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KENYAN STARS LEAD STELLAR PRE CLASSIC STEEPLECHASE

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Eugene Diamond League - Nike Prefontaine Classic   Apr 24th 2013, 5:15pm
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Pre Classic

April 24, 2013
For Immediate Release
 
 

KENYAN STARS LEAD STELLAR PRE CLASSIC STEEPLECHASE

 
            Eugene, Oregon – The two best steeplechasers of the modern era are of course from Kenya, home of every Olympic gold medalist for the past 28 years.  One is king of the Diamond League, having won all three previous titles, while the other has claimed the lion’s share of major gold medals in recent memory.  Paul Koech and Ezekiel Kemboi headline a stellar field at the Prefontaine Classic.

            The 39th Prefontaine Classic, to be held June 1 at historic Hayward Field, annually provides America’s best fans with the world’s best talent.  The Pre Classic is a member of the prestigious IAAF Diamond League, comprised of the 14 best meets around the globe.

           This year’s men’s steeplechase field will include all three Olympic medalists from London, as well as an incredible nine of the top 10 ranked runners in the world as rated by Track & Field News.

            Koech and Kemboi have dramatically different world-class resumes.  Koech is the only steeplechase Diamond League winner. Yet Koech owns only one major medal, the bronze from the 2004 Olympics.  Meanwhile, Kemboi has seven major medals, including golds from the 2004 and 2012 Olympics as well as the 2009 and 2011 World Championships.  The two have battled a stunning 48 previous times in the steeple, with Kemboi owning a 28-20 edge.  The two oldest athletes in last year’s T&FN steeple world rankings, Koech (No. 1) and Kemboi (No. 3) will be 31 when they race again at the Pre Classic.
 
            The youngest world-ranked steepler last year is also from Kenya, 18-year-old Conseslus Kipruto.  Kipruto won the 2012 World Junior Championships after taking gold at the 2011 World Youth Championships.  His best of 8:03.49 is the fastest ever by an 18-year-old, and he ranked No. 4 in the world last year by T&FN.

            Two more London medalists are in the loaded Pre Classic field.  Silver medalist Mahiedine Benabbad of France and bronze medalist Abel Mutai of Kenya are set to make first-time appearances in the U.S.  Benabbad was also the Olympic silver medalist in 2008.  Mutai was ranked No. 5 in the world last year by T&FN, while Benabbad was No. 7.
 
            American record holder Evan Jager is an obvious bright spot for U.S. fans.  The Wisconsin graduate made his first commitment to running the event last year and shattered a 6-year-old U.S. record in only his fourth final ever.  Another American, Princeton grad Donn Cabral, won the NCAA title last year.  He was runner-up at the Olympic Trials at Hayward Field.  Former national champ Dan Huling also helps to bolster the American presence, having a best of 8:13.29.

            An experienced Ethiopian and yet more world-class Kenyans are  also confirmed in the Pre Classic field.  The Ethiopian is 31-year-old Roba Gari, who finished 4th in the  Olympics last year, moving up from a 5th in the 2011 World Championships.  He was runner-up at the 2009 Pre Classic.

            The remaining Kenyans are a great mix of talent.  Jairus Birech, just 20, was ranked No. 6 in the world last year.  Hillary Yego, now 21, was the 2009 World Youth Championships gold medalist.  Bernard Nganga is 28 and has a best 8:05.77. Even the pacesetter, Haron Lagat, a former collegian at Texas Tech, has run 8:15.80!

 

Men’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Personal Best
Paul Koech (Kenya) 7:54.31  
Ezekiel Kemboi (Kenya) 7:55.76  
Abel Mutai (Kenya) 8:01.67  
Madiedine Benabbad (France) 8:02.09  
Jairus Birech (Kenya) 8:03.43  
Conseslus Kipruto (Kenya) 8:03.49  
Bernard Nganga (Kenya) 8:05.88  
Roba Gari (Ethiopia) 8:06.16  
Evan Jager (USA) 8:06.81  
Hillary Kipsang Yego (Kenya) 8:07.71  
Dan Huling (USA) 8:13.29  
Haron Lagat (Kenya) 8:15.80  
Donn Cabral (USA) 8:19.14  

 

            Tickets for the 39th annual edition of the Prefontaine Classic, to be held May 31-June 1 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., are available now from www.PreClassic.com and from 1-800-WEBFOOT.  Sponsored by NIKE continuously since 1984, the Prefontaine Classic will be shown live to an international audience and by NBC Sports from 1:30 till 3:00 p.m. PT on June 1st.

            The Prefontaine Classic is the longest-running outdoor invitational track and field meet in America and is part of the elite IAAF Diamond League of meets held worldwide annually.  Last year’s Pre Classic presented the most 2012 Olympic gold medalists (20) of any invitational meet in the world.

            Steve Prefontaine is a legend in the sport of track & field and is perhaps the most inspirational distance runner in American history. He set a national high school 2-Mile record while at Coos Bay High School that lasted nearly two decades.  While competing for the University of Oregon, he won national cross country championships (3) and outdoor track 3-Mile/5000-meter championships (4) every time he competed, and never lost a collegiate race at any distance.  As a collegiate junior, he made the 1972 U.S. Olympic Team and nearly won an Olympic medal, finishing 4th in the 5K at the 1972 Munich Olympics, at age 22.  After finishing college in 1973 and preparing for a return to the Olympics in 1976, he continued to improve, setting many American records.  His life ended tragically on May 30, 1975, the result of an auto accident, at age 24.  The Pre Classic began soon after and has been held every year since.

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3 comment(s)
siskrunner
Defintely a chance for an American record..mayb Evan will break 9..I'm sure he'll do it this year but mayb not that early in the year. He's the future of Steeple..a lot of these guys are old and not as fast as they once were
Jeff McKay
I have my tickets... can't wait for the Classic.
DyeStatPRO.com
Two sub 8:00 steeplers to the #preclassic and @evanjager is only the 9th fastest entry! Wow!
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