June 28, 2010
For Immediate Release

FEARSOME FIELDS IN PRE CLASSIC HURDLES RACES
 

            Eugene, Oregon—Whether it’s the men’s 110 High Hurdles or the women’s 400 Intermediate Hurdles, the barrier races at next Saturday’s Prefontaine Classic will be filled with some of the world’s best.

            Scalding-hot David Oliver brings his world-leading 12.93 from the USA Track & Field Championships to the Pre Classic, accompanied by the next three finishers in that race, Ryan Wilson, Ronnie Ash, and David Payne.  Oliver’s winning mark is just 3/100’s off the American Record of 12.90 set four years ago. If anyone can challenge Oliver, it may be Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados or Terrence Trammell of the U.S.  Brathwaite ran a lifetime best to win gold at last summer’s Berlin World Championships, while the veteran Trammell has captured the silver medal in two Olympic Games and two World Championships.

            A bevy of medalists will also contest the women’s long hurdles race.  Two-time World Championships silver medalist Lashinda Demus  will match her metalware against Beijing Olympic silver medalist Sheena Tosta and Berlin bronze medalist Josanne Lucas of Trinidad .  Like Oliver, Demus is on fire this outdoor season, winning the Rome Diamond League meet in a world-leading time of 52.82, ahead of Jamaica’s Kaliese Spencer.

            The 36^th annual NIKE Prefontaine Classic will be shown live on NBC and to an international television audience. Tickets still remain, obtainable from preclassic.com or 1-800-WEBFOOT.

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