The track and field world is converging on Eugene this Saturday, July 5, 2025, as the iconic Prefontaine Classic celebrates its golden anniversary at the legendary Hayward Field.
This year’s meet will see nearly 300 athletes from over 40 countries, including an unprecedented collection of Olympic royalty that promises to make the 50th edition truly unforgettable.
Olympic Firepower Descends on “TrackTown USA”
The numbers tell the story of this meet’s incredible depth: 98 Olympic medalists and 48 Olympic and Paralympic gold medalists will grace the University of Oregon’s historic track, with 25 champions from the Paris 2024 Games leading the charge. As the ninth stop of the 2025 Wanda Diamond League, “The Pre” continues its reputation as America’s premier international track and field gathering.
Marquee Matchups That Could Rewrite History
Women’s 100m: Paris Olympic Podium Redux
The women’s 100m presents track fans with a dream scenario – a complete rematch of the Paris 2024 Olympic podium. Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred, who claimed Olympic gold, faces off against American sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson (silver) and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (bronze). Alfred brings the added motivation of competing where she once dominated as an NCAA champion, while Richardson returns to defend her 2024 Pre Classic victory where she blazed to 10.83 seconds.
Richardson enters the meet following a challenging start to her 2025 campaign. The Olympic silver medalist in the 100 meters ran 11.47 into a headwind at the Tokyo Golden Grand Prix in May, finishing fourth in what many considered a disappointing season opener. However, the American sprint queen has shown resilience throughout her career, and Eugene represents the perfect stage for her redemption story.
Men’s 100m: Sub-9.80 Territory Beckoning
The men’s sprint promises fireworks with Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson (9.79 Olympic silver) leading a field that includes Trayvon Bromell, who owns 2025’s world-leading time of 9.84, and Britain’s Zharnel Hughes. With Tokyo 2025 World Championships looming, expect these sprinters to push the boundaries of speed on Hayward Field’s fast track.
The men’s 200m features an equally compelling storyline with Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, who delivered one of the most memorable performances of the Paris Olympics.
The young prodigy from Kanye became the first African to win Olympic gold in the 200m, clocking 19.46 seconds to shatter the African record. His victory marked him as one of the sport’s brightest rising stars, and he brings that momentum into Eugene alongside American Kenneth Bednarek in what promises to be another speed showcase.
Hurdles Showdown: World Record Holder vs. Rising Stars
The women’s 100m hurdles features a clash of generations as Nigeria’s world record holder Tobi Amusan takes on Olympic champion Masai Russell and Puerto Rico’s world No. 1 Jasmine Camacho-Quinn. Russell’s recent American record of 12.17 adds another layer of intrigue to this potentially historic race.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s Flat 400m Debut
In one of the meet’s most anticipated non-Diamond League events, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone makes her Prefontaine debut in the flat 400m. The 400m hurdles world record holder ran 48.74 at Hayward in 2023, putting her tantalizingly close to the American record of 48.70. With a relatively weak field surrounding her, many experts are calling her victory “inevitable.”
25th Bowerman Mile: Middle Distance Royalty
The signature Bowerman Mile celebrates its 25th running with a field that reads like a who’s who of middle-distance running. Olympic 1500m champion Cole Hocker leads the charge alongside bronze medalist Yared Nuguse, while Norway’s Diamond League champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen brings his world-class credentials. Americans Hobbs Kessler and Grant Fisher join Kenyan brothers Timothy and Reynold Cheruiyot in what promises to be a tactical masterpiece.
Breaking New Ground: Para Athletics Integration
In addition to the already-announced disciplines for the 50th Prefontaine Classic, fans can enjoy competition in four Para Athletics events on Saturday, July 5. This expansion demonstrates the meet’s commitment to showcasing athletics in its entirety, adding another dimension to an already packed program.
Honoring Legends: The Mutola 800m
The women’s 800m receives special recognition this year, newly named the Mutola 800m to honor Maria Mutola’s incredible 16 Pre Classic victories, including 12 in the 800m distance. This tribute adds historical significance to what promises to be another thrilling middle-distance battle.
World Record Potential Everywhere
With 14 world record holders competing, including pole vault king Mondo Duplantis and distance legend Faith Kipyegon, Saturday’s meet carries the potential for record-breaking performances. The men’s 200m features Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and American Kenneth Bednarek, setting up another speed showcase.
Comprehensive Competition Schedule
The action unfolds over five hours of competition, beginning at 10:00 a.m. PT with the men’s hammer throw and culminating with the Bowerman Mile at 2:50 p.m. More than 30 events will fill the schedule, including Diamond League staples and non-Diamond League events such as men’s discus, hammer throw, and women’s hammer throw, ensuring every aspect of track and field receives its moment in the spotlight.
Fan Experience and Legacy
The Marshfield District fan festival opens on Agate Street outside Hayward Field, offering food vendors, exclusive 50th-edition merchandise, and family activities from TrackTown USA Kids Club and TOGETHXR. This celebration extends the meet’s reach beyond the track, creating a community atmosphere worthy of the milestone anniversary.
Global Broadcast Coverage
The 2025 Prefontaine Classic airs live on NBC Sports and Peacock on Saturday, July 5. Coverage begins with streaming on USATF.TV from 1:00-4:00 p.m. ET, before transitioning to NBC and Peacock from 4:00-6:00 p.m. ET, ensuring global audiences can witness this historic meet.
Road to Tokyo 2025
Saturday’s competition serves as crucial preparation for the upcoming USA Track and Field Outdoor and Para National Championships (July 31-August 3) at Hayward Field, followed by the Tokyo 2025 World Championships. With championship season approaching, expect athletes to deliver season-best and potentially world-leading performances.
The Prefontaine Legacy
Named after the legendary Steve Prefontaine and Bill Bowerman, the Prefontaine Classic has grown from its humble 1973-74 Hayward Restoration Meet origins into a global athletics showcase. The 50th edition represents not just a milestone for the meet, but a celebration of American track and field’s international prominence.
As the sport’s elite gather in Eugene once again, the 50th Prefontaine Classic promises to deliver the electrifying competition and world-class performances that have made it a cornerstone of the athletics calendar. With world records possible, Olympic rematches guaranteed, and legends in action, Saturday’s meet could very well produce the most memorable moments in the event’s storied history.
Event: 7:00 p.m. on July 5, 2025, to 12:00 a.m. on July 6, 2025
Venue: Hayward Field, University of Oregon, Eugene
