June 30, 2010
For Immediate Release       

WORLD RECORD HOLDERS HEADLINE WOMEN’S THROWS

    Eugene, Oregon—It’s not every day that reigning world record holders compete at a meet in the United States. This Saturday, fans attending the 36th annual Prefontaine Classic will be privileged to watch not one, but two world standard-bearers: Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic in the javelin, and Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland in the hammer throw.

    Spotakova’s resume is impressive, indeed: The Minnesota alum was the Olympic gold medalist in Bejing, World Championships gold medalist in Osaka, world record holder at 237-2 (72.28), ranked No. 1 in the world last year by Track & Field News magazine, and—oh, yes—birthday girl.  Happy 29th birthday, Barbora!

    Russia’s Mariya Abakumova has the bronze medal from Berlin, but the hottest thrower right now might be America’s Kara Patterson, who set a new national standard of 218-8 (66.67) at the USA Championships last weekend. Oregonian Rachel Yurkovich, ranked No. 1 in the U.S. last year ahead of Patterson, is sure to be a crowd favorite. Patterson (Skyview, Vancouver, Washington) and Yurkovich (Newberg, Oregon) have a heated Pacific Northwest rivalry that goes all the way back to their high school days.

    Wlodarczyk set her second hammer record of 256-11 (78.30) less than a month ago, breaking the mark she set in last year's World Championships, and the two-time World Champion will be hard to beat. That’s why the field includes Russia’s Tatyana Lysenko, herself a 3-time WR setter and No. 2 on this year’s world list with a throw of 249-5 (76.03) and 2-time defending Pre Classic champ Betty Heidler, the silver medalist in the 2009 World Championships behind Wlodarczyk.  No matter who wins, it’s likely that the Meet and Hayward Field Record of 242-6 (73.93) by Heidler in 2008 will be hammered into submission. Heidler's mark is also the best ever made on U.S. soil, so that record is in danger as well.

    Tickets are still available for the Prefontaine Classic by going to preclassic.com or calling 1-800-WEBFOOT.

JAVELIN THROW (WOMEN)

Barbora Spotakova (Czech Rep)
Mariya Abakumova (Russia)
Rachel Yurkovich
Kara Patterson
Martina Ratej (Slovakia)
Madara Palameika (Latvia)
Alicia DeShasier
               
HAMMER THROW (WOMEN)

Anita Wlodarczyk (Poland)
Betty Heidler (Germany)
Tatyana Lysenko (Russia)
Jessica Cosby
Amber Campbell
Sultana Frizell (Canada)
Britney Henry