37 years after the death of Steve Prefontaine, the Pre Classic lives on

What was originally staged as the "Hayward Field Restoration Race" in 1975, the Prefontaine Classic, now in it's 38th year, continues to live on as the premier track and field event in America.

I was lucky enough to attend last year (and kept a journal my time in Eugene) and couldn't pass up the return trip to Eugene (via Portland) for the 2012 edition. If you're a track fan, this is something you need to see in person.

The distance action heats up Friday night with "Hollister Night at Hayward." The event is free to attend and will be webcast starting at 7:25pm Pacific (10:25pm Eastern) at PreClassic.com.

The Women's 800 kicks things off at 7:30pm with Molly Beckwith, Heather Kampf, Gena Gall, LaTavia Thomas, Alysia Montano and Maggie Vessey leading the way. This is the race that put Vessey on the map. Her win in 2009 out of nowhere paved the way to where she is now. Expect her to challenge for the win. This will also be an excellent chance to see where Montano's fitness is, as we haven't seen much out of her this year (yet).

The Men's International Mile is up next, at 7:37pm, with a stellar field of Americans, including Russell Brown, Matt Centrowitz, Will Leer, Jeff See, Dorian Ulrey and American Record Holder, Alan Webb (who set the American High School Record in 2001 here). Alfred Kirwa Yego, Nicholas Kemboi and Mohammed Shaween lead the foreign contingent. This event has become a new standard at Pre and expect the winner to be close to 3:50.

Vessey, Schmidt and Montano will
take on the world's best
(photo: TrackAndFieldPhoto)

The Women's 1500 goes off at 7:46 with another excellent American field of Gabrielle Anderson, Katie Mackey, Lauren Johnson, Brenda Martinez, Treniere Moser, Anna Pierce, Shannon Rowbury, Jenny Simpson and Phoebe Wright. Sheila Reid, Jemma Simpson and Tizita Bogale will lead the foreign contingent. Simpson will try to regain the form that found her running 3:59.90 here in 2010, as much of the rest of the field will take aim at the Olympic A Standard of 4:06.00.

The Women's 10,000 is up next at 7:56pm. Expect Tirunesh Dibaba to go away with this one, but pay attention to Lauren Fleshman. She's been injured and is rabbiting. It will be a good chance to see what kind of form she's in before the trials. Alisha Williams will take aim at the Olympic A Standard of 31:45. She has the B right now and will want to get this out of the way before the Olympic Trials in 3 weeks. (Nevermind, she was just rabbiting through 3000)

Closing out the night is the ballyhooed Kenyan Olympic Trials in the 10,000. Athletics Kenya decided to stage it here due to the similarity in elevation to London and it should be quite a run. The top two will qualify, with the last choice going to the committee. 10 of the Men entered have run under 27 minutes and I would expect this race to be won in the 26:45 range. Micah Kogo and Eliud Kipchoge seem to be the favorites, but it's Kenya. There are new stars emerging yearly. Expect the unexpected. I'll be pulling for "36 year old" Mark Kiptoo.

The 38th Annual Prefontaine Classic goes off Saturday, as usual, with excellent sprints, distance and field events. It will be broadcast at noon Pacific (3pm Eastern) on NBC. The Women's Steeplechase kicks off the distance events at 11:46am with Emma Coburn, Bridget Franek and Sara Hall lining up against the best in the world. Milcah Chemos looks to be the ace of the field. Coburn and Franek went 1-2 last year at USA Outdoors and look to be the favorites to make the team once again. Hall has yet to show the form that she showed towards the end of the 2011 season. This will be her chance to show whether or not she's a threat to make the team.

The Women's 3000 goes off at 12:11pm with Jackie Areson, Angela Bizzarri, Brie Felnagle, Sally Kipyego, Molly Huddle, Lisa Uhl and Amy Hastings duking it out. Talk about an American distance fans dream race. This one should be a lot of fun.

Symmonds won in 2007 and would love
 to win Pre again
(photo: TrackAndFieldPhoto)

The Men's 800 is next at 12:24pm with Nick Symmonds taking on the world's best (sans David Rudisha). Yuriy Borzakovskiy, Abubaker Kaki, Adam Kszczot, Mohammed Aman and Boaz Lalang will make it a tough one. Add Americans Khadevis Robinson and Tyler Mulder to the mix and you've got a very strong 800. Matt Scherer will lead them around.

The Men's 5000 is at 12:50pm with Matt Tegenkamp and Galen Rupp taking on an incredible field of Mo Farah, Kenenisa Bekele, Craig Mottram, Collis Birmingham, Isiah Koech, Sam Chelanga, Yenew Alamirew and Augustine Choge. Will Rupp go under 13:00 finally? and on American soil? He's gonna have to if he wants to compete in this field!

