11 May) and Shanghai (19 May). The names of the stars who will take part in the Golden Gala on 31st May were unveiled today at the official press conference at the Campidoglio in Rome. The press conference was attended by FIDAL President Franco Arese, CONI General Secretary Raffaele Pagnozzi and Rome Major Gianni Alemanno. Usain Bolt, triple Olympic champion and world record holder in the 100, 200 metres and the 4x100 relay and reigning 200 metres and 4x100 relay world champion, will be in the spotlight one year after his first ever appearance on Italian soil in Rome. In 2011 Bolt grabbed the headlines at the historic Olympic Stadium when he edged out his compatriot and former 100 metres Asafa Powell and triple European sprint champion Christophe Lemaitre to win in 9.91. Powell finished second in 9.93 ahead of Lemaitre, third in 10.00. The Jamaican super-star has fulfilled his promise to return to the Eternal City this year. The clash between Bolt, Powell and Lemaitre will be renewed this year. Last year Bolt attracted more than 47000 spectators and the hope of the Golden Gala organizers is to break the attendance record this year. The star-studded 100 metres race will certainly headline this year’s edition but it will not be the only attraction of the 32nd edition of the major Italian athletics meeting. More than sixty names were announced today at the press conference. Most of the competitions features the reigning Olympic champion or the World champion Indoors or Outdoors. It will be one of the first big tests for most of the athletes in the build-up to the European Championships in Helsinki and the Olympic Games in London. Middle distance races have always produced fast times and exciting competitions and this year it will not be no exception . The stand-out name in the women’s 5000 metres will be double 5000 and 10000 metres world champion Vivian Cheruiyot who won the first two editions of the Diamond Race in the 5000 metres. The Kenyan 5000 metres record holder will take on former Olympic champion and former world record holder Meseret Defar from Ethiopia and double world silver medallist Sylvia Kibet. South African former world champion Caster Semenya, who has already made her seasonal debut running 1:59.58 on home soil, will make her debut in Rome in a high-quality 800 metres race which features Daegu 2011 world champion Maria Savinova from Russia, reigning Olympic champion and Istanbul 2012 World Indoor champion Pamela Jelimo from Kenya and 2007 world champion Janet Jepkosgei from Kenya. The Compeed Golden Gala features a long list of world champions from Daegu 2011. The top names who have confirmed their participation are Great Britain’s 400 metres hurdles World, European and Commonwealth champion David Greene who will face US 2005 world champion Bershawn Jackson, Discus Throw double world champion Robert Harting from Germany in a superb competition with Olympic champion Gerd Kanter from Estonia and European champion Piotr Malachowski, World 400 metres hurdles champion and US record holder Lashinda Demus against 2010 and 2011 Diamond League winner Kaliese Spencer and Olympic champion Melaine Walker from Jamaica, shot put World and Olympic champion Valerie Adams from New Zealand against her arch-rival Nadezhda Ostapchuk from Belarus, Russian world champion Mariya Abakumova against last year’s Diamond League winner Christina Obergfoll from Germany in the women’s javelin throw. The press conference was attended by Daegu 100 metres finalist Ivet Lalova from Bulgaria and 4x100 relay European silver medallist Simone Collio. Lalova, who has been training for two years in Rieti with her boyfriend Collio under the guidance of Roberto Bonomi, will line up in the women’s 100 metres in Rome on 31 May against top Jamaican sprinters Shelly Ann Fraser, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson. The meeting will end with 4x100 and 4x400 relays which will offer the chance to qualify for the Olympic Games in London where only the best 16 teams of the ranking will be entered. Italy will take on Great Britain, Canada, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland in the 4x100. The 4x400 relay will feature Italy, Belgium, Great Britain, South Africa, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. The Compeed Golden Gala will be the pinnacle of a great Week of Athletics events in Rome. For the third consecutive year the National Finals of the Italian School Games will be held at the Farnesina Stadium in conjunction with the Golden Gala. The tradition of the Palio dei Comuni Relay will continue in the afternoon before the start of the official programme.

 TOP ATHLETES (at 03.05.2012): http://www.fidal.it/upload/files/GOLDENGALA/atleti-top2012.pdf

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PRE-CLASSIC..THROWS WOMEN PREVIEW

