With one month until the world’s best meet returns to Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, The Prefontaine Classic has announced this year’s schedule of fan-first activations. Community members and fans traveling in for the meet are encouraged to take advantage of the Lexus Community Events in the lead-up to the 50th edition of the Pre Classic. Weekend festivities get started with the Oregon Track Club All-Comers Meet at The Prefontaine Classic, presented by PeaceHealth on Wednesday, July 2. Youth athletes ages 12 and under are invited to run, jump, and throw at Hayward Field beginning at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time. Participation is free for Oregon Track Club (OTC) and TrackTown USA Kids Club members. Non-members may participate for only $7. Full event information is available on the OTC website (oregontrackclub.com). The following evening, fans of all ages are invited to run or walk one mile under the lights at Hayward Field for this year’s Night of Miles at the Pre Classic, presented by Noogs on Thursday, July 3. With 1,000 expected participants, advance registration is highly recommended and comes at no cost to the participant. Heats will be determined by seed time and begin at 6:00 p.m. Pacific time. Complete event information, including registration and waiver links, is available on the Pre Classic website (preclassic.com/nightofmiles). After warming up with a mile on Hayward Field, fans are encouraged to double back the next morning and race in the iconic Oregon Track Club Butte to Butte, presented by Rexius beginning with the 5k run/walk at 7:30 a.m. Pacific time on Friday, July 4. First run in 1973, the Butte to Butte starts near the base of Spencer Butte and runs 10 kilometers through the streets of Eugene before ending near the base of Skinner Butte. In addition to the 10k run, options for a 5k run/walk and 4 Mile Mayor’s Walk are also available. With thousands of participants every year, Butte to Butte is a local 4th of July tradition like no other. More information and registration can be found on the Butte to Butte website (buttetobutte.com). On Saturday, July 5, fans will have two options for how they get meet-ready ahead of the 50th edition of The Prefontaine Classic. The Marshfield District returns to Agate Street, serving as the meet’s fan festival named to honor a district in Steve Prefontaine’s hometown of Coos Bay, Oregon. This year’s festival will feature family-friendly activations, food and beverage experiences, and fans’ first chance to purchase exclusive Pre Classic merchandise. Fans will enjoy local flavors from Bangers & Brew, Hole in the Wall BBQ, Oregon Wood Fired Pizza, Kona Ice, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee, Hop Valley Brewing and more. The TrackTown USA Kids Club will also return with its Kids Zone, a space for games and activities geared toward track & field’s younger fans. Just down the street in the Marshfield District, TOGETHXR, the fastest-growing and most-engaging women’s sports brand, will host a “Get TOGETHXR” complete with customizable merchandise, photo ops, and giveaways. The Marshfield District is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific time. In addition to the Marshfield District, fans have the option of purchasing a pass for this year’s Lexus Legacy Experience, an all-inclusive VIP offering that takes place in the hours before and after the meet. Beginning at 10 am Pacific time, Lexus Legacy Experience passholders will receive premium parking access and welcome entertainment provided by On The Rocks and Oregon Bach Festival harpsichord artist Tung Nguyen before an all-inclusive brunch. Special guests of the meet, including Maria Mutola and Alan Webb, will also be in attendance. Following the day’s action, Lexus Legacy Experience passholders return to the VIP space, adjacent to the athlete warmup and cooldown area, for a post-meet happy hour celebration. All-inclusive bites with local Oregon flavors will be provided both during the brunch and happy hour by Shield Catering, and signature cocktails, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided by Honeysuckle Bartending. During the meet, youth in 1st through 8th grade have the opportunity to be a Youth Buddy to track & field’s biggest stars. Similar to other global sporting events, these Youth Buddies will accompany the athletes out to the field of play in an effort to inspire the next generation of track & field athletes and provide a positive moment of impact for youth. Due to the success of this initiative’s launch in 2024, the Youth Buddies program will expand beyond field events for 2025, providing opportunities for youth accompaniment for multiple running events as well. Parents of interested children can register their child for the Youth Buddies program at no cost at preclassic.com/youthbuddies. By Amos Amoako
The Prefontaine Classic has added two men’s field events to the meet’s 50th edition: The Men’s Discus and Men’s Hammer Throw will be contested as non-Diamond Disciplines during the ninth stop on the 2025 Wanda Diamond League circuit.
They join the Men’s Pole Vault and Women’s Hammer Throw as field event non-Diamond Disciplines. All four events include their respective reigning Paris Olympic Games gold medalist.
Rojé Stona (JAM) made history in Paris this past summer in the Men’s Discus, bringing home Jamaica’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the discus throw, and the country’s only gold medal in athletics from the 2024 Games. His 70.00m (229’ 8”) throw to secure the victory was a personal best mark by nearly a meter, and set a new Olympic record in the event. A standout athlete early in his career, Stona also owns a World U23 title from 2019 and a World U23 silver medal from 2021.
Mykolas Alekna (LTU) is the current world record-holder in the Men’s Discus (75.56m / 247’ 10”), breaking his own world record not once but twice during the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational in April of this year. Alekna had previously set the world record at the same meet in 2024. In addition to the best mark ever thrown, Alekna owns the silver medal from the Paris Olympic Games, where he threw 69.97m (229’ 6”) for his podium finish. A two-time Lithuanian national champion, Aleka earned silver at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and bronze at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
Daniel Ståhl (SWE) joins the field as the reigning World Athletics Championships gold medalist in the Men’s Discus, throwing 71.46m (234’ 5.5”) for victory in 2023. Ståhl also owns an Olympic gold medal from the Tokyo Games, where he threw 68.90m (226’ 0.5”) to win. A Diamond League veteran, Ståhl has won individual Wanda Diamond League meetings since 2016 and has captured three Diamond Trophies. Ståhl’s personal best of 71.86m (235’ 9.25”) is the Swedish national record.
Ethan Katzberg (CAN) is the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the Men’s Hammer Throw, launching it 84.12m (276’) to claim his first-ever Olympic medal this past summer. In addition to being the reigning Olympic Champion, Katzberg is also the reigning World Champion after capturing gold at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 with an 81.25m (266’ 7”) throw. Katzberg’s personal best of 84.38m (276’ 10”) stands as both the national and area record in the event. He is currently ranked first in the world in the event.
Mykhaylo Kokhan (UKR) joins his Paris podium mate in the Pre Classic Men’s Hammer Throw. Kokhan earned his first global senior medal at the Paris Olympic Games, where he finished third with a 79.39m (260’ 5”) throw. A two-time Olympian, Kokhan had finished fourth at the Tokyo Games. Kokhan is a four-time national champion for Ukraine and has represented his country thrice on the senior world stage. Kokhan’s personal best stands at 81.14m (266’ 2”). He is currently ranked second in the world in the event.
By Amos Amoako