Closing out the classic will be the Bowerman Mile at 1:19pm. The American contingent will be comprised of Andrew Wheating, Leo Manzano, Lopez Lomong, David Torrence and Bernard Lagat. Silas Kiplagat, Asbel Kiprop Amine Laalou and Nick Willis will lead the world challengers. Kiprop's been tough here, but Kiplagat recently got the better of him in Doha. Expect a scorcher!

All in all, an event that Pre would be proud of!

I'll be tweeting and running around all over Eugene from Thursday night on... with stops at Track Town Pizza, Ninkasi Brewing, Pre's Trail, Rogue Public House, Morning Glory and of course, Hayward Field!

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Thanks to our sponsor, Adharanand Finn's new book "Running with the Kenyans" for sponsoring the blog this week. Read my review of it here. If you're interested in sponsoring writing about running (and other great sites like TrackFocus, Track Superfan, Paul Merca, RunNova and the House of Run podcast) in the future, check out The Relay Network. You can also support the site by buying something on Amazon.com through this link

5 Questions with Russell Brown

Russell Brown representing
the Oregon Track Club
(photo: TrackAndFieldPhoto)

Today we have 5 Questions with a former Stanford Cardinal who now competes for the Oregon Track Club and makes fun short films in his spare time with his teammates. He's also a big Red Sox fan!

Russell Brown is in the prime of his career and is taking aim at a spot on the Olympic team this summer. From bursting onto the scene in 2011 with a win in the Mile at the New Balance Grand Prix to his 3:51.45 mile last year at Pre, Brown recently made his biggest leap as a professional runner by hitting the Olympic A Standard in the 1500 meters in Doha. He'll race the mile again at Pre next weekend before gearing up for the 2012 Olympic Trials in his homebase of Eugene, OR. Follow him on Twitter @RussellWBrown

5 Questions with Russell Brown

1. Writing About Running: First off, congrats on the PR at Doha (an Olympic A Standard of 3:34.11). How'd the race go in your opinion and how happy were you go get the "A" out of the way?

Russell Brown: This is my first A standard. As in, this is the first time I have hit an A standard of any kind in my long career. I am ecstatic that I am now a big step closer to going to the Games, absolutely. But it also is a badge of honor for me that runs a little deeper than the procedural benefits it gives. It is a threshold that in some ways declares you a world class athlete. That feels better than anything. I feel like I put myself into a new category, and it's not a category I knew I would be in for sure, ever.

If I was from Lichtenstein, I would be going to the Olympics. That is pretty cool.

2. Writing About Running: You'll be part of a stacked mile at Prefontaine. You ran a PR of 3:51.45 last year. What's it like to be a part of the Bowerman Mile at the most exciting meet in America?

Russell Brown: This might just be the most exciting meet in the world. Tom Jordan didn't even have to pay me to write that either. I was in Doha, which ended up being the fastest race in several years, and I look at the start lists for Pre and can't help but think it's better.

Honestly, it feels like a dream come true. I have been a track fan for a long time, and I have been still been a spectator at more big-time meets than I have run at. Watching those meets, you never quite believe you'll be out there one day. It's like growing up going to Red Sox games every year, and then suddenly becoming a player on the team (that actually is me also, but I'll save that dream for after running).

3. Writing About Running: What else (if anything) do you have in store before the trials?

Russell Brown: I don't have any other races lined up. Getting to Doha was enough travel for a lifetime.

I'm going to run at Hayward field every day like I have been doing for four years and continue to imagine running down the homestretch in 1st, 2nd or 3rd place. I will just train with Andy (Wheating) and AJ (Acosta), and continue to do the things we have been doing. It's pretty amazing that the biggest meet of my life will be on my home track. Why would I want to go anywhere else for the next few weeks?

4. Writing About Running: You've created a new video series/blog with teammate Andrew Wheating entitled "Behind the Stands." How'd all the come about and what can we expect in the future?

Russell Brown: Where do I start? Andy and I really just thought it would be fun to make some videos. I have heard him say he wanted to create some buzz and excitement, but the first time he brought a camera to practice, it was, "I'm recording, do something funny". It has turned into something slightly better than that I suppose, depending upon who you ask.

I think our videos are just an expression of how much fun our sport is. We wanted to show all of the people that do this everyday because it makes them feel good, that that is why we do it too. Money hasn't corrupted track for me, it has just given me the opportunity to do it more. I want to show anyone who cares to see it, that every day I am a runner is great, and I hope it is for them too.

