Olympic gold medallists Lamont Marcell Jacobs (100m), Andre De Grasse (200m) and Peruth Chemutai (3000m steeplechase) will all grace the track at the third Wanda Diamond League meeting of the season in Eugene on May 28th.
The world’s fastest men will each have a lane in this year’s Prefontaine Classic 100-meters at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field. All three medalists from the Tokyo Olympic Games will have their hands full with one of the deepest fields ever assembled.
Lamont Marcell Jacobs, who electrified the track and field world by winning gold in Tokyo last year, will return to Diamond League action for the first time since his Olympic triumph next month. Jacobs, a former long jumper, won the 60m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade in March and broke the European indoor record with a 6.41-second performance.
“I am honoured and excited to be part of this year’s Prefontaine Classic at the University of Oregon in Eugene!,” said Jacobs. “It’s going to be my first race in the U.S. since the Tokyo Olympics and the adrenaline is already pumping. Can’t wait to feel the track beneath my feet!”
With an Olympic silver medal in tow, Fred Kerley looks to build upon his phenomenal 2021 season at this year’s Pre Classic. The American showed tremendous range over the sprint disciplines last year, becoming one of only three athletes to ever break 10 seconds in the 100m, 20 seconds in the 200m, and 44 seconds in the 400m. He joins the elite company of Michael Norman, who is competing in the 400m at Pre, and Wayde van Niekerk, the 400m world record holder. Kerley capped off 2021 by winning the Wanda Diamond League 100m title in Zurich.
Last year’s Pre Classic 100m champion Andre De Grasse returns in 2022. The Canadian came home from Tokyo with lifetime bests in the 100m (9.89) and 200m (19.62) and three medals in each variety of color: bronze in the 100m, silver in the 4x100m relay, and gold in the 200m.
Three-time Diamond League champion Noah Lyles, seven-time Diamond League meeting winner Ronnie Baker and 2018 100m Diamond Trophy winner Christian Coleman will also line up in one of the strongest 100m fields in years.
De Grasse and Jacobs will not be the only Olympic gold medallists looking to pick up Diamond League points in Eugene. Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai, who became her country’s first female Olympic champion last summer, will also lead the line in an impressive women’s 3000m steeplechase field.
Chemutai will be up against the likes of Olympic silver medallist Courtney Frerichs, world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech and 2017 world champion Emma Coburn.