Full Preview: Incredible Action on Tap at Saturday's Prefontaine Classic
By LetsRun.com
June 1, 2012
We dare you to try and find a better two days of track and field action in the US than Friday and Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic. This really is a great meet.
Nike has turned this into a two day meet. Friday's "Hollister Night at Hayward" has some incredible distance races (Kenyan Olympic 10,000m Trials, Tirunesh Dibaba in the 10,000m, Alysia Montano's 2012 debut, Alan Webb in the mile/1500) and even all three medallist from Worlds last year in the triple jump, but the meat and potatoes of the meet is Saturday's traditional Pre Classic.
We preview Saturday's great action below. Nearly every event is so stacked, we just went in order of the running events on the schedule. (*Schedule here *For a preview of Friday's action click here). Some old timer can tell us of the greatest Pre meet ever, but this is the best one we can remember. All it's lacking is Usain Bolt in the 100m.
Men's 400m: LaShawn Merritt vs Kirani James vs Jeremy Wariner
It doesn't get any better than this. World Champ Kirani James vs 2008 Olympic Champ and 2012 World #1, Lashawn Merritt, vs 2004 Olympic Champ Jeremy Wariner. These are the big three in 400m running. With Wariner being an adidas guy, we're surprised to see him running Pre. He must really feel he needs to take on the best before the Trials.
We should be quiet about talking about our good fortune. This should be a great one.
Merritt definitely is the guy to beat.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
22.02.1988
|
BEL
|
44.74
|
45.33
|
|
15.10.1978
|
BAH
|
44.40
|
45.14
|
|
01.09.1992
|
GRN
|
44.36
|
44.72
|
|
27.06.1986
|
USA
|
43.75
|
44.19
|
|
13.02.1989
|
BAH
|
44.78
|
45.15
|
|
22.11.1986
|
RSA
|
45.07
|
45.20
|
|
29.12.1978
|
USA
|
44.05
|
44.97
|
|
31.01.1984
|
USA
|
43.45
|
44.96
|
Men's 100m: We Hope Walter Dix Beats Justin Gatlin
Enough said.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
07.04.1990
|
JAM
|
9.96
|
9.97
|
|
13.04.1989
|
USA
|
9.88
|
10.01
|
|
10.11.1985
|
JAM
|
9.78
|
10.05
|
|
31.01.1986
|
USA
|
9.88
|
9.94
|
|
10.02.1982
|
USA
|
9.85
|
9.87
|
|
13.07.1985
|
USA
|
9.95
|
10.18
|
|
04.12.1977
|
USA
|
9.89
|
10.04
|
|
24.04.1985
|
USA
|
9.85
|
10.00
|
Women's Steeple: Top 3 in the World in 2012 Square Off
This is a good one as the top 3 in 2012 go head to head to head. Milcah Chemos was the most consistent steepler last year and is the world leader in 2012. Sofia Assefa gave her a challenge at the Shanghai Diamond League Meet while Hiwot Ayalew had a big pr in Rabat last week.
