Posted: May 4, 2006

Athletics: Gold Medalists Lead The Throws At Pre

Eugene, Oregon--Discus legend Virjilijus Alekna of Lithuania and shot put favorite Adam Nelson of the United States bring their extensive medal hauls to Hayward Field on Sunday, May 28th for the 32nd annual Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix.

Alekna is the gold medalist from the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and the 2003 and 2005 World Championships.

Nelson is the reigning World Champion in the shot put, claiming the gold medal in Helsinki after silver medal performances in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and 2001 and 2003 World Championships.

In the women's hammer, American Recordholder Erin Gilreath will square off against two other National Recordholders, and the winner is guaranteed a Meet Record, as this will be the inaugural womens hammer throw held at the Prefontaine Classic.

Alekna, the 2.00 meter (6-6 3/4) behemoth, has done it all in his seven years at the top. In addition to the four gold medals, the 34-year-old has the second and third longest discus throws in history. He will be pushed by 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Aleksandr Tammert of Estonia, and Americas best, Ian Waltz and Jarred Rome, ranked respectively Nos. 8 and 9 in the world last year by Track & Field News magazine.

Nelson brings his crowd-pleasing energy back to Hayward Field, where he will face a field of great throwers who are throwing great: 2006 World Indoor Champion Reese Hoffa of the U.S., 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Joachim Olsen of Denmark, and 2006 world-leader (72-6 1/4/22.10) Christian Cantwell of the United States.

Gilreath's main competition will come from Croatian recordholder Ivana Brkljacic and Canadian recordholder Jennifer Joyce, along with Americans Bethany Hart and Loree Smith, ranked Nos. 2 & 4 in the U.S. last year by Track & Field News.

Tickets for the 2006 Prefontaine Classic are on sale in-person at the UO Athletic Department Ticket Office, by phone from 1-800-WEBFOOT, and online at www.goducks.com.

SHOT PUT (MEN)
Adam Nelson
Joachim Olsen (Denmark)
Reese Hoffa
Christian Cantwell
Dan Taylor

DISCUS THROW (MEN)
Virgilijus Alekna (Lithuania)
Aleksandr Tammert (Estonia)
Ian Waltz 
Jarred Rome
Jason Tunks (Canada)

HAMMER THROW (WOMEN)
Erin Gilreath
Ivana Brkljacic (Croatia)
Bethany Hart
Jennifer Joyce (Canada)
Loree Smith

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