2024 Prefontaine Classic: Sha’Carri Richardson Wins Big, Joe Kovacs Throws Far and Keely Hodgkinson Crushes Mary Moraa

The Wanda Diamond League made its one US stop in Eugene, Oregon, today and the 2024 Prefontaine Classic did not disappoint. The Bowerman Mile was an all-time classic and it gets its own recap here while the men’s and women’s 10,000s, which served as the Kenyan Trials and produced a women’s world record, gets its own article here.

In other events, all of which we recap below starting with the distance races, Sha’Carri Richardson looked good in winning the 100m, Keely Hodgkinson got a big win the 800 and Joe Kovacs was sensational in the men’s shot.

We also have a video recap show that you can watch below or get as a podcast by joining our Supporters Club. *Post-race video interview from Eugene

Women’s 800: Brits shine, Hodgkinson takes down Moraa

With the absence of Athing Mu, there was bound to be a new women’s 800-meter champion at the Prefontaine Classic and Brit Keely Hodgkinson got the dominant win by running a smart race, winning her 800 season opener in 1:55.78 as 2023 world champ Mary Moraa was second in 1:56.71.

The early pace was dictated by pacer Kaylin Whitney, who did a horrible job and hit 400 meters in 55.22 seconds. Hodgkinson smartly was nowhere near the lead but the three runners from Africa in the race — Moraa, 2019 world champ Halimah Nakaayi, and 2024 world indoor champ Tsige Duguma — weren’t too far back in 56-low. All of them save for Moraa would pay a big price on the second lap.

It was Mary Moraa that took over leading duties on the backstretch before Hodgkinson charged into the lead with 150 meters to go, leaving the world champion in her wake. 

The American contingent had a respectable showing, with Nia Akins, the defending US champion, finishing fourth in a season’s best 1:57.98. Sage Hurta-Klecker also impressed, clocking another sub-2 minute run (1:58.48) for the second time this year.

Women’s 1500: Welteji pulls away, St. Pierre becomes #2 American all-time

In a race where the pacing lights were set for an American record (3:54.99), it was Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji that ran away with the win, running a personal best of 3:53.75. Early on, the pack featuring Welteji, Elle St. Pierre, Jessica Hull, and Laura Muir followed the pace precisely, clocking the first quarter in 61.75 seconds.

The pace remained steady through 800 meters, with Welteji hitting it alone in 2:04.92. On the last lap, the chase pack led by St. Pierre and Hull never could quite close the gap. Hull finished in second place, securing an area record of 3:55.97. Despite missing the American record (3:54.99), St. Pierre finished in third; setting a personal best and running herself into #2 on the all-time American list in the process with a time of 3:56.00. 

The depth of American 1500-meter running was showcased in this race, highlighted by performances from Nikki Hiltz (5th, 3:59.64), Emily Mackay (6th, 3:59.76), and Sinclaire Johnson (9th, 4:00.43). Notably, the group between 5th and 10th place finished within eight-tenths of a second of each other.

Elise Cranny, the defending U.S. champion at 5,000 and 10,000 meters, finished in 13th, running 4:03.08 (a season’s best). 

Final

3000m Steeplechase Women: The Olympic Champ Shows Up in an Olympic Year

This steeple field was loaded with the all of last year’s medallists in the field, but it was Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai who emerged victorious in a huge personal best of 8:55.09 (PB of 9:01.45 from the 2021 Olympic final).

In a race where the requested pace was 8:50, four women were well in front of the pacer 800 in with Chemutai, 2023 world champion Winfred Yavi, 2019 world champion Beatrice Chepkoech, and 2023 world bronze medalist Faith Cherotich all in a loose group through 1km in a blistering 2:51.22. The next km was bound to be slower and it ended up being 3:04.74, but this is where Chepkoech and Chemutai broke away from the rest. Going into the final lap, Chemutai tried to pass Chepkoech, but she was shut down. She again tried to pass on the water jump but was held off. On the final barrier it was Chemutai who was able to finally vault past Chepkoech and power home to victory. First and second were about 10 seconds in front of third, showing the gap between the world’s best steeplers to the rest.

Behind the leading runners from Africa, a preview of the US Olympic Trials was taking place. 2021 Olympian Val Constien led the way with a big pb of 9:14.29 (previous pb of 9:18.34) for 5th, just ahead of Courtney Wayment’s 9:14.48. Defending US champ Krissy Gear, who ran a 4:03 1500 pb two weeks ago, only ended up 11th in 9:24.42.

