Four Big Results from the Prefontaine Classic
Bowerman Mile
Josh Kerr said he’d rather let his legs do the talking, and, frankly, there’s nothing his mouth could have said anyway that would have topped what he did in Eugene on Saturday.
The Bowerman Mile, which brought the Prefontaine Classic to a close last weekend, was one of the most highly anticipated races in recent memory. After a war of words split the distance-running world into Team Josh and Team Jakob, everyone was eager to see who would win their first head-to-head since Kerr upset Jakob Ingebrigtsen to win the 1500m at the 2023 World Championships. Check out my article on why this rivalry is significant here, or if you’re already well-versed in the conflict (or if you simply don’t care), read on to find out how the race played out.
Ingebrigtsen made his way to the fore from the beginning, positioning himself behind Kenya’s Abel Kipsang and the pacemaker. Kerr settled in the mid-field, but after Hobbs Kessler clipped Cole Hocker’s heels and almost brought the two of them to the ground, he decided to get out of trouble and used the ensuing lap to make his way to the front. With the pacemaker stepping off at the one-kilometre mark, Kerr found himself in the foreign position of leading with 600m still remaining. Ingebrigtsen slotted in behind the Briton, giving Kerr no choice but to attempt a long kick for home. For those on Team Jakob, this was a wonderful sight. Historically, the Norwegian has been unbeatable when the race is reduced to a steady wind-up of pace, whereas Kerr is far more accustomed to reserving his kick for the final metres.
Josh Kerr leads the field into the final lap of the 2024 Bowerman Mile
A group of four started to separate as Kerr took the bell, with Jake Wightman and Yared Nuguse holding onto the heels of the leading pair for as long as they could. But try as they might, the two favourites found themselves alone as they entered the home straight. Ingebrigtsen moved to Kerr's shoulder as the Briton glanced up at the big screen to watch his rival. It looked as though Ingebrigtsen was going to draw even with the world champion with 50m to go, but Kerr pressed on, holding the inside line until the tape to claim his second consecutive victory over the Norwegian.
“Josh Kerr, heading for a very quick time. Josh Kerr! That is a new British record!” came Steve Cram’s voice from the commentary box as he narrated the poetic end of his own mile record.
“You’ve held that British record year after year, but what a worthy replacement Josh Kerr is,” called Cram’s colleague, Tim Hutchings.
“39 years, I think it is. About time,” Cram replied with a laugh.
Steve Cram (L) poses with Josh Kerr (R) after Kerr wins the 2024 Bowerman Mile in 3:45.34 to break Cram’s 39-year-old British mile record
For the first time since Ingebrigtsen claimed the Olympic title in Tokyo, there is no argument for him being the best middle-distance runner in the world. Kerr is coming off back-to-back world championship titles and just beat quite possibly the strongest mile field ever assembled. He proved that what he did in Budapest wasn’t a fluke and, in doing so, established himself as the favourite ahead of the Olympics.
Granted, this was Ingebrigtsen’s first race of the season, and running a 3:45 mile after a winter hampered by an Achilles injury is no small feat.
“I tried to fight him,” explained Ingebrigtsen after the race, “but today for me was more of a time trial. Of course, we’re racing…but this is not my final test. I think if anything, this is going to be an exciting summer.”
It’s refreshing to see the Norwegian take a rare defeat with such composure and confidence. But, confidence aside, the fact remains that Kerr just beat him at his own game and is yet to lose in 2024. If Ingebrigtsen is to defend his title in Paris, he is going to have to find a way to defeat a man who got the better of him on the global stage not 12 months ago and who has only improved since.
Josh Kerr (L) beats Jakob Ingebrigtsen (R) to win the 2024 Bowerman Mile
Women’s 5000m
Sifan Hassan is in her self-discovery era. In the past year, the Dutchwoman has won the London and Chicago Marathons and picked up world championship medals over distances as short as 1500m. She returned to the roads and missed the podium at the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year before coming back to the track, where she has yet to post a strong showing in 2024. It’s true that her range and talent are unprecedented, but even she might be spreading herself too thin.
To that point, Hassan struggled in the 5000m at Saturday’s Prefontaine Classic. After losing contact with the front group after just one kilometre, Hassan failed to bridge the gap to the leaders, unconvincingly yoyoing off the front of the chase group until the final lap. Hassan is famous for her finishing speed, and while her kick redeemed her to a degree, finishing seventh with a 16-second gap to the leader does not bode well ten weeks out from an Olympic title defence. If the Dutchwoman wants to continue her reign as the Olympic 5000m champion, she has a lot of work to do between now and then.
Sifan Hassan leads the chase pack in the women’s 5000m
Up the front, it was world cross country medallist Tsigie Gebreselama who edged Ejgayehu Taye at the line. The two chopped leads throughout the race and found themselves separated from the field as they entered the home straight. They crossed the line with just a tenth of a second between them, leading an Ethiopian sweep of the top six positions. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the Ethiopian Athletics Federation has an impossible task with regards to picking just three women to represent them in the 5000m at the Olympics.
Ejgayehu Taye (L) and Tsigie Gebreselama (R) battle it out in the final 100m of the women’s 5000m
Women’s 10,000m
The last time Gudaf Tsegay and Beatrice Chebet raced was at the 2023 Prefontaine Classic, during which they ran together until Tsegay pulled away over the closing laps to set a new 5000m world record. At the 2024 Prefontaine Classic, the roles were reversed.
Having separated from the field with just half the distance run, Chebet tucked in behind her Ethiopian rival and waited until three laps to go. After 25 minutes of running, the Kenyan used a group of lapped athletes to separate herself from Tsegay, which evoked a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted until she broke the tape. The gap back to Tsegay only grew as Chebet ran a 68-second penultimate lap for the fastest lap of the race before kicking home in 63 seconds to clock 28:54 and become the first woman to ever break 29 minutes. Tsegay was second in 29:05.
“When Gudaf asked for a world record, I decided to say: ‘Let me try to go for that to see how the body is.’” explained Chebet after catching her breath following some very teary celebrations.
“When I got to the last two laps, I just got motivated and said, ‘I’m on a world record pace, so let me push.’”
This is the first time a Kenyan woman has held the 10,000m world record.
In the last six months, Chebet has successfully defended her world cross country title, broken two world records, and won a global title on the roads. The Kenyan will make her Olympic debut in Paris and has confirmed she intends to double across the 5000m and 10,000m.
Women’s 100m
Sha’Carri Richardson dispelled any concerns that may have followed her from the Asian leg of the Diamond League when she stormed to a comfortable 10.83-second victory in Eugene. The reigning 100m world champion clocked the second fastest time of the year, punching the air as she crossed the line and looking quietly relieved that she was able to beat such a strong field. After opening her season with a couple of alarmingly slow 200m races, Richardson looked composed throughout her event and even took the time to ease up as she approached the tape.
To think we ever doubted her.
You can find the full results from the Eugene Diamond League here.