- On Sunday afternoon at the Prefontaine Classic, world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya won the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a world-lead time of 8:55.58, who placed 14th in a time of 8:42.15.
- Caster Semenya won the 800 meters easily in 1:55.70, with Americans Ajeé Wilson and Raevyn Rogers finishing second and third, respectively.
- Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands set a Diamond League record in the blistering fast women’s 3,000 meters, which saw the first seven runners finishing under 8:30 and seven of the top 15 runners hitting new personal bests.
- Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya defended his Bowerman Mile title in a world-lead time of 3:50.49.
The top track and field athletes in the world competed in the 2019 Prefontaine Classic on Sunday, June 30. One of the biggest track meets of the summer travels south to California in 2019 and takes place at Cobb Track and Angell Field at Stanford University—the race is usually held in Eugene, Oregon, but the Heyward Field’s renovation Despite a fall earlier in the race.
Read on for the top highlights from the 2019 edition of the star-studded Prefontaine meet.
Despite a Fall, Emma Coburn Takes Second in Steeplechase
Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya, the world record holder, built a comfortable 30-yard lead through 5K and didn’t look back during the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She was the only runner in a fast field to break 9 minutes, running an 8:55.58 (Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya defended his Bowerman Mile title in a world-lead time of 3:50.49).
Runners World+ Exclusive, Emma Coburn wasn’t thrown as she navigated the last two water jumps strongly as others faltered down the stretch. She took second with a time of 9:04.90. Hyvin Kiyeng of Kenya was third, behind Coburn in 9:05.81.
“After I fell, it was something that I really tried to focus on, is having good water jumps, and not worrying about the clock as much, and not worrying about the people behind me,” Coburn That Pre Thing. “Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.”
The top track and field athletes in the world competed in the 2019, Courtney Frerichs, the silver medalist at the 2017 world championships and American record holder, finished in fifth place. Her Bowerman Track Club teammate Colleen Quigley was seventh.
Just three weeks after Allie Ostrander made history by winning her third consecutive NCAA title in the steeplechase, she ran a new personal best of 9:31.44 Highlights From the 2019 Prefontaine Classic.
Joshua Cheptegei Wins Men’s Two-Mile Race in World Lead Time
The men’s two mile became a three-person race once the runners completed the first four laps of the track. Selemon Barega of Ethiopia tried to create daylight by dropping back-to-back sub-60 second laps, but Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda and American Paul Chelimo didn’t let him run away with it.
In the final 200 meters, Cheptegei closed on a struggling Barega. But also coming from behind was a charging Chelimo, who was about 10 meters back heading into the final 100 meters. Chelimo swung wide to attempt to pass, but it wasn’t enough as Chepetegei won in 8:07.54, a world lead. With his kick, Chelimo ran a personal best of 8:07.59 for second, and Barega was third in 8:08.69.
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Caster Semenya Cruises to 800-Meter Victory
It didn’t matter that South Africa’s Caster Semenya hasn’t raced in the 800 meters for a few months. She went through the first lap in 57 seconds and had little competition for the rest of the race as she cruised to a 1:55.70.
she ran a new personal best of Ajeé Wilson Nutrition - Weight Loss.
This was Semenya’s first 800 since a Swiss Supreme Court ruling allowed her to race her primary distance while she appeals a new IAAF testosterone rule, which bans her from competing in races between 400 meters and the mile unless she suppresses her testosterone levels. The two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 800 competed in the distance one other time this year, a 1:54.98 victory in Doha, before the IAAF imposed the rule.
Sifan Hassan Sets Diamond League Record in 3,000 Meters
Sifan Hassan, a 26-year-old from the Netherlands, clocked a blistering fast 8:18.49 in the women’s 3,000 meters, which was good enough for the world lead, a national record, and a Diamond League record. That was also a 10-second personal best.
How fast was the race? The first seven runners were all under 8:30, with Konstanze Klosterhalfen of Germany getting second and Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia placing third.
Seven of the top 15 runners hit new personal bests, including American Karissa Schweizer, who placed 14th in a time of 8:42.15.
Women’s 1500 Comes Down to Final Sprint
The women’s 1500 meters was one of the most anticipated races of the afternoon, and it didn’t disappoint. Faith Kipyegon of Kenya, who is the reigning Olympic and world champion in the 1500, sat patiently on the shoulder of Laura Muir of Great Britain heading into the final 200 meters, and the tactic paid off.
In an exciting final sprint, Kipyegon won the race in 3:59.04. Muir held on for second (3:59.47), but just barely as Shelby Houlihan let out an impressive kick to close for third place (3:59.64). Another notable time came from Jessica Hull, who competed at the University of Oregon and just turned pro. The Aussie ran a personal best of 4:02.62.
Christian Coleman Breaks Own World Lead in 100 Meters
Christian Coleman is looking strong—along with the rest of U.S. sprinters.
The 23-year-old’s time of 9.81 in the men’s 100 meters is his second Diamond League win of the season and is the fastest in the world in 2019, bettering his own mark of 9.85 set in Oslo. Second in the race was 37-year-old Justin Gatlin in 9.87, with Briton Zharnel Hughes third in 9.97. It was the first time Coleman had ever beaten Gatlin.
Timothy Cheruiyot Defends Bowerman Mile Title
For the final event of the day, the Bowerman Mile, a tactical race played out during the first three laps, which promised an exciting bell lap.
Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya defended his Bowerman Mile title in fine style by holding off some late surges and finishing in 3:50.49. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Jakob Ingebrigtsen followed in third and fourth, respectively.
The top American was Craig Engels, who closed strong and finished in 5th with a personal best of 3:51.60. Four other Americans finished in the top dozen: 2016 Olympic gold medalist in the 1500 Matthew Centrowitz, (6th, 3:52.26), Ben Blankenship (7th, 3:52.51 for a personal best), 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in the 800 Clayton Murphy (10th, 3:54.37), and Johnny Gregorek (11th, 3:54.50).
Brian has spent more than a decade focused on creating compelling news, health, and fitness content—with a particular interest on enthusiast activities like running and cycling. He’s coordinated coverage of major events like the Paris Olympics, Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, and Tour de France, with an eye toward both the professional race and the engaging stories readers love.
