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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Organizers pull the plug on 2020 Prefontaine Classic

Credit: KEZI
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Organizers pull the plug on 2020 Prefontaine Classic
Organizers pull the plug on 2020 Prefontaine Classic

The world’s top track and field athletes will not compete in the newly renovated Hayward Field this year, as the 2020 Prefontaine Classic has been canceled.

The prefontaine classic was originally scheduled for the first weekend in june at the new hayward field.

It was tentatively postponed to october in an effort to wait out the worldwide covid-19 health crisis.

Well, that waiting is now over, as organizers have canceled the event indefinitely.

Kezi 9 sports reporter robbie fuelling has the details on that decision.

Cornelious berry: "besides football, this is like the next biggest thing.

Track in the community right here in eugene."

Except, at least for now, sports fans will have to wait until 2021 for the next opportunity to witness the world's greatest track and field athletes compete in the newly renovated hayward field.

Cornelious berry: "it was kind of just like a bummer because everyone was anticipating the grand opening.

Obviously."

One eugene resident told me the pre classic has been an annual affair for the past decade.

"i've been attending every prefontaine competition for the past 10 years.

It's always in may, which is when my birthday is.

So prefontaine has been a special event for my birthday."

So many factors went into making this difficult decision.

We reached out to meet organizer tom jordan and are still awaiting a response.

Robbie fuelling: "as we've seen throughout our newscasts, coronavirus is still very much a threat.

It's clear that even had organizers decided to go forward with the pre classic, a meet this year under would not have resembled the atmosphere and excellence this community has come to expect."

The pac-12 championships, the u.s. olympic team trials and now the prefontaine classic.

Three of the most anticipated events this summer...all wiped away in 2020.

But the trio of events will be back in full force next year.

Reporting in eugene robbie

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