Canadian Olympic hammer throw champs part of star-studded lineup for 50th Prefontaine Classic

CBC

2 days ago

This year's Prefontaine Classic features a lineup befitting a milestone for the iconic track and field meet.
Saturday marks the 50th edition of prestigious event on the University of Oregon campus, which carries the name of the late Steve Prefontaine, an American collegiate runner who never won an Olympic or world championship medal, but who left an indelible mark on his sport before dying in a car crash at age 24.
Read more about the history of the meet in this story by Scott Russell.
Several Olympic and world champions will compete in Saturday's event at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., and that includes Canadian hammer throwers Camryn Rogers and Ethan Katzberg. You can watch live coverage of the event, available on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem at 4 p.m. ET.
Rogers is well acquainted with Hayward Field, having competed there several times before and during her collegiate career.
It was also the venue where the 26-year-old from Richmond, B.C. broke the Diamond League women's hammer throw record in 2024. Rogers also collected a a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships when Eugene hosted in 2022.
"I just love the stadium. I love the energy it carries. The 'Hayward Magic' is totally real, I am a full believer in that," Rogers said. "Knowing that there's going to be a very high level of competition makes it all the more exciting because it really motivates you to be there and be your best self on the day.
"I think it'll be a lot of fun, and it's a renowned meet for a reason. It brings in the best of the best. It attracts some of the biggest track fans in the world and is just an exciting place to be in. I can't wait."
Rogers is the top-ranked hammer thrower in the world, but she'll face a stiff test from a pair of top-ranked Americans in Eugene. Brooke Andersen, ranked second in the world, won a world title at Hayward Field in 2022, while No. 4-ranked Annette Nneka Echikunwoke was the silver medallist at Paris 2024.
WATCH | Rogers 'excited' to compete at Prefontaine Classic 50th anniversary:
Camryn Rogers 'excited' to compete at Prefontaine Classic 50th anniversary
19 hours ago
Duration 0:32
On the men's side, the 23-year-old Katzberg has looked impressive so far this season, winning all five events he's entered. He also has the season's best throw: an 82.73-metre mark that won the Nanaimo, B.C., native the Kip Keino Classic title in Nairobi at the end of May.
Joining Katzberg in competition on Saturday is Canadian teammate Rowan Hamilton, of Chilliwack, B.C. The 25-year-old won an NCAA title in hammer throw in 2024 and finished ninth at that year's Paris Olympics.
Mitton looks to get back on track
The Prefontaine Classic also offers the chance to capture some crucial Diamond League points, which are especially important for Canada's Sarah Mitton.
The Brooklyn, N.S., native entered the season on a high note, capturing a second consecutive World Indoor women's shot put title this past spring.
However, the defending Diamond League Final winner has fourth and fifth-place finishes in her first two stops on the circuit.
Mitton – who owns the Canadian record of 20.68m – enters competition in Eugene coming off a strong showing at the Royal City Inferno Track and Field Festival in Guelph, Ont. She won that event on June 18 with a throw of 20.35m.
Watch all the action from every Diamond League meet on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. Click here for the full broadcast schedule.
Olympic men's pole vault champion Mondo Duplantis will also be in action in Eugene. The Swedish star recently improved upon his own world record at the Diamond League meet in Stockholm last month (6.28m) and will face Paris 2024 silver medallist Sam Kendricks in Saturday's competition.
Not to be outdone, the track events will also feature a who's who of elite global talent at Hayward Field.
The women's 100m will see Olympic champion Julien Alfred of Lucia line up against a pair of top American sprinters: Olympic silver medallist Sha'Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.
The men's 100m will also be big draw: Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson of Jamaica, Americans Christian Colemna and Trayvon Bromell, and Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain are among the field of sprinters.
The men's 200m is headlined by Olympic champion Letsile Tobogo of Botswana and Grand Slam Track champion Kenny Bednarek of the U.S.
The signature event of the Prefontaine Classic will also have plenty of excitement around it in 2025. The Bowerman Mile (named after legendary University of Oregon coach Bob Bowerman) has attracted top middle distance runners like Norwegian Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Americans Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse.
The women's 400m will mark the Prefontaine Classic debut of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning Olympic champion and current 400m hurdles world record-holder. McLaughlin-Levrone is the first track athlete to break more than four world records in the same event.
Canadian Para athletes ready to shine
This year's Prefontaine Classic will also include four Para sport events, two of which will feature Canadian athletes.
Toronto's Marissa Papaconstantinou will compete in the Para mixed classification 100m, while Nandini Sharma, of Brampton, Ont., will race in the Para athletics 800m T54 event.