Report: 2025 Prefontaine Classic - Eugene Diamond League
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A historic evening unfolded at Hayward Field as Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon delivered unforgettable performances at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. In front of a packed crowd, Chebet became the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier in the 5000m, while Kipyegon lowered her own world record in the 1500m. These were the headline acts of a meet packed with world leads, personal bests, national records, and thrilling head-to-head battles across disciplines.
Women’s 5000 Metres: Chebet Makes History
Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet broke the world record in the women’s 5000 metres with a groundbreaking time of 13:58.06, becoming the first woman ever to run under 14 minutes. The previous world record of 14:00.21 was set by Gudaf Tsegay on the same track during the 2023 Diamond League Final.
Chebet also set a world record at last year’s Prefontaine Classic in the 10,000m with a time of 28:54.14, becoming the first woman under 29 minutes.
Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich finished second in 14:01.29, now the third-fastest time in history, while Tsegay placed third in 14:04.31.
Beatrice Chebet: “I'm so happy. After running 14:03 in Rome, I said I’m capable of a world record. When I came to Eugene, I came prepared. If Faith is trying, why not me? I'm proud to be the first woman under 14 minutes.”
Women’s 1500 Metres: Kipyegon Lowers Her Own World Record
Three-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon delivered another masterclass, clocking 3:48.68 to break her own world record of 3:49.04 set in Paris in 2024. It was the second world record of the meet.
Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji ran a personal best of 3:51.44 to finish second, followed by Australia’s Jessica Hull in 3:52.67. Other strong performances included Georgia Bell Hunter (3:54.76), Nikki Hiltz (3:55.96), and Sarah Healy (3:57.20).
Faith Kipyegon: “I knew it was possible. I prepared for something special. I’m just so grateful—to God, my coach, and my team. This is an incredible moment.”
Men’s 400 metres hurdles:
Alison Dos Santos won a close head-to-head race in the men’s 400 metres hurdles in a seasonal best of 46.65 holding off Olympic champion Raj Benjamin (46.71). Dos Santos returns to the Hayward Field track where he won the world title in 2022. Ezekiel Nethaniel from Nigeria finished third in 47.88 three weeks after winning the NCAA title in 47.49 on the same track. Trevor Bassitt finished fourth in 48.29 ahead of Abderrahman Samba (48.76).
Alison Dos Santos: "I'm just really excited and proud of the race. I know a bunch of things could be better, could be different but I want more, so I'm excited for the next one. I think about every single session that I did before, how hard it was to finish the session and remind myself that I can finish strong. I think we are not going to stop over here. We're going to keep trying to get better, to grow faster and just keep the expectation high because we're working. I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing right now: working on myself, keeping healthy, eating well and resting”
Women’s 100 metres:
Olympic bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson Wooden won a very close women’s 100 metres race in 10.75 into a headwind of -1.5 m/s edging Olympic champion Julien Alfred (10.77). Marie Josée Ta Lou Smith continued her consistent season by finishing third in 10.90 ahead of Tina Clayton (11.02), Favour Ofili (11.09) and Dina Asher Smith (11.14).
Jacious Sears won the invitational race in 10.85 (+1.7 m/s).
Melissa Jefferson Wooden: "I'm showing up everyday for myself even on the days where it's hard and just trying to stay focused on being disciplined and becoming a better athlete, so I'm happy to see that out here today knowing that I'm gonna come out here three weeks later and try to do the same thing and more. I've been saying it time and time again, I'm here to stay. The goal is not just to be in these races, but to go out there and compete, execute, dominate and win. I feel like I started this year off doing a pretty good job of that and I'm just going to keep that train going
Men’s 100 metres:
Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson stormed to a win in the men’s 100 metres in 9.85 beating Zharnel Hughes (9.91), Trayvon Bromell (9.94) and Brandon Hickliin (9.98).
Kishane Thompson: "It was a fierce competition, they run me to the line. I'm really appreciative of it, it will help me to get better, step by step, and vice versa for everyone. It's work, mental and physical. And you got to trust yourself, trust the process, trust the team, trust the coach, and so forth.. It's an amazing crowd. I didn't know so many people over here actually knew me."