This is a perfect opportunity for US leader Bridget Franek or 2011 US Champ Emma Coburn to try and get under 9:30. Coburn redshirted at Colorado this year to prepare for the Olympics so this will be a big test for her as it is her first steeple. She opened up with a 4:09.42 1500m at the USATF High Performance Meet at Occidental. That was more than a 3 second pr in her first race of the year. This could be her coming out party on the world stage.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
14.11.1987
|
ETH
|
9:15.04
|
9:16.83
|
|
06.03.1990
|
ETH
|
9:16.14
|
9:16.14
|
|
26.02.1986
|
KEN
|
9:08.57
|
9:15.81
|
|
19.10.1990
|
USA
|
9:37.16
|
-- |
|
08.11.1987
|
USA
|
9:32.35
|
9:39.77
|
|
15.04.1983
|
USA
|
9:39.48
|
9:57.60
|
|
18.01.1976
|
JAM
|
9:28.86
|
9:42.27
|
|
22.12.1972
|
JAM
|
9:27.21
|
10:02.44
|
|
17.02.1982
|
KEN
|
9:07.41
|
9:43.23
|
|
03.08.1992
|
GER
|
9:32.74
|
9:32.74
|
|
13.08.1987
|
RUS
|
9:26.03
|
9:26.03
|
|
08.11.1982
|
GBR
|
9:35.17
|
9:40.16
|
|
24.08.1987
|
PUR
|
9:41.87
|
9:46.69
|
|
08.08.1988
|
KEN
|
9:18.03
|
9:35.34
|
Men's 110m Hurdles: Could be Better than the Olympic Final
This race has it all. Not only does it feature the big 3 in hurdling the last three years, Liu Xiang, Dayron Robles, and David Oliver, it's got the world champ Jason Richardson, and the indoor champ Aries Merritt. Most importantly it is hopefully going to be the US debut of Dayon Robles.(There is some talk of Robles not running until the adidas meet next week because of Visa problems. Update, ooops, the talk is true and he's now out of Pre but will run in NYC next week. We hope shoe politics didn't get involved with this).
Two years ago LRC's Weldon Johnson heard David Oliver and Dayron Robles discuss hurdling at length in Monaco (recap and video here). Both guys are huge historians of the sport. Dayron expressed how badly he wanted to hurdle in the United States because he considers it the home of all the great hurdlers. The political situation apparently has shifted and it's to the benefit of track and field fans.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
21.01.1988
|
USA
|
13.35
|
13.35
|
|
14.04.1984
|
USA
|
13.13
|
13.13
|
|
13.07.1983
|
CHN
|
12.88
|
12.97
|
|
24.07.1985
|
USA
|
13.03
|
13.03
|
|
24.04.1982
|
USA
|
12.89
|
13.13
|
|
04.04.1986
|
USA
|
13.04
|
13.16
|
|
19.11.1986
|
CUB
|
12.87
|
13.18
|
|
23.09.1980
|
JAM
|
13.15
|
13.54
|
|
19.09.1980
|
GBR
|
13.22
|
13.41
|
Women's 3000m: Selsouli vs Kipyego as Americans Get to Test One Another Before 5000m Trials
Mariem Selsouli of Morocco and Sally Kipyego of Kenya are the class of this field. Kipyego, the former Texas Tech star now based out of Eugene, got the silver at Worlds last year in the 10,000m and has run 14:43 this year. Selsouli has run 8:29 and 4:00 in the past and has the superior speed and has run 14:45 this year. With this being a 3000m she has to be favored over Kipyego.
The Americans have a long way to go to be competitive at 5000m on the world stage but this will be a good test before the Trials of where they a lot of them stack up. The 2012 US leaders, Julia Lucas (15:08) and Julie Culley (15:13), aren't running, (update Lucas is not on the start list but is running according to the Eugene Register Guard, profile here) but Jackie Areson (15:14), American record holder Molly Huddle (15:15), and former NCAA star Lisa Uhl (15:15) are all running. Former NCAA Champ Angela Bizarri hasn't raced since the start of April so this will be a test of her health and fitness before the Trials.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
08.04.1984
|
MAR
|
8:29.52
|
|
|
31.03.1988
|
USA
|
|
|
|
25.12.1981
|
USA
|
9:00.47
|
|
|
15.02.1988
|
USA
|
9:38.42
|
|
|
09.12.1986
|
USA
|
|
|
|
21.01.1984
|
USA
|
9:11.10
|
|
|
30.09.1985
|
NED
|
9:01.69
|
|
|
31.08.1984
|
USA
|
8:58.51
|
|
|
19.12.1985
|
KEN
|
8:51.07
|
8:53.83
|
|
10.08.1985
|
USA
|
8:56.89
|
|
|
06.11.1982
|
SRB
|
9:17.04
|
|
|
10.06.1993
|
KEN
|
8:44.54
|
9:14.58
|
|
10.04.1988
|
KEN
|
|
|
|
31.08.1987
|
USA
|
9:05.62
|
|
|
16.05.1986
|
USA
|
|
|
Men's 800m: A Great Field & Test For Nick Symmonds
All this race is seemingly missing is David Rudisha, the world record holder, as it is absolutely stacked (although 5 of the 10 fastest in 2012 did race in Rome on Friday). It's got Mohamed Aman, the only guy (or should we say "18 year old") to beat David Rudisha since 2009. Throw in World silver medallist Abubaker Kaki and former Olympic champ Yuriy Borzakovskiy, who are making their outdoor 800 debuts, so maybe don't expect too much from them.
