t-and-f: Prefontaine Classic Mile

[T. Jordan]

May 14, 2001
For Immediate Release



                                        PRE CLASSIC MILE FIELD HEATS UP

        Eugene, Oregon--Headlined by world recordholder HICHAM EL GUERROUJ of Morocco, the Mile field in the Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix on May 27th was strengthened further by the addition of two more of the world's top 10 milers.
        BERNARD LAGAT of Kenya, ranked No. 3 in the world last year by Track & Field News magazine, and KEVIN SULLIVAN of Canada, ranked No. 5 in the world, have entered the Bowerman Mile in the Pre Classic.  Lagat is the bronze medalist from the 2000 Olympic Games and Sullivan finished 5th in Sydney.  Last year, Lagat had a 1500 best of 3:28.51, equivalent to a mile in 3:45.3, and Sullivan had a best of 3:31.71, equal to a 3:48.6 mile.  That order was reversed this past weekend at the Osaka Grand Prix, where Sullivan held off Lagat down the homestretch for a 3:38.42 to 3:39.17 victory.  Third in that race in 3:39.71, DANIEL ZEGEYE of Ethiopia, is also entered in the Bowerman Mile. 
        In what is truly an international field, El Guerrouj, Lagat, Sullivan, and Zegeye will be joined by Americans SENECA LASSITER, BRYAN BERRYHILL, JASON PYRAH, and prep sensation ALAN WEBB.  From Great Britain will come their best, JOHN MAYOCK, who ran 3:50.61 for the mile last year.  From Brazil, it's their No. 1 middle distance runner HUDSON DE SOUZA (3:53.74 last year);  from Somalia, IBRAHIM ADEN  (3:54.5);  and from Uganda, JULIUS ACHON (3:52.8), winner of the Brasil de Atletismo Grand Prix on May 6 in Rio de Janeiro. 
        With the addition of Lagat, Sullivan, et al, it is safe to say that the field for the Bowerman Mile is the best in terms of quality of any invitational track meet held in the United States in at least the past 35 years.


                                        WORLD'S NO. 1 VS. AMERICA'S NO. 1

        Eugene, Oregon--Ranked No. 1 in the world last year by Track & Field News magazine, high jumper KAJSA BERGQVIST of Sweden will make her first appearance in the Prefontaine Classic on May 27th.  The 24-year-old had twice as many 2-meter (6-6 3/4) jumps as anyone else in the world last year, and captured the bronze medal in Sydney. She has continued her success in 2001, winning the gold medal in the World Indoor Championships in Lisbon in March.  Bergqvist, who jumped collegiately for Southern Methodist, will face America's hottest jumper and a familiar foe, AMY ACUFF, who competed for UCLA.  Acuff is fresh off a win at the Osaka Grand Prix with a jump of 6-5 (1.96), matching her indoor best at the World Championships, where she finished 4th.  Also in the field is the best collegian this year, DORA GY�RFFY of Harvard, who finished 5th at the World Indoor for her native Hungary, and Canadian NICOLE FORRESTER, who has a best of 6-4 (1.93).
        The Meet Record in the Prefontaine High Jump is 6-5 (1.96) set way back in 1982 by Debbie Brill of Canada.

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