Men’s 200 metres:
Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo set a world leading time of 19.76 to win his second Diamond League race this season. Courtney Lindsey from the USA placed second in 19.87 ahead of Alexander Ogando (19.94), Robert Gregory (20.04) and Jereem Richards (20.23).
Letsile Tebogo: For me, this is the tip of an iceberg...the 19.7 is a shock to me because we just recovered from an injury which took a lot of weeks of training, so I'm happy with how I performed today. I believe in showing up and those losses from the first Diamond Leagues, they built my character into a very confident man. A great atmosphere and I'm happy to see my fellow citizens up in the stands."
Men’s Bowerman Mile:
Niels Laros came from behind to edge Yared Nuguse and claim the win the Bowerman Mile win in a national record of 3:45.94. Nuguse finished one hundredth of a second behind in 3:45.95. Azeddine Habz set a French record of 3:46.65 to finish ahead Olympic 1500m champion Cole Hocker (3:47.43), Reynold Cheruiyot (3:47.46), Cameron Myers (3:47.50) and Timothy Cheruiyot (3:47.71). Jake Wightman improved his PB to 3:47.82 on the track where he won the world 1500m title in 2022.
Niels Laros: “I feel great, you saying 'winner of the Bowerman mile' doesn't really sound real to me right now, so I'm just amazed by how the race went. I talked to my coach yesterday and because it's my opening 15 miles of the season, I wasn't so confident. He said let's see, and, I mean, winning here takes a miracle, but then he said 'but you're a special boy, so I wouldn't be surprised,' and he was right.”
Women’s 3000 metres steeplechase:
Olympic champion Winfred Yavi from Barhein won the women’s 3000 metres steeplechase setting a meeting record and a PB of 8:45.25. Faith Cherotich from Kenya finished second setting a PB of 8:48.71 ahead of 2021 Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai from Uganda (8:51.77), world champion Norah Jeruto from Kazakstan (8:59.46). Sembo Almayew from Ethiopia dipped under the 9 minutes barrier with 8:59.90.
Winfred Yavi: "I come here ready...I'm so grateful for the results. Honestly I just wanted to come execute whatever I have in the body, and I knew I was gonna be first. The plan was to come, run my own race, and dig in. I really love the crowd...they keep us going. I'm really looking forward to defending the title because I know it's going to be tough."
Women’s discus throw:
Double Olympic champion Valarie Allman broke the 11-year-old meeting record with a throw of 70.68m to win the women’s discus throw.
Valarie Allman: "Anytime you come to Hayward, it feels good and you want to put on a performance and that 70 meter mark has just been on my mind all year, so to be able to do it today at such a historic meet, I'm so grateful to get to be part of it and to put together a good series.
Men’s shot put:
Two-time world champion Joe Kovacs threw to 22.48m to win the men’s shot put over his compatriot Roger Steen, who improved his PB to 22.11m. Kovacs backed up this result with a second best mark of 22.35m. Chukwebuka Enekwechi from Nigeria improved the African record to 22.10m. Adrian Piperi set a PB of 22.09m beating Rajindra Campbell (22.04m), Payton Otterdahl (21.92m) and Leonardo Fabbri (21.71).
Joe Kovacs: "I think it's what Pre is: it's really a preview of coming to US championships here in a month. Everybody has it circled on their calendar that you gotta be ready now, so you make sure you're ready a month from now in the U.S. Championships."
Women’s shot put:
Double world champion Chase Jackson won the women’s shot put improving her own meeting record to 20.94m. Jackson narrowly missed her fresh national record by just 1 cm. Five women threw beyond the 20 metres barrier in a high-quality competition. World indoor champion Sarah Mitton finished second with 20.39m. Jaida Ross and Maddison Lee Wesche improved their PBs to 20.13m and 20.06m. European indoor and outdoor champion Jessica Schilder finished fifth with 20.03.
Women’s long jump:
Olympic champion Tara Davis Woodhall clinched the win equalling Malaika Mihambo’s world lead with 7.07m on her sixth attempt. The US star won her second Diamond League competition this season following her victory in Stockolm with 7.05m. She overtook European outdoor gold medallist Malaika Mihambo, who had taken the lead with 7.01m in the fourth round. World indoor champion Claire Bryant took third place with 6.80m in the fifth round.