Then there is the guy who all year we have been saying could make it that much harder for Nick Symmonds to medal at the Olympics, 22 year old Polish star, Adam Kszczot. Kszczot (one of these days we'll be able to type his name correctly) was 6th at Worlds last year, one spot behind Symmonds, but Kszczot has been on fire in 2012 running 1:44.57 indoors and is undefeated outdoors with two wins in the last week, having already run 1:43.83. Facing Aman and Kaki, this is his first huge test outdoors.
That brings us to Nick Symmonds. Symmonds ran a great 1:44.0 or 1:43.9 split at the Penn Relays, then followed that up with a 3:36 1500m pr. There is no doubt Symmonds is fit. A win here and we'll shut up about Kszczot. Khadevis Robinson may turn 36 this summer but he's still a great 800m runner. This will be a big test before the Olympic Trials. Robinson did fairly well in his first race of the year at the Penn Relays racing against Symmonds in the DMR.
Job Kinyor is an up and coming Kenyan.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
10.01.1994
|
ETH
|
1:43.37
|
1:43.51
|
|
12.04.1981
|
RUS
|
1:42.47
|
1:43.99
|
|
17.12.1992
|
KEN
|
1:45.27
|
1:45.27
|
|
21.06.1989
|
SUD
|
1:42.23
|
1:43.13
|
|
08.05.1990
|
KEN
|
1:43.76
|
1:43.76
|
|
02.09.1989
|
POL
|
1:43.30
|
1:43.83
|
|
08.02.1989
|
KEN
|
1:42.95
|
1:49.19
|
|
15.02.1987
|
USA
|
1:44.83
|
1:45.68
|
|
19.07.1976
|
USA
|
1:43.68
|
1:44.03
|
|
21.11.1983
|
USA
|
1:46.11
|
|
|
30.12.1983
|
USA
|
1:43.76
|
1:47.44
|
Women's 200m: Allyson Felix vs Carmelita Jeter
In 2004, when Allyson Felix was getting second at the Olympics Carmelita Jeter was an 11.56 100m sprinter. Now Jeter has run 10.64 and got the gold at 100m last year and the silver at 200m, relegating Felix to bronze.
Felix more than anything wants the 200m gold at the Olympics. She surprised people by winning the Doha 100m. Maybe she's trying the get faster as you age approach of Jeter. (Jeter, 32, is nearly exactly 6 year solder than Felix).
This should be a nice test before the Trials.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
31.01.1989
|
USA
|
22.68
|
22.68
|
|
18.11.1985
|
USA
|
21.81
|
22.32
|
|
24.11.1979
|
USA
|
22.20
|
22.31
|
|
02.01.1989
|
USA
|
22.35
|
22.49
|
|
24.03.1989
|
USA
|
22.81
|
23.49
|
|
06.01.1986
|
JAM
|
22.54
|
22.87
|
|
31.07.1983
|
USA
|
22.46
|
22.71
|
|
09.10.1988
|
NGR
|
22.70
|
22.70
|
|
27.09.1989
|
USA
|
22.28
|
22.51
|
Women's 400m: Novlene Williams-Mills, Sanya Richards Ross, Amantle Montsho Do Battle
This race is absolutely stacked as well. It's got 2012 World #1 Novlene Williams-Mills, World #2 and former World Champ, Sanya Richards Ross, and the reigning world champ Amantle Montsho.