May 2, 2012
 For Immediate Release

 Pre Classic Women’s Throws: 4 GOLD MEDALISTS, 3 WORLD RECORD SETTERS


Gold should be the color of choice for the women’s throwers confirmed to compete at this year’s Prefontaine Classic, a major stop on the road to the 2012 London Olympics. Four of the contestants have won Olympic or World Championships gold medals among their collection of honors in the hammer and discus throws. The 38th annual Pre Classic will be held June 1-2 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. The Friday portion of this year’s edition has been named Hollister Night at Hayward, in tribute to the late Geoff Hollister. Admission is free on Friday, thanks to long-time sponsor NIKE, in tribute to Hollister, one of the original executives at the company. Both of the women’s throwing events are included in the free portion of this year’s Pre Classic. The women’s hammer throw brings together a glittering collection highlighted by three World Championships gold medalists and five of the top six ranked throwers in the world last year, according to Track & Field News. The group also includes the last three year’s No. 1 throwers in the world, and four in the last six years. Three of the throwers have set world records, including the current holder, Betty Heidler of Germany. Heidler set her mark of 260-7 (79.42) last May and later in August earned her second consecutive World Championships silver. She won the gold medal in 2007, but more recently she has been ranked No. 1 in the world by T&FN in 2010 and 2011. Two other world record setters are in the field, including Tatyana Lysenko of Russia. Lysenko won the gold in the World Championships last year in defeating Heidler. The third world record setter is Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland, the 2009 World Championships gold medalist and owner of the world record that Heidler broke. The stellar fields gets even better with two more of last year’s top six, Wenxiu Zhang of China and Kathrin Klaas of Germany. Zhang, ranked No. 3 in the world last year, has taken an early world lead by increasing her PR to a world-leading 248-5 (75.72). She was bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympics as well as the 2007 and 2011 World Championships. Klaas, ranked No. 5 last year, was ranked No. 4 in the world in both 2009 and 2010. The hammer field doesn’t end there. Add to that group a pair of Americans and a Canadian: Jessica Cosby, Amber Campbell, and Sultana Frizell. Cosby is a four-time U.S. champ and No. 10 in the world last year, and Campbell and Frizell are 2008 Olympians. Cosby earlier this year increased her PR to 241-10 (73.71), just six inches short of the American record. Campbell is the third-longest thrower in American history at 238-2 (72.59). Frizell, of Canada, earlier this year increased her PR to 246-2 (75.04). Women's Hammer Throw Betty Heidler (Germany) Tatyana Lysenko (Russia) Wenxiu Zhang (China) Kathrin Klaas (Germany) Anita Wlodarczyk (Poland) Amber Cambell (USA) Jessica Cosby (USA) Sultana Frizell (Canada) The women’s discus throw is one of 16 elite events in the meet designated as part of the worldwide Samsung Diamond League. The field features reigning Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown-Trafton of the U.S. She is the only American to ever be ranked No. 1 in the world in the women’s discus by T&FN (2008). Brown-Trafton will have plenty of competition. The field includes a select group of the world’s best, including Aretha Thurmond of the U.S., Zaneta Glanc of Poland, and Sandra Perkovic of Croatia. Thurmond, a four-time U.S. champion, is a three-time Olympian who was ranked No. 7 in the world last year by T&FN. Glanc, who has finished fourth in the last two World Championships, was ranked No. 4 in the world last year, as she was in 2009. Perkovic was ranked No. 2 in the world in 2010 and had the second-longest throw in the world last year (222-11). Two more Olympians join the fray in Kateryna Karsak of Ukraine and former two-time World Junior gold medalist Xuejun Ma of China. Also included are two more with World Championships experience: American Gia Lewis-Smallwood and Darya Pishchalnikova of Russia. With the addition of the women’s throwing events to the previously announced women’s 10K and men’s 5K, 12 athletes in this year’s Prefontaine Classic have won a total of 32 Olympic or World Championships medals (19 gold, 5 silver, 8 bronze). Women's Discus Throw Stephanie Brown-Trafton (USA) Aretha Thurmond (USA) Zaneta Glanc (Poland) Kateryna Karsak (Ukraine) Darya Pishchalnikova (Russia) Gia Lewis-Smallwood (USA) Sandra Perkovic (Croatia) Xuejun Ma (China) 5K Update A late addition to the recently announced men’s 5K is Augustine Choge of Kenya. He was the silver medalist at the World Indoor Championships earlier this year in Istanbul in the 3000 meters, an event in which he still owns the World Junior Record (7:28.78 in 2005). Choge was a finalist in the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Championships in the 1500 and has incredible range (PRs or 3:29.47 in the 1500 and 12:53.66 in the 5000). Tickets for Saturday’s 38th annual edition of the Prefontaine Classic, to be held June 2nd at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., are on sale now from www.preclassic.com and from 1-800-WEBFOOT. Sponsored by NIKE continuously since 1984, the Prefontaine Classic will be shown live to an international audience and on NBC from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 2. The Prefontaine Classic is the longest-running outdoor invitational track and field meet in America and is part of the elite Samsung Diamond League of 14 meets held worldwide annually. Last year’s Pre Classic results ranked highest among all of the 14 meets, according to All-Athletics.com, the official data Partnerof the Samsung Diamond League. Steve Prefontaine is a legend in the sport of track & field and is perhaps the most inspirational distance runner in American history. He set a national high school 2-mile record while at Coos Bay High School that lasted nearly two decades. While competing for the University of Oregon, he won national cross country championships (3) and outdoor track 3-mile/5000-meter championships (4) every time he competed, and never lost a collegiate track race at any distance. As a collegiate junior, he made the 1972 U.S. Olympic Team and nearly won an Olympic medal, finishing 4th in the 5K at the 1972 Munich Olympics, at age 22. After finishing college in 1973 and preparing for a return to the Olympics in 1976, he continued to improve, setting many American records. His life ended tragically on May 30, 1975, the result of an auto accident, at age 24. The Pre Classic began soon after and has been held every year since.

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