Athletes

Pre Classic 2026: Faith Kipyegon to headline the women’s mile race

For the first time since joining the Diamond League, the Prefontaine Classic will host a Women’s Mile race. The Hayward Field record of 4:21.25 for the mile was set at the 1988 Prefontaine Classic by Mary Decker.

Faith Kipyegon (Kenya) set the current mile world record of 4:07.64 in 2023 at the Monaco Diamond League meeting. At the 2025 Prefontaine Classic, Faith set the world record in the Women’s 1500m with a time of 3:48.68.

Kipyegon is the first woman ever to hold the world records for the 1500m, mile, and 5000m simultaneously. She has dominated World Athletics’ global rankings, holding the #1 spot in the 1500m for 198 weeks and ranking as the world’s top female athlete for 90 weeks. A four-time Olympic medalist, she has won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 1500m (Rio, Tokyo, and Paris).

Faith added a silver Olympic medal in Paris in the 5000m and also holds five World Championship titles. She has 29 career Diamond League victories across six distances and is unbeaten for the last decade at the Prefontaine Classic. Three of Kipyegon’s all-time top ten performances in the 1500m have been run at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.

The Prefontaine Classic will take place on Friday, July 3rd, and Saturday, July 4th, 2026.

A Diamond Discipline, the Women’s Mile, is scheduled for Saturday, July 4th.

The tentative event schedule windows for each day of competition are: Friday, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. / Saturday, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.

BENJAMIN KOFI ASAMOAH

Benjamin Kofi Asamoah is a passionate sports journalist and analyst with a deep love for the game. With years of experience covering football, basketball, boxing, athletics, and other major sporting events, he brings insightful analysis and engaging storytelling to sports enthusiasts worldwide. As the founder and lead writer of Sport Blitz 360, Benjamin is dedicated to delivering timely, accurate, and compelling sports news. His expertise extends beyond match reports, he dives into player performances, tactical breakdowns, and transfer updates, ensuring fans stay informed about the latest happenings in the sports world.

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