Williams-Mills ran 49.99 to upset Sanya Richards Ross in Jamaica. At the USOC Media Summit in Dallas, SRR told us that Williams-Mills didn't beat her, she felt she beat herself. SRR gets to try and correct that here. Montsho was well-beaten by .83 by Williams-Mills in Shanghai nearly two weeks ago. Montsho might have gone out too hard, so look for improvement here.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
26.03.1978
|
USA
|
49.64
|
52.80
|
|
20.10.1988
|
USA
|
50.24
|
51.56
|
|
04.07.1983
|
BOT
|
49.56
|
50.52
|
|
26.02.1985
|
USA
|
48.70
|
50.11
|
|
08.12.1982
|
USA
|
49.64
|
50.90
|
|
17.09.1985
|
JAM
|
49.32
|
52.21
|
|
26.04.1982
|
JAM
|
49.63
|
49.99
|
Men's 5000m: Kenenisa Bekele vs Mo Farah vs Galen Rupp
Wow. As we're writing this we're going through the events, events by event.
We didn't even realize how good this one is for LRC distance fans.
You've got arguably, the World's best distance runner ever, Kenenisa Bekele, as he continues to try and return to fitness, World Champion Mo Farah, and American star Galen Rupp. An American has never broken 13:00 on US soil, but that could change here. Rupp has never broken 13:00 anywhere (13:06 best) but he has had some bad luck with falls in recent years, and he is showing a new level of speed this year, having run 3:34.75 for 1500m.
5000m running has been relatively slow this year with no sub 13:10 clockings until Rabat last weekend. Hopefully, we see the second sub 13:00 of the year here. If the pace is an honest 13:00 pace, it will be interesting to see how Bekele does. Bekele ran 13:13.89 in Shanghai but the pace was fairly slow throughout. A sub 13:00 clocking here could make him the favorite for Worlds in the 10k. Falling off that pace would raise question marks.
A competitive performance by Rupp here may cement him as a medal threat at 10,000m.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
27.05.1990
|
ETH
|
13:00.46
|
13:14.26
|
|
13.06.1982
|
ETH
|
12:37.35
|
13:13.89
|
|
18.10.1992
|
KEN
|
13:06.06
|
13:09.84
|
|
27.12.1984
|
AUS
|
13:10.97
|
13:15.57
|
|
23.02.1985
|
KEN
|
13:14.05
|
13:14.05
|
|
01.01.1989
|
KEN
|
12:59.72
|
13:02.94
|
|
21.01.1987
|
KEN
|
12:53.66
|
13:15.50
|
|
13.06.1980
|
IRL
|
13:03.53
|
13:32.76
|
|
23.03.1983
|
GBR
|
12:53.11
|
13:12.87
|
|
02.08.1984
|
KEN
|
|
|
|
29.12.1991
|
KEN
|
13:12.66
|
13:12.66
|
|
19.12.1993
|
KEN
|
12:54.18
|
|
|
10.12.1986
|
KEN
|
13:35.71
|
|
|
14.01.1988
|
KEN
|
12:51.95
|
13:11.73
|
|
18.06.1980
|
AUS
|
12:55.76
|
13:18.58
|
|
20.12.1994
|
KEN
|
13:03.70
|
13:20.27
|
|
08.05.1986
|
USA
|
13:06.86
|
|
|
19.01.1982
|
USA
|
12:58.56
|
13:15.00
|
|
25.12.1984
|
USA
|
|
Men's 200m: Wallace Spearmon vs Walter Dix
Wallace Spearmon ran 19.95 in March in his first race of the year after being sidelined by an achilles injury for most of 2011. Most recently he ran 20.14 in the cool Ostrava weather where Usain Bolt ran 10.04. Was it the weather or has Spearmon's progress stalled?
We think it was the weather (for an in depth LRC look at Spearmon click here) as Bolt was incredible on Friday and Rome, but Spearmon will find out here when he races Walter Dix who ran 20.01 to win in Doha.
