Competitive Spirit Alive Ahead of Prefontaine Classic

This weekend, the world’s fastest athletes come out to Hayward Field to compete in the Prefontaine Classic. Eyes are focused on the tough competition of Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse and Jakob Ingebrigtsen as tensions rise among the three competing in the Bowerman’s Mile: a dress rehearsal for what could be a great race in August during the Olympics.  

“I feel like this race is really important and puts me in a place where I am racing against some of the world’s best competitors. Coming out and running against these guys puts confidence in myself for the Olympic Trials in a few weeks,” Yared Nuguse said. 

Yared Nuguse, two-time Diamond League meet winner, is ready to race among the best. Nuguse won silver in the 3000-meter 2024 World’s Indoor Championships in Glasgow. He ran a 3:43.97 mile last year, breaking the American record at the Prefontaine, which finished him second-place to Jakob Ingebrigtsen. 

“It’s definitely good to be back. The last time I raced was here and I won a national record,” Ingebristen said. “I’m here to show up and try my best.” 

Jakob Ingebrigtsten, an Olympic Games Champion and a two-time World Champion, has ran in this competition for the past seven years. He is ready to be back and try for another victory after taking the winter off. Ingebrigtsen set a national record last year at Prefontaine with his time of 3:43.73 and is currently ranked first in the world for his 1500-meters.

“I’ve never run the Classic before, so I added that on my races that I want to come and win,” Josh Kerr said.

Josh Kerr, a one-time world champion, a one-time Olympic Games Bronze medallist and a two-times top eight World Champion, is competing at the Prefontaine Classic for the first time. He was recently crowned the World Athletic Indoor Champion for the 3000-meters. Kerr’s current personal record for the mile is 3:48.97, and is eager to run at Hayward Field again since running at the Oregon Relays late last month. 

Although Ingebrigtsten and Nuguse competed last year against each other in this race, this is the first year that Kerr and Ingebrigtsten are competing against each other in the Bowerman Mile. The last time Kerr and Ingebrigtsten have competed was in the 1500-meter race in Budapest 2023, where Kerr won with a time of 7:42.98. 

“I’m not here to settle tension,” Josh Kerr said. “I’m here to run a fantastic mile and be the best in the world. If that annoys people and causes tension, I don’t care. I don’t care how this race affects everyone else but my season and my pace.”

The three athletes battle for the Nike Men’s Bowerman Mile tomorrow at 2:52 p.m Pacific time. The Prefontaine Classic events begin at 10:40 a.m. Pacific time on Saturday morning at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Meet times are posted on the Pre Classic’s website and social media channels. Limited tickets are still available.