Walker breaks AR, Mutola wins for 16th time at Nike Prefontaine Classic

June 8, 2008

EUGENE, Ore. - Meet records fell across all event groups, none bigger than Brad Walker's American record in the pole vault, and Maria Mutola had a historic exit Sunday at the Nike Prefontaine Classic.

The fourth event of USATF's Visa Championship Series, the Nike Prefontaine Classic drew a meet-record 14,221 fans to Hayward Field, site of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field June 27-July 6. They were treated to a formidable show, including no fewer than eight meet records and Walker's AR.

The 2007 world champion, Walker looked magnificent throughout the competition. He had just one miss, at his opening height of 5.70m/18-8.25, then passed to 5.90m/19-4.25, which he cleared on his first attempt and which won the competition for him. Walker then elevated the bar to 6.04m/19-9.75. On his very first attempt, he cleared, brushing the bar just a bit, but leaving it up. The world-leading clearance broke Jeff Hartwig's American record set in 2000 of 6.03m/19-9.25 and also bested living legend Sergey Bubka's meet record of 5.95m/19-6.25. It was the highest clearance in the world since 2001.

After two tries at a world-record height of 6.15/20-2, Walker called it a day. Derek Miles finished second at 5.80m/19-0.25, with Olympic gold medalist Tim Mack third with 5.70m/18-8.25.

Amazed as the crowd was with Walker's performance, no athlete is more beloved at Hayward Field, and no athlete other than Steve Prefontaine himself is so associated with this meet, than Maria Mutola. Competing for the final time at Pre, the grande dame of the women's 800 sprinted away to win Sunday in 1:59.24, overcome by emotion as she crossed the line for her 16^th career victory at this meet. For a moment, it looked as it might be a passing of the torch, as Mutola came off the turn shoulder-to-shoulder with high school sensation Chanelle Price, who boldly took the lead down the backstretch. Although Price faded in the final 100, she placed sixth in 2:01.61 to be #2 all-time among American high schoolers, behind only two-time Olympic medalist Kim Gallagher's prep record of 2:00.07. American Alice Schmidt was second on Sunday in 2:00.01, with Hazel Clark-Riley third in 2:00.51.

As Mutola awarded the first Maria Mutola Outstanding Athlete of the Meet award to Walker, the crowd erupted in applause for both athletes. Walker also was named Visa Team USA Athlete of the Meet.

Brisk Bekele

World record holder and Olympic and world champion Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia got the meet off to a rousing, and early start. With a world record attempt on tap, the men's 10,000m opened the Nike Prefontaine Classic at an earlier-than-usual 9:30 a.m. Bekele put on a great run, staying within seconds of the record and finishing in 26:25.97 to shatter the U.S. all-comers record as well as the meet and facility records. Bekele's time was the fourth-fastest time in history, though shy of his WR 26:17.51 from 2005, and led a fast field. Two-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman ran the second-fastest time ever by an American, placing seventh in 27:16.99, just off of Meb Keflezighi's AR of 27:13.98.

Coutrywoman Meseret Defar was next on the track, running a swift 14:28.73 in the women's 5,000m to break National Track & Field Hall of Famer Mary Slaney's meet and facility record of 15:06.53, set in 1985. 2007 World Outdoor 10,000m bronze medalist Kara Goucher was the top American, third in a personal best of 14:58.10.

Nellie nails a big one

Two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson during the 2008 indoor season posted the #3 indoor throw of all time. His outdoor season had gotten off to a more modest start, but at Hayward Field on Sunday he returned to the top of the world shot-putting scene.

The 2008 Indoor Visa Champion posted two 72-foot throws, including the winning mark of 22.12m/72-7, to easily top the 2008 world list in the event. His second-best mark of 22.10/72-6.5 also beat Christian Cantwell's previous world leader of 21.75m/71-4.75. Defending world champion Reese Hoffa had his best throw of the outdoor season, placing second with 21.73m/71-3.5.

Also having her best meet of the year was 2007 USA champion and 2003 world champ Torri Edwards, who won wire-to-wire in the women's 100 in a meet and stadium record of 10.94, with Jamaicans Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart second and third, both in 10.99. Allyson Felix was fourth in 11.06.

Spearmon surpasses Johnson

In the men's 200m, it appeared that Olympic gold medalist Shawn Crawford might return to his winning ways, as a field including World Outdoor bronze medalist Wallace Spearmon lagged behind. Spearmon, in fact, appeared to be totally out of the race with 50m to go, trailing by several meters. Yet he turned in one of his signature fast closes to win in 20.25, breaking Michael Johnson's meet record of 20.15 set in 1995. Crawford was second in 20.25 and Xavier Carter third in 20.29.