Kudos to Dix if he actually doubles as he's also entered in the 100.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
12.05.1982
|
JAM
|
20.06
|
20.41
|
|
14.01.1978
|
USA
|
19.79
|
20.80
|
|
31.01.1986
|
USA
|
19.53
|
20.02
|
|
03.07.1984
|
NED
|
20.08
|
20.26
|
|
24.06.1984
|
BAH
|
20.16
|
20.16
|
|
01.07.1984
|
NOR
|
19.89
|
20.34
|
|
21.01.1986
|
TRI
|
20.16
|
20.42
|
|
24.12.1984
|
USA
|
19.65
|
19.95
|
|
07.06.1985
|
TRI
|
20.18
|
20.80
|
Bowerman Mile Kiplagat vs Kiprop vs Some of the Top Americans
Any mile with the two best milers in the World, World Champion Asbel Kiprop and Worlds silver medallist Silas Kiplagat is a great one. Kiprop and Kiplagat squared off at the first Diamond League meet of the year in Doha and the result was tremendous. Kiplagat got the best of Kiprop in 3:29.63 to 3:29.78. Not only was it a pr for Kiprop, but it was the first sub 3:30 clockings in the world since 2010.
Bethwell Birgin was third in the Doha race and he is here as well. However, the guy who was third at the World Championships, Matt Centrowitz Jr is making his outdoor pro debut in the "International Mile" on Friday night. When you hear "International" think "B" Mile. Although, the "International Mile" has it has Alan Webb in it as well, and he is really only wanting to run 1500m. A bit confusing to say the least but click here for more info on the "International" Mile/1500.
The good news is Ayanleh Souleiman, the 19 year old from Djibouti who had a huge breakthrough last weekend running 3:30.31, has been upgraded to the Bowerman Mile. So the Bowerman features 3 of the top 4 in the world in 2012, plus last year's champ Haron Keitany (making his 2012 outdoor debut) and 3:29 guy Amine Laalou.
That brings us to the Americans. Olympians Bernard Lagat, Andrew Wheating, Leo Manzano, and Lopez Lomong are all in the field. Lagat's best days at the mile are behind him and this is just a tune-up for the 5000m at the Olympic Trials, but Manzano, Lomong, and Wheating all could be trying to make the Olympic team at 1500m in 4 weeks. The race may be most important for Andrew Wheating. After injury sidelined him at the end of 2011, Wheating has only run 3:44.97 for 1500m and 1:46.83 for 800m this year. A subpar performance leaves some doubts surrounding Wheating heading into the Trials. However, the assumption must be Wheating is very fit otherwise it would make most sense to put him in the "International Mile" like Centrowitz. Remember 5 people broke 3:50 in this race last year and we'd expect that many to do it this year. 3:30 for 1500m is equivalent to 3:46 and change for the mile.
Leo Manzano got beat by 10,000m man Galen Rupp by nearly a second and a half in the 1500m two weeks ago at the Occidental meet. Manzano ran 3:36.08 there (3:53 mile), so expect him to be closer to 3:50 here which could put him in great shape for the Trials. Lopez Lomong has made his mark at 5000m this year, but gets his first real chance at the 1500/mile this year. Will he focus on this or the 5000m at the Trials? We'll probably know after this race.
David Torrence finally got the Olympic "A" standard out of the way, but making the Olympic team will be difficult. He needs to continue to bring down his prs. And finally there is Olympic silver medallist Nick Willis, getting his first real test of the outdoor season in the 1500/mile.
