The world's best are back to settle scores and chase records at the 2025 Nike Prefontaine Classic. This weekend, Hayward Field will host thrilling Olympic rematches, rising stars, and champions with more to prove. With momentum, medals, and legacies on the line, here are eight athletes we'll be watching.

Event: 100m Hurdles

@masai_russell

Masai Russell is coming in hot, bringing momentum to an already loaded 100m hurdles field. The Olympic champion made history in May when she blazed to a stunning 12.17 seconds, shattering the American record in the event. Russell's golden summer continued at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she claimed the gold medal with a dominant performance in the 100m hurdles final.

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Three of Russell's ten fastest times in the event have happened at Hayward Field – and we'll be watching for more this weekend. With her American record time sitting just behind world record holder Tobi Amusan and world No. 1 Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the 100m hurdles will feature three of the sport's biggest names competing head-to-head.

Event: 100m

@julien.alfred

Julien Alfred had a breakout 2024 season, winning the 60m gold at the World Indoor Championships before making history at the Paris Olympics, becoming the first-ever Olympic medalist for Saint Lucia with her gold medal in the 100m sprint in Paris. She even set a national record of 10.72 seconds in the final and went on to win silver in the 200m. Alfred has continued her strong form this season with a 100m win at the Stockholm Diamond League.

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At Hayward Field, she'll rematch with Paris Olympics silver medalist Sha'Carri Richardson and bronze medalist Melissa Jefferson, setting up a highly anticipated rematch of the 2024 Olympic podium.

Event: 3000m Steeplechase

@peruthchemutaii

Chemutai is a 3-time Olympian in women's 3000m steeplechase. In Tokyo, she became the first Ugandan woman ever to win an Olympic medal in any sport, beating out the race's favorites to win gold and set a national record. Chemutai followed up in Paris, winning a silver in the same event. In 2024, Chemutai won the steeplechase race in Tracktown with a time of 8:55.09, beating her own national record and running under 9 minutes for the first time.

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Chemutai is also facing an Olympic rematch with gold medalist Winfred Yavi (current world No. 1) and bronze medalist Faith Cherotich.

Event: 400m

@sydneymclaughlin16

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is back and ready to race in Eugene. The four-time Olympic gold medalist and 400m hurdles world record holder is shifting gears to the flat 400m at this weekend's Pre Classic, where she set her personal best of 48.74 in 2023 – the second-fastest time ever by an American.

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After opening her season with a smooth 49.69 in the 400m, McLaughlin-Levrone currently sits ninth in the world, but it's just the beginning. This marks her debut at Pre, and with a packed field and a fast track underfoot, all eyes will be on McLaughlin-Levrone as she chases another milestone at Hayward Field.

Event: 5,000m

@beatrice.chebet91

Beatrice Chebet, nicknamed the "smiling assassin," is the defending Olympic champion in both the 5,000m and 10,000m races. She also holds world records in the 10,000m (set at Hayward Field last year), as well as the 5km women's-only and 5km mixed races. Chebet is entering Eugene hot, having recently won the Rome Diamond League 5,000m with a time of 14:03.69 - the season's fastest time and the second fastest ever recorded by a woman over the distance.

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This weekend, Chebet will face off in a lineup with the current 5000m world record holder, Gudaf Tsegay from Ethiopia.

Event: Para Athletics 800 meters T54

@tatyanamcfaddenusa

Joining the competition in Eugene this weekend is the greatest Paralympic athlete of all time: Tatyana McFadden. The American legend brings an unmatched resume to Hayward Field with 22 Paralympic medals and 24 World Championships medals collected since her debut at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. McFadden's dominance spans every distance, holding American records in the T54 classification from 100m to 5,000m, while her five world records demonstrate her ability to push the boundaries of what is possible in Paralympic track and field.

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With over two decades of excellence at the sport's highest level, McFadden remains the standard-bearer for Paralympic racing as she takes to the track at the 50th Prefontaine Classic.

Event: Shot Put

@chaseypoosp

Chase Jackson is coming off a spectacular performance at the Iron Wood Classic, where she launched a new American record of 20.95 meters – the world's best outdoor throw since 2012. The two-time world outdoor champion improved upon her own American record of 20.76 meters, which she set at Hayward Field during her 2023 Pre Classic victory. Jackson has dominated the event in recent years, capturing back-to-back World Athletics Championships titles and consecutive Diamond Trophies.

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She'll face her toughest test yet against the complete Paris Olympics podium, including gold medalist Yemisi Ogunleye of Germany, New Zealand's silver medalist Maddison-Lee Wesche, and China's bronze medalist Jiayuan Song. With Jackson leading the world rankings and throwing at career-best levels, the women's shot put promises to be one of the strongest events at the 50th Prefontaine Classic.

Event: Long Jump

@_taarra_

Texas native Tara Davis-Woodhall is the defending Olympic long jump champion with a distance of 7.10 meters. She's returning to the event for the first time since 2022, entering as both an Olympic gold medalist and a two-time World Champion, having won both the Indoor and Outdoor World Championships. Known for her explosive power and showmanship, she continues to captivate audiences with her stellar performances.

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This weekend, Davis-Woodhall will be facing off in an exciting matchup against Malaika Mihambo and Jasmine Moore, the reigning silver and bronze medalists from the Paris 2024 Olympics.