5000m Women: The Ethiopian Women Dominate

In a field that included reigning Olympic champ Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, Ethiopians took places 1-6 as 2023 World XC silver medallist Tsigie Gebreselama remained undefeated on the year and got the win in a huge pb of 14:18.76 (previous pb of 14:43.90) with Hassan just 7th in 14:34.38 as she makes her way back to the track from the marathon.

With a quick requested pace of 14:12, Union Athletics Club pacer Simone Plourde was left out to dry, as a large front pack was reluctant to go with the pace and was several seconds back of the pacer. There were attempts to reel in the pacer, led by Gebreselama, but the field would keep falling off the pace. Once the pacer stepping off the track before 2k, it was the group of Ethiopians, including world bronze medalist Ejgayehu Taye and Gebreselama who were talking mid-race, who took turns leading to ensure an honest race. The pace slowed however from a first km of 2:50.25 to 2:53.63, then 2:56.68.  

The slower pace did little to thin out the first pack, which was about seven deep with a mile to go, but things narrowed down a bit as the 4th km was 2:53.46. Five were still in contention at the bell but the top three in the order of Taye, Gebreselama and world indoor champion Freweyni Haliu quickly broke away from the rest of the front group. Taye then stepped on the gas on the backstretch to drop Haliu off the back of the pack, but was passed by Gebreselama wwith 200 to go. Taye sat on her shoulder coming around the final bend as the two were stride for stride with 100 to go. The two battled back and forth but ultimately Gebreselama came away with the victory, blazing a 62.55 last lap to run a world-leading 14:18.76. She has had a strong outdoor season so far, running under 30 minutes to dominantly win the Sound Running 10k at only 23 years old. Taye finished second in 14:18.92.

Notable in fifth was 2022 world junior 1500 champ Birke Haylom. The 18-year-old Haylom, who ran 3:53.22 for the 1500 in Xiamen, took 14 seconds off her personal best to run a U20 world record of 14:23.81.

American fans can also note that Weini Kelati, finishing in ninth, hit the Olympic standard, running 14:35.43 (#6 on the all-time US list). She is the only American with both the 5k and 10k standard.  

Men’s 100: Coleman goes back-to-back

2019 world champion Christian Coleman exploded from the starting blocks and held off a strong finish by Ferdinand Omanyala to win in a season’s best 9.95 seconds (+1.2 wind) as Omanyala also clocked a season-best 9.98 seconds. This victory is a clear sign of Coleman’s ambitions to reclaim his 2019 glory after missing the Tokyo Olympics due to a suspension. Ackeem Blake, the 2024 world indoor bronze medalist, finished a distant fourth in 10.12 seconds, marking his second-fastest time of the year.

“I feel good,” Coleman said after the race. “I feel like I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in and I feel like now it’s just mentally putting it all together and doing what I know I’m capable of on race day.”

Women’s 100 Hurdles: Mayela-Samba wins first Diamond League

Cyrena Mayela-Samba of France, the 2022 world indoor champion equaled her personal best and national record of 12.52 seconds to win in a photo finish against defending Olympic champion and fifth-fastest woman of all-time, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12.54). American Tonea Marshall finished in third, with a time of 12.55.

Of her race, Mayela-Samba said “I didn’t really have any set goals except winning that is always in the back of every athlete’s mind. But today I just wanted to execute everything that I’m doing in training and getting ready for the Olympics. Because I know I will meet those girls again, so getting used to it and execute the best way possible.” 

110m Hurdles Men: Holloway Blasts World Lead 

Grant Holloway did what he always does on the Diamond League circuit — get out to a great start and hold on for victory, this time in a world-leading 13.03. Holloway was quick out of the blocks with countryman Daniel Roberts just a step behind him. The race was never in doubt, though Holloway gave up a bit of ground on the final hurdles as he almost always does. Roberts was second in 13.13, while Freddie Crittenden rounded out the American sweep in third with a time of 13.16. Making the U.S. team will be incredibly tough with six of the men in the field being American.   

Olympic champion Hansle Parchment had a horrible start and was in last before rallying to finish fourth, far back in 13.28.

Final, Wind: -0.1

400m Hurdles Men: Gerald Drummond a Surprise Winner

Unheralded 29-year-old Gerald Drummond of Costa Rica, a two-time world championship semifinalist, got the win in the first event of the TV window in 48.56.

Jamaican record holder Roshawn Clarke had the lead coming off the final turn but he faded hard in the home straight and a strong final hurdle from Drummond propelled him to his first Diamond League victory. Olympic finalist Rasmus Mägi finished second in 48.45 with American CJ Allen third in 48.99. Allen will look to make an always deep U.S. team that is currently led by Rai Benjamin, who ran a world-leading 46.64 last weekend at the LA Grand Prix. 

