Posted: June 11, 2007

Athletics: Tegenkamp, Komen, Symmonds wow Hayward Field crowd at Nike Prefontaine Classic

EUGENE, Ore.- 2007 USA Indoor 3,000m champion Matt Tegenkamp set an American record in front of a standing room only crowd Sunday at the 2007 Nike Prefontaine Classic at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., which is the fourth event of USA Track & Field's 2007 Outdoor Visa Championship Series. Tegenkamp finished third in men's two mile race in the American record time of 8 minutes 7.07 seconds, which betters the previous American standard of 8:11.48 set here in 2005 by Alan Webb. Tegenkamp was led to the finish line by Australia's Craig Mottram, who won the race in 8:03.50, which is the sixth-fastest performance all-time in the two-mile. Ethiopia's Tariku Bekele was the runner-up in 8:04.83, which is the eighth-fastest time ever. Komen wins amazing Bowerman Mile Kenyan Daniel K. Komen ran the fastest time ever on American soil to win the signature event of the Nike Prefontaine Classic, the Bowerman Mile. In a race that saw nine competitors finish under the 4-minute barrier, Komen was victorious in a blistering time of 3 minutes 48.28 seconds, which is the fastest time in the world this year. Two-time Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat was the runner-up in 3:50.56, which is the fastest time by an American this season. Symmonds simmers in front of home crowd In the most crowd-pleasing performance of the day, Oregon Track Club member and Eugene resident Nick Symmonds came from fifth place off the final turn, and with a furious kick down the main straightaway, grabbed the lead just in front of the finish line to win the men's 800 meters. The reigning USA Indoor 800m champion, whose star is ascending quickly, Symmonds winning time of 1 minute 44.54 seconds is the second-fastest time in the world this season. Russia's Yuriy Borzakovskiy was the runner-up in 1:44.71 and U.S. champion Khadevis Robinson was third in 1:44.99. Richards wins season debut In her first competition of the season, 2006 World Athlete of the Year Sanya Richards was victorious in the women's 400 meters in 50.74 seconds. Although Richards held on for the win, Mary Wineberg made a furious charge at the finish before finishing second in 50.95 seconds. 2004 Olympic relay gold medalist Monique Henderson was third in 51.43. The women's 1,500 meters provided the two fastest times in the world this year and the fastest time by an American this season. Ethiopia's Gelete Berka was hardly challenged in winning the race in the fastest time in the world this year of 4 minutes 0.48 seconds. Yuliya Chizhenko-Fomenko of Russia was the runner-up in the second-fastest time in the world this season of 4:02.98, and 2007 Visa champion and 2004 Olympian Shalane Flanagan posted the fastest time by an American this season in the new personal best clocking of 4:05.86. Carter comes from behind to win competitive men's 200m In a race that was in doubt until the finish, men's 100m world record holder Asafa Powell came off the final turn in the lead before being passed by reigning U.S. Outdoor 200m champion Wallace Spearmon, who held the lead until passed by eventual winner Xavier Carter with roughly 15 meters to go. Carter, who entered this season ranked #2 in the world, won the race in 20.23 seconds, with Spearmon second in 20.25. Powell finished in third place in 20.55. Mutola continues to amaze! Maria Mutola of Mozambique, who has been ranked in the top ten in the world a record 16 consecutive years, continued her amazing string of success at the Pre Classic with yet another win in the time of 1 minute 58.33 seconds, which is the fastest time in the world this year. For Mutola, it was her 15th consecutive win at the Pre Classic, where she is undefeated. Jamaica's Kenia Sinclair was the runner-up in 1:58.61. Americans Alice Schmidt (1:58.75) and Hazel Clark (1:59.60) were third and fourth respectively. In the women's 400m hurdles, Melaine Walker of Jamaica set a new Prefontaine Classic meet record and posted the fastest time in the world this year with her winning time of 54.14 seconds. Her time bettered the previous meet record of 55.10 by Tonja Buford-Bailey from 1996. 2004 Olympian and 2006 U.S. national runner-up Sheena Johnson was second in 54.44. Xiang wins men's 110m hurdles Olympic champion and world record holder Liu Xiang of China was the winner in the men's 110m hurdles, but received a scare in the process. American record holder Dominique Arnold held a slight lead before clipping the sixth hurdle and hitting the seventh hurdle, which caused him to lose his rhythm and stop. Xiang went on to win in 13.23 seconds, with Anwar Moore the runner-up in 13.24. A tight battle down the stretch was waged in the men's 400 meters between Gary Kikaya of The Congo and American LaShawn Merritt. Kikaya, who entered the 2007 season ranked #2 in the world, managed to grab the lead with 15 meters to go and hold on for the win in 44.98 seconds. Merritt, who won here last year, was the runner-up in 45.17 seconds, and 2000 Olympic 400m hurdles gold medalist Angelo Taylor was third in 45.23. Edwards wins women's 100 meters convincingly The highly anticipated women's 100m match-up was decided at the midway point when 2003 world champion Torri Edwards took full command before leading the field to the finish in 11.10 seconds. Muna Lee was the runner-up in 11.21 seconds, with reigning world 200m champion Allyson Felix third in 11.27 and 2005 World Outdoor champion Lauryn Williams fourth in 11.30. Perry edges Powell in women's hudles The world's best women's 100m hurdler passed a stiff test Sunday when Michelle Perry passed reigning USA Outdoor Champion Ginnie Powell coming off the final hurdle and hung on for the win in the second-fastest time in the world this year of 12.51 seconds. Perry was the runner-up in 12.58 seconds, with Lolo Jones third in 