Richards keeps rolling

Sanya Richards continued her Visa Championship Series winning ways in the women's 400, running an aggressive first 200m and going on to win in 50.10. American Mary Wineberg closed strongly in the final straight to place second in 50.32, with Jamaica's Shericka Williams third in 50.34.

African champion Geleta Burka put on an outstanding show in the women's 1,500m. After being paced through 800m in 2:06.5 by Nikeya Green, Burka kept cruising for a meet-record win in 4:00.44, breaking her own mark from 2007 by .04. Nancy Lagat of Kenya was second in 4:03,80, with USA indoor champion Christin Wurth-Thomas third in a personal-best time of 4:04.88.

Exciting distance races

Always a featured event of "Pre", the Bowerman Mile had hair-raising excitement. On the final lap, New Zealand's Nick Willis moved into the lead with great authority on the backstretch and looked poised to upend a powerful field. Shadrack Korir of Kenya had other ideas, however, nipping Willis at the line, 3:50.49 to 3:50.66. Daniel Komen was third in 3:50.95. Top American was Lopez Lomong, fifth in 3:53.97.

The men's 800 also provided some crowd-thrilling moments. After a first lap of 49.95, the race really began to take shape on the backstretch. The hometown crowd roared as Eugene-based Nick Symmonds moved up from second-to-last to second place on the backstretch, and coming down the final straight the crowd rose to its feet, hoping Symmonds could replicate his 2007 victory. But Symmonds began to fade as Alfred Yego of Kenya won in 1:44.01 to break the Hayward Field record Dave Wottle set in 1972 (1:44.3 hand timed), as well as Symmonds' meet record of 1:44.54. Yusef Saad Kamel was second in 1:44:18, andUSA Outdoor champion Khadevis Robinson moved up to third in 1:44.55, with Symmonds fourth (1:45.01).

Double world champion Bernard Lagat pleased the partisan crowd in the men's 2 mile, winning in 8:12.45 over Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain (8:13.16) and Paul Koech of Kenya (8:13.31).

Hayes wins again

Joanna Hayes kept on track to make 2008 her best year since winning the 2004 Olympic Games. The Olympic record holder led from start to finish, but nearly lost the women's 100m hurdles. Running well ahead of the field, Hayes appeared to lose her balance after grazing the final barrier, but managed to hold on and win in a wind-aided 12.53 (+3.1mps wind). Dawn Harper was second in 12.59 with Jamaica's Lacena Golding-Clark third in 12:65.

The men's 110m hurdles endured a bit of a disappointment when world record holder and world and Olympic champion Liu Xiang was disqualified for false starting. American Anwar Moore jumped on the opportunity, however, winning impressively in 13.09, with David Payne second in 12.28.

Andrey Silnov of Russia won the men's high jump with a clearance of 2.30m/7-6.5, beating Tora Harris, who also cleared 2.30m, in a jump off. Jesse Williams of the U.S. was third with 2.25m/7-4.5, and world champion Donald Thomas of the Bahamas fourth at the same height.

In other events, Betty Heidler of Germany won the women's hammer with a best of 73.93m/242-7 for a meet and stadium record; Ivan Berkjacic of Croatia was second with 73.73m/241-11. Jadel Gregorio of Brazil won the men's triple jump with a best of 56-7.5, and Stephanie Trafton took the women's discus with 63.50m/208-4. Muarren Maggi of Brazil won the women's long jump with a mark of 7.02m/23-0.5, with Funmi Jimoh second with 6.85m/22-5.75. On the track, Darrel Brown of Trinidad nipped Ivory Williams in the men's 100m, running 10.07 to Williams' 10.10, while World Outdoor silver medalist LaShawn Merritt won the men's 400 in 44.65.

Up and comers

Between the early morning distance races and the full schedule of competition starting in the afternoon, the Nike Prefontaine Classic also staged a series of races for athletes seeking to qualify or tune up for the 2008 Olympic Trials. Top times were turned in by Josh McAdams in the men's 3,000m steeplechase (8:29.95), Mary Jayne (Harrelson) Reeves in the women's 1,500 (4:15.36), 2000 Olympic Trials champion Gabe Jennings in the men's 1500 (3:40.58), Jessica Smith in the women's 800 *(2:05.48) and Christian Smith in the men's 800 (1:47.72).

For complete results and quotes, visit www.visachampionshipseries.com

Post a Comment

#6	Flotrack Fan July 24, 2008 at 10:02pm Another error: 'American Anwar Moore jumped on the opportunity, however, winning impressively in 13.09, with David Payne second in 12.28." 13.28 or a Michael Johnson caliber WR? reply
#5	WAXC June 10, 2008 at 10:55am Spearmon's time is totally wrong here reply