Tara Davis Woodhall: That was incredible, that's what competition is about. I haven't been the last jumper in a long time, since the new order, so it was really good to have all eyes on me and put myself under that pressure. I loved it."
Men’s pole vault:
Olympic champion Armand Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.00m on his second attempt to win the men’s pole vault. Duplantis made three unsuccessful attempts at the world record height of 6.29m. Sam Kendricks cleared 5.80m on his first attempt to take second place beating Austin Miller on countback.
Armand Duplantis: “It was super beautiful, perfect weather, amazing wind and a nice little tailwind. I just really had trouble adjusting and I just couldn't really find a way to control the polls because I was going through everything so quickly, but it was super fun. I'm not going to complain about it too much. It's just nice to be back”.
Women’s 400 metres:
Sydney McLaughlin Levrone, double Olympic champion and world record holder in the 400 metres hurdles, won the women’s 400 metres in 49.43 holding off this year’s NCAA outdoor champion Aaliyah Butler (49.86). Isabella Whittaker, NCAA indoor champion last March, took third place in 50.81 ahead of Rhasiday Adeleke (51.33).
Sydney MclLaughin Levrone: "I'm feeling okay, it wasn't my best work, but just happy to be here and happy to get another race under my belt. I definitely have to go back and watch the race, probably with my first 200 just going out a little more fearlessly, trusting my fitness on the back end”
Men’s 400 metres:
Matthew Hudson Smith from Great Britain, set a seasonal best of 44.10 to win the men’s 400 metres ahead of Christopher Bailey (44.15). Jacory Patterson, winner at the Diamond League meeting in Rabat, took third place in 44.31 ahead of Khaleb McRae (44.45) and Muzala Samukonga (44.49).
Women’s 100 metres hurdles:
Ackera Nugent from Jamaica, world indoor bronze medallist in Nanjing 2025, stormed to a win in the women’s 100 metres hurdles in 12.32 ahead of world record holder Toby Amusan (12.38). Kendra Harrison took third place in 12.50 clocking the same time as Olympic gold medallist Masai Russell. Danielle Williams placed fifth in 12.51.
Women’s 800 metres:
Olympic silver medallist Tsige Duguma from Ethiopia overcame a world-class field as she clocked 1:57.10 to win the women’s Maria Mutola 800 metres ahead of world indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso from South Africa (1:57.16), Halimah Naakaayi from Uganda (1:57.89), Anais Bourgouin from France (1:58.41) and Shafiqua Maloney from St. Vincent and Grenadine (1:58.49).
Men’s 10000 metres:
Ethiopian teenager Biniam Mehary set a world lead of 26:43.92 to edge Berihu Aregawi from Ethiopia (26:43.94) in a very close men’s 10000 metres. Selemon Barega took third place with 26:44.13 ahead of Edwin Kurgat (26:46.35), Ishmael Kipkirui (26:47.72), Benson Kiplangat (26:50.00) and Stanley Waithaka (26:56.36).
Men’s discus throw:
Mykolas Alekna from Lithuania, world record holder and Olympic silver medallist in Paris 2024, threw to 70.97m in the second round to win the men’s discus throw. Ralford Mullings from Jamaica took second place with a throw of 68.98m in the third round. Alekna avenged his recent defeat against Mullings, who beat his Lithuanian rival at the NCAA Championships in the same venue.
Mykolas Alekna: “It was amazing. It's my new home, Oregon, so I love it here. The crowd is amazing. After a tough National Championships, I'm back, feeling good. Hunger is back, everything's back, and I'm ready to improve and win World's this year. I feel welcome here. I chose Oregon because it's a track town. Everyone loves track and field here, amazing coaches. I think it's all about consistency. This meet showed that I'm more consistent. I didn't foul a single throw, all of them were over 67, two over 70, so I think I'm on the right track. And I hope that leading towards Worlds, I'll get even better, more consistent over 70."
Men’s hammer throw:
Rudy Winkler won the men’s hammer throw with 83.16m in the third round setting a world lead, US Record and a Diamond League record. Ethan Katzberg threw to 81.73m in the fifth round to take second place. Mykhaylo Kokhan from Ukraine finished third with 79.27m.
Women’s hammer throw:
World and Olympic champion Camryn Rogers set a Canadian and Diamond League record of 78.88m to win the hammer throw over Brooke Andersen (76.95m).