12.80. Koech sets Hayward Field record Paul Koech of Kenya, who ended the last two seasons ranked #2 in the world in the men's steeplechase, dominated that event with a new Hayward Field record time of 8 minutes 8.8 seconds. Koech's performance is the second best in the world this year and bettered the previous facility record of 8:12.39 set by Kenyan Henry Rono in 1978. Josh McAdam's runner-up time of 8:21.36 is the fastest by an American this year. In other events, the men's 100 meters was won by Darrel Brown of Trinidad, who crossed the finish line in 10.42 seconds. Leroy Dixon was the runner-up in 10.49 seconds, with Mark Jelks third in the identical time. The race was run into a 2.1 meters per second headwind. Cantwell wins competitive men's shot put over Hoffa The men's shot put was won by 2004 World Indoor champion and 2007 Indoor Visa Championship Series champion Christian Cantwell, whose winning throw of 21.83 meters/71 feet 7.50 inches, is the third best in the world this outdoor season. World #1 Reese Hoffa was the runner-up with a best toss of 21.65m/71-0.50, which is fifth-best globally this outdoor season. In other field events, Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic won the women's javelin with a throw of 65.20 meters/213 feet 11 inches. American record holder Kim Kreiner was the runner-up with a toss of 58.82m/213-11. Reigning USA Outdoor champion Tora Harris won the men's high jump on fewer misses with a clearance of 2.30m/7-6.50. 2006 NCAA champion Jesse Williams was the runner-up with an identical clearance. The men's pole vault was won by Mexico's Giovanni Lanaro (5.80m/19-0.25) and Uzebekistan's Anastasiya Zharaviyeva won the women's triple jump with a measurement of 13.64m/44-9. For more information on the 2007 Nike Prefontaine Classic and USATF's Visa Championship Series, visit USATF.org. Nike Prefontaine Classic quotes The following are quotes from the 2007 Nike Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore. Women's 400 Meter Hurdles Melanie Walker (Jamaica) "It was great. It's a good feeling right now to know I have the fastest time in the world." "I'll just continue to work hard, get my legs down and get my time to around 53." Men's 100 Meters Darrel Brown (Trinidad) "To me the time was too slow, but I feel ok about the race." "The race was pretty ok, but the time was shocking. I was expecting faster." Women's Javelin Barbora Spotakova (Czech Republic) "I had some problems with the approach because it's usually different than in Europe. I'm glad I changed the approach and made it shorter. "Usually my first throw is my best, but today it was different. I've never thrown from such a short approach." "I had to fight because of Kim Kreiner, but I'm happy with my result." "The throw is one meter below my personal best." Men's Steeplechase Paul Koech (Kenya) "I'm happy with the time." "I'm happy that I broke the stadium record here. I have a lot of work to do for the rest of the season." Men's 800 Meters Nick Symmonds (USA) "I think when I was a kid I just wanted to race. I never dreamed I would win a race like this." "I didn't fall over at 600 meters so I knew I could make it." "I must have been a serious underdog." "My goal is to be my coach's greatest athlete." "Eugene is the best place in the world to train." "I want to be the 800 dynasty guy, a force to be reckoned with." Women's 100 Meter Hurdles Michelle Perry (USA) " The race felt good. The blocks were a bit different, but I have to get used to it for nationals. "I wasn't as strong at the end and the first three hurdles, but the middle was good." "I was off for two weeks, but I came back strong and am overjoyed about the win." "The US Championship shouldn't be as difficult." "I'm happy to be healthy and doing well." Men's 110 Meter Hurdles Lui Xiang (China) "I do not pay attention to the other runners. I felt them coming up on me." "I am pleased with my time." Women's 100 Meters Torri Edwards (USA) "I feel pretty good about my performance considering the conditions." "I want to take the first position in the 100 and do well in the 200." "I felt really good at my first race this season. To open with 10.90 was great." "I'm taking it one step at a time. I want to make the team and go to worlds." Men's 400 Meters Gary Kikaya (Congo) "The race went good considering the weather." "I'm just glad because I came out to win. I'm not used to the conditions." "My time was decent. Under 45 seconds is fine. It was a technical race and everyone is capable." Men's Two-Miles Craig Mottram (Australia) "I'll go in as the underdog (to worlds) and hopefully surprise a few people at the worlds." "We'll just keep doing more of the same." "I could have done better. I wanted to do better. There is always room for improvement." Women's 400 Meters Sanya Richards (USA) "I'm happy the first is out of the way." "My training is right where it needs to be." "I love to be the best at what I do." "I feel so comfortable because I have been running for so long." "I'm going to double at nationals to prepare for the Olympics." Women's 800 Meters Maria Mutola (Mozambique) "I enjoyed running and winning." "I think I ran a perfect race today." "Every year I just want to come back and start my season at the Prefontaine Classic. "Each Prefontaine means more to me, and I'd like to come back next year and win again." "I'm retiring next year, but I'll keep running just for fun." Men's 200 Meters Xavier Carter (USA) "I'm used to running two to three races a weekend like I did in college." "I blame myself for starting the season slow. Now it's like I'm punishing myself getting into shape." "I've just been training, running races to get into shape. They counted me out." "I'm just preparing myself for worlds." "It was a little windy at the start. I just tried to pull on through." Bowerman Men's Mile Daniel K. Komen (Kenya) "My time was great." "I thought I could run 3:48."