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Oregon Track and Field: Prefontaine Classic Moving To Stanford For 2019

By Justin Phillips

EUGENE, OR - MAY 26: Celliphine Chepteek Chespol of Ethiopia jumps in the water pit during the 3000m Steeplechase during the 2017 Prefontaine Classic Diamond Leagueat Hayward Field on May 26, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - MAY 26: Celliphine Chepteek Chespol of Ethiopia jumps in the water pit during the 3000m Steeplechase during the 2017 Prefontaine Classic Diamond Leagueat Hayward Field on May 26, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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The Prefontaine Classic, a summer ritual in Eugene for Track and Field fans will have a new home for 2019.

With the rebuild of Hayward Field underway, one of the traditional summer track and field events will take place outside of the State of Oregon. The Prefontaine Classic, named after former U of O Distance runner Steve Prefontaine, will be held at Stanford on June 30th.

The Prefontaine Classic will be away from Eugene for the first time since its inception in 1973. The goal back then was to help raise funds to replace the West Grandstand, at the time. It was named the Bowerman Classic in 1975, but changed after Steve Prefontaine’s death to honor him.

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Typically the event occurs over several days and has distance and field events. For 2019 it will be held at Stanford at Cobb Track and Angell field. It will be a one-day event. There may be some throwing events this year, but the decision of when or where they would be held, possibly off site has yet to be determined according to Meet Director Tom Jordan.

The Diamond League event will once again bring the best in Track and Field to compete including Olympic level athletes.

The one day event will be again televised by NBC. It is the only Diamond League event held in the United States each year and fans of Track and Field should be happy that event coordinators found a way to host the event rather than have to cancel it with the Hayward Field rebuild.

Hayward Field is expected to be completed in time for the 2020 season. Oregon will be set to host the 2020 Olympic Trials and the IAAF World Outdoor Track and Feld Championships in 2021. The Prefontaine Classic will return to Eugene next season.