Men’s 200: Bednarek wins in dominant fashion

Kenny Bednarek stole the show in the Prefontaine Classic’s men’s 200m, leading a clean sweep for the Americans across the podium.

Coming off the turn in lane 7, Bednarek established himself in first place with Courtney Lindsey following closely. But it was all Bednarek down the final stretch. He pulled away decisively over the last 80 meters, looking comfortable in his victory en route to a finish time of 19.89 seconds. 

This race belonged to the Americans. Lindsey secured a strong second-place finish in 20.09 seconds, with Kyree King (20.15) edging out three-time NCAA champion Joseph Fahnbulleh (20.16) in a lean for third place.

Despite being the only runner under 20 seconds, Bednarek downplayed the time. “The times will come,” he said. “Could be 20.00 that wins the race or 19.10. I don’t care. But as long as I’m going through the finish line first, that’s what matters,” emphasizing his desire to upgrade his silver medal from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

While the times weren’t record-breaking, this race showcased the depth of American talent in the men’s 200m. Bednarek’s dominance is a strong sign of things to come as the battle for the Olympic team heats up leading into the Olympic Trials.

Final, Wind: +1.8

Field Events

Men’s Shot: Joe Kovacs was sensational

Joe Kovacs (USA) wins the men’s shot put with a world lead of 23.13m at the Eugene Diamond League on 25 May 2024.

American Joe Kovacs put on a show in the men’s shot put as he had two throws over 23m, including a sixth rounder of 23.13 — the 7th farthest throw in history — perhaps giving an indication of what he said in the pre-meet press event wasn’t just hyperbole.

During the pre-meet press conference, Kovacs talked about how he has a homemade sector in his backyard. He said that he has been “hitting the mulch” a ton this year, meaning throwing a meter over his PB (23.23). His training translated well today and this performance solidifies his place in the driver’s seat for a spot on the Olympic team with his wife, Ashley, who has been named the Olympic coach. The main question for Kovacs is if he will be able to challenge Olympic champion Ryan Crouser for the U.S. and Olympic title later this summer.

Women’s Discus: Valarie Allman remains undefeated in 2024

Defending Olympic champion Valarie Allman refuses to relinquish her discus crown. Unfazed by a strong showing from Yaime Perez (67.25 meters), Allman unleashed a throw of 67.36 meters to secure victory this afternoon. This win sets her sights on a historic feat: becoming only the third woman ever to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the discus throw, following in the footsteps of Sandra Perković (2012 & 2016) and Evelin Jahl (1976 & 1980).

Pole Vault Women: Grove takes Down Moon at Hayward

American Emily Grove was able to come away with an unexpected victory jumping 4.63 m, which she cleared on her third attempt, to beat Olympic champion Katie Moon, who passed at the height and then failed three attempts at 4.73m. Moon said that she wanted a clearance over 4.80m and seemed visibly frustrated during some of her attempts.

Women’s Triple Jump: Hernandez wins again

Leyanis Pérez Hernández jumped 14.73 meters to beat Thea Lafond (14.62 meters), the current world leader. As of now, Lafond and Hernandez lead the charge for the Olympic title in absence of Yulimar Rojas, the defending champion.

Non-Diamond League Hammer

Talk about the meet on our world-famous fan forum / messageboard:

• OFFICIAL 2024 EUGENE DL THREAD – Beatrice Chebet makes history 28:54.14!!
• Josh MF Kerr 3:45.34!!
• KESSLER CHICKENED OUT
• Reaction show at 6:30 pm ET!
• Jakob post-race: “I think I’m going to win both [1500m and 5000m] in Paris, BUT I really need a flawless next 2 months”
• Jakob post-race: “I think [Josh Kerr] was expecting me to be worse; if anything, he’s gonna have a hard time this summer.”
• Beatrice CHEBET drop PR From 33:29 to 28:54 WR ???
• YARED NUGUSE: you got the talent, now COMPETE LIKE YOU’RE THE BEST
• Josh kerr last lap
• Should Kerr do the 1500/5k double in Paris?
• 17 Year old Cameron Myers interview after 3:50 mie that all high school runners should watch
• Jakob on Kerrs performance on pre:Are you surprised by Josh Kerr? Absolutely not
• Geordie MF Beamish
• Cole Hocker should be DQ’d for pushing Hobbs Kessler off the track
• Recap of the 2024 Bowerman Mile
• Jakob Ingebrigtsen calls Josh Kerr’s podcast comments “a coward move”
• All Kenyan’s ???? WTF

*Post-race video interview from Eugene