Each year, the world's top professional track and field athletes descend on Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, to compete at the Prefontaine Classic. Since the meet's inception, PRE has produced numerous national and world records and some of the sport's most memorable moments, including those featuring U.S. high schoolers.
This year, the all-star program includes three high schoolers who've already become all-time greats in their respective events. On Friday night, Ellery Lincoln, Jackson Spencer, and Cooper Lutkenhaus will mix it up with the world's best distance runners, while Tate Taylor headlines a stacked 200m field on Saturday.
Ellery Lincoln - Women's 1500m - Friday at 8:45 p.m. PST
This season, Ellery Lincoln ran herself into the U.S. high school girls' record books with the third-fastest mile time ever at 4:27.65.
Lincoln's junior year has been filled with all-time performances this outdoor track season, including Oregon State Championships, Oregon State Records, and junior-class national records. She's earned many of these milestones at Hayward Field, which will be her future home track after she committed to the University of Oregon at the beginning of the track season.
This Friday night, she'll test her talents in a loaded 1500m field. Salma Elbarda headlines the field after finishing as runner-up in the NCAA 1500m final. Gracie Morris, a World Athletics Indoor 1500m qualifier for Team USA, has the field's fastest season's best at 4:00.29.
Lincoln's fastest 1500m this season is 4:07.99, set at the USATF U20 Championships, where she qualified for the World Athletics U20 Championships this August.
Jackson Spencer - Men's Mile- Friday at 8:56 p.m. PST
Jackson Spencercompleted a perfect, undefeated cross country and track season during his senior year of high school.
His legendary season includes two XC national championships, three national-leading times (Mile, 3200m, and 5000m), and the U.S. #5 fastest mile time in high school history at 3:57.24.
On Friday, he'll face a loaded professional field headlined by Australian Olympian Oliver Hoare, who has a personal record of 3:47.48. Festus Lagat of Kenya has the fastest season's best this season at 3:49.46.
The High School National Record of 3:53.43 set by Alan Webb in 2001 could be under threat. He ran that HS National Record at the 2001 Prefontaine Classic.
Cooper Lutkenhaus - Men's 800m - Friday 9:07 p.m. PST
This season, Cooper Lutkenhaus has become a star on the Diamond League circuit after winning the World Athletics Indoor Championships as a high school junior.
Lutkenhaus secured his first Diamond League victory in Oslo, Norway, where he ran 1:42.08, the third-fastest 800m in American history and the fourteenth-fastest in world history.
His race on Friday will be a rematch of the insane 2025 USATF 800m final, in which he shocked the world by finishing runner-up and qualifying for the World Athletics Outdoor Championships. Donavan Brazier, Bryce Hoppel, and Brandon Miller also return, making this race a must-see.
Tate Taylor - Men's 200m - Saturday at 2:21 p.m. PST
Tate Taylorhas redefined what a U.S. high school sprinter can achieve after setting new national records in the 100m and 200m over the past two years.
He's spent his senior season competing against professional athletes and will head to Texas Tech University this fall to continue his athletic journey. Most recently, Taylor swept the USATF U20 Championships in the 100m and 200m, qualifying for the World Athletics U20 Championships.
On Saturday, Taylor will face his toughest competition yet in his first Diamond League race. The PRE Classic 200m features last year's winner, Letsile Tebogo, who has run 19.84 this season. Bryan Levell of Jamaica is also set to compete after earning bronze in last year's World Athletics 200m final.
This weekend's 200m will be a strong test for Taylor ahead of competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships this August at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
What is the Wanda Diamond League?
The Diamond League is a high-octane, world-class professional track and field series, featuring the top track & field athletes in the world. Think of it as the NBA of track & field, but with fewer dunks and more world records. It started in 2010 and has grown to become one the most exciting and prestigious series in track & field.
The Diamond League features 15 meets with the world's best competing across the globe in places like China, Doha, London, Monaco, Paris, and Eugene, Oregon. It's high stakes, with the athletes chasing points that could give them a shot at the coveted Diamond Trophy at the end of the season.
Each year, the world's top professional track and field athletes descend on Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, to compete at the Prefontaine Classic. Since the meet's inception, PRE has produced numerous national and world records and some of the sport's most memorable moments, including those featuring U.S. high schoolers.
This year, the all-star program includes three high schoolers who've already become all-time greats in their respective events. On Friday night, Ellery Lincoln, Jackson Spencer, and Cooper Lutkenhaus will mix it up with the world's best distance runners, while Tate Taylor headlines a stacked 200m field on Saturday.