Once again, Brown will line up with the World's
best at the Bowerman Mile at this year's Pre Classic
(photo: TrackAndFieldPhoto)

5. Writing About Running: The OTC has had a nice group of mid distance guys for you to train with over the past few years. How have you enjoyed being part of the program and are you ready for the Eugene faithful to have your back at the trials?

Russell Brown: I can't say enough about what it has meant to be a part of my team. The resources and the track knowledge available to me in Eugene are fantastic. There is no way I would be nearly as successful without everybody here. I also just really like everyone affiliated with OTC. Everyday training with these people is fun and exciting. I want to include the broader group of OTC in this too. OTC Elite is a small part of a big organization. I'm connected to hundreds of runners and running enthusiasts that I see and interact with all of the time. It really feels like what we are all doing up here together is important and meaningful, and I need that.

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Thanks to our sponsor, Adharanand Finn's new book "Running with the Kenyans" for sponsoring the blog this week. Read my review of it here. If you're interested in sponsoring writing about running (and other great sites like TrackFocus, Track Superfan, Paul Merca and the House of Run podcast) in the future, check out The Relay Network. You can also support the site by buying something on Amazon.com through this link

Battle Royale: Matt Centrowitz to make pro debut in Boston this weekend

Centro is back

There are two big indoor meets next weekend, the USA Track and Field Classic in Fayetteville, AR and the Millrose Games in New York City. It's a shame they are both held on the same day, but let's face it, that's unfortunately kind of how Track and Field operates. This week, it's all about beantown. Boston is one of my favorite cities and potentially where I'll be for the next year or so (I'll know in the next six weeks). I'll also be running the marathon again in April, if I can stay healthy of course. Cross your fingers for me.

Saturday will be the professional debut of Mr. Matt Centrowitz. After executing a near-perfect race in Daegu to gain a bronze medal in the World Championship 1500, he'll have his hands full. He's racing a stacked Men's 3000 with US Open Mile Champ and Daegu 1500 Silver Medalist, Silas Kiplagat, British miling superstar (representing New Balance), Andy Baddeley, USA Running Circuit Champ, Ben True, jack of all distances, Ben Bruce and last year’s 3000 winner (over Mo Farah), in a race he ran with only one shoe, Ethiopia’s Dejen Gebremeskel. If Centro can pull this one out, we'll know he's in top form early. Update: Southern Utah's Cam Levins will be joining the fun as well!

Matt Scherer, pacing with the stars

There are two other featured distance events at the meet; the first being the Women's 800. This will feature New Balance's Maggie Vessey, Georgetown star Maggie Infield, US Open 800 Winner, Fantu Magiso, Canada’s Nicole Sifuentes and high school star, Ajee Wilson, who will be competing against the pros for the second straight week. No telling what kind of shape Vessey is in yet, but she is the class of the field.

The final featured distance event of the night is the New Balance Men's Mile. This event is the one that's gonna put butts in the seats. American superstar and 10,000 record holder, Galen Rupp, will likely receive top billing, but the man whose name you will hear non-stop in the promotion of the London Olympic Games will be Mo Farah. Farah is coming off a career year that culminated with a Gold in the 5000 in Daegu, and will be looking to build off that in Boston. Not to be forgotten is New Englander, Russell Brown, who came to Boston last year and won in front a gathering of friends and family. Also in the field is rising star and "bullet with the mullet," Ireland's Ciaran O'Lionaird. O'Lionaird burst onto the scene last year after a slew of 1500 PR's that landed him in the World Championship final. He's now training with Farah and Rupp in Portland, with Alberto Salazar. He could surprise everyone. Just announced were Kenya's Haron Keitany and Daniel Kipchirchir Komen to further add spice. Finally, Matt Scherer will be doing the pacing, as it looks like he's trying to fill the rabbiting void that David Krummenacker has held over the past few years. No word on if Krum is retiring or just waiting for outdoors, but Scherer better be ready to stay in front of these horses!

Some highlights of the non-featured, but still very exciting events will be Tirunesh Dibaba in the Women's 2-Mile, Anna Pierce vs. Morgan Uceny in the Women's 1000 and Shannon Rowbury taking on Meseret Defar and New Balance poster girl, Jenny Simpson, in the Women's 3000. Not sure why they don't combine the 3k and 2 Mile, but that's how it goes!

All the information you could need on the event is at http://NBIndoorGrandPrix.com. The meet starts Saturday at 5pm eastern and will be shown on tape delay on ESPN2 this Sunday at 2pm eastern. Flash Results will have the live results if you don't want to wait for the broadcast.

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