QT: Did you know no one has ever run a mile in the 3:45s? Yes the world record is 3:43.13, Noureddine Morceli ran 3:44.39 but no one has ever run in the 3:45s. We'd love to see that here.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB |
---|---|---|---|
06.08.1988
|
KEN
|
3:56.22
|
|
25.09.1987
|
KEN
|
|
|
11.10.1988
|
ETH
|
3:49.70
|
|
25.03.1987
|
MAR
|
3:59.79
|
|
17.12.1983
|
KEN
|
3:48.78
|
|
---
|
KEN
|
|
|
20.08.1989
|
KEN
|
3:49.39
|
|
30.06.1989
|
KEN
|
3:48.50
|
|
27.11.1984
|
KEN
|
3:48.28
|
|
13.05.1982
|
MAR
|
3:50.22
|
|
12.12.1974
|
USA
|
3:47.28
|
|
01.01.1985
|
USA
|
3:53.18
|
|
12.09.1984
|
USA
|
3:50.64
|
|
09.10.1992
|
KEN
|
3:49.77
|
|
01.01.1987
|
KEN
|
|
|
03.12.1992
|
DJI
|
|
|
26.11.1985
|
USA
|
3:54.01
|
|
21.11.1987
|
USA
|
3:51.74
|
|
25.04.1983
|
NZL
|
3:50.66
|
Women's Long Jump: Brittney Reese vs Maurren Higa Maggi
Double world champ Brittney Reese takes on Olympic champ Maurren Higa Maggi plus Americans Janay Deloach (world indoor silver this year behind Reese and Funmi Jimoh.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB |
---|---|---|---|
12.10.1985
|
USA
|
6.97
|
|
29.05.1984
|
USA
|
6.96
|
|
15.07.1988
|
FRA
|
6.91
|
|
29.12.1992
|
CHN
|
6.74
|
|
25.06.1976
|
BRA
|
7.26
|
|
16.09.1988
|
GBR
|
6.81
|
|
13.07.1981
|
LAT
|
6.92
|
|
09.09.1986
|
USA
|
7.19
|
|
17.05.1988
|
BAH
|
6.81
|
Women's High Jump: Chaunte Lowe
American record holder Lowe is the only woman in the world this year to jump 2.00 meters outdoors. She won in the rain in Shanghai and will want to stay atop the Diamond League standings.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
24.12.1990
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USA
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1.96
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1.95
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22.07.1982
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RUS
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2.07
|
1.97
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08.12.1984
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SWE
|
2.01
|
1.95
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10.03.1987
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SWE
|
1.94
|
1.94
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|
14.01.1993
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RUS
|
1.95
|
1.95
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12.01.1984
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USA
|
2.05
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2.00
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08.11.1982
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FRA
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1.96
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1.88
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09.03.1986
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RUS
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1.99
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1.95
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20.03.1989
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CHN
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1.95
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1.92
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Men's Shot:
The Americans got shut out at Worlds last year despite having 4 finalists. Dylan Armstrong is the only medallist from last year's Worlds in the competition.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
15.01.1981
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CAN
|
22.21
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21.29
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30.09.1980
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USA
|
22.54
|
21.71
|
|
08.10.1977
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USA
|
22.43
|
21.73
|
|
30.08.1981
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POL
|
21.95
|
21.12
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|
17.10.1984
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CAN
|
21.11
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21.11
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|
12.05.1982
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USA
|
21.78
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20.22
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24.11.1986
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USA
|
21.97
|
21.50
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Pole Vault
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
08.07.1993
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SWE
|
4.57
|
4.35
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02.11.1991
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GBR
|
4.70
|
4.43
|
|
16.07.1980
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RUS
|
4.88
|
4.75
|
|
27.11.1987
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USA
|
4.65
|
4.40
|
|
20.02.1983
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USA
|
4.60
|
4.50
|
|
16.03.1981
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BRA
|
4.85
|
4.50
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04.11.1981
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GER
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4.80
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4.50
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Men's Javelin
This is a Diamond League event.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB |
---|---|---|---|
21.02.1988
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GER
|
88.36
|
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15.03.1982
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NZL
|
86.31
|
|
13.01.1988
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CZE
|
88.23
|
|
08.08.1986
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USA
|
83.16
|
|
19.03.1973
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RUS
|
92.61
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06.05.1992
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LAT
|
84.69
|
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05.01.1982
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LAT
|
90.73
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27.02.1983
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CZE
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86.45
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LRC Preview of Friday's Action here.
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