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Nike Prefontaine Classic 100m, 400m fields announced

Posted June 10th, 2007 at 3:00 PM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

prefontaine classic 2007 poster Sanya Richards, Allyson Felix, Bershawn Jackson, Lauryn Williams, Darold Williamson, Torri Edwards and Leonard Scott are just a few of the big names who will compete in the men’s and women’s 100 and 400 meters Sunday at the 2007 Nike Prefontaine Classic at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

The fourth event of USA Track & Field’s 2007 Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the Nike Prefontaine Classic will be televised live on NBC, Sunday, June 10, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

A star-studded field will enter the women’s 100 meters, headlined by reigning world sprint champions Lauryn Williams and Allyson Felix. Williams won the 100m at the 2005 World Outdoor Championships, and Felix, who ended the 2006 season ranked #1 in the world at 200 meters for the second year in a row, won that event at the 2005 Worlds in Helsinki. Also keep an eye on 2003 world champion Torri Edwards, who won here last year (11.08 seconds) and owns the fastest time in the world so far this season of 10.90 seconds.

Three of the top-10 world-ranked competitors in the men’s 100 meters will headline that event, led by the reigning World Indoor 60m champion Leonard Scott. He’ll be joined in the field by Marc Burns of Trinidad, who ended the 2006 season ranked #9 in the world, and Jamaica’s Michael Frater, who began this season ranked #10 globally.

Two of the biggest names in the men’s 400 meters are Bershawn Jackson and Angelo Taylor, who made their worldwide reputations in 400m hurdles competition. Jackson, who is the reigning World Outdoor 400m hurdles champion and 2006 Pre Classic winner, ended last season ranked #2 in the world. The 2000 Olympic men’s 400m hurdles gold medalist, Taylor will enter the blocks on Sunday with the second-fastest 400m time in the world this year of 44.35 seconds. Others to watch for include reigning Pre Classic 400m champion LaShawn Merritt, who ended the 2006 season ranked #3 in the world, Jamaica’s Michael Blackwood, who ended last year ranked #5 globally and Alleyne Francique of Grenada (world ranked #7) are also in the field. Also watch for 2004 Olympic 4×400m relay gold medalist Darold Williamson.

In the women’s 400 meters, Sanya Richards ended the 2006 campaign ranked #1 in the world after completing an undefeated season. Richards, who has been fighting off an illness this spring, will make her season debut at the Nike Prefontaine Classic. She’ll face a strong field featuring Jamaica’s Shericka Williams, who began this season ranked #4 in the world. Other top competitors in this event include world ranked athletes Dee Dee Trotter (#6), Monique Henderson (#7) and Prefontaine meet record holder Ana Guevara of Mexico.

Via: USATF