Women's
continued from page 2C
4:05.59 in her country.
Three other national record
holders will challenge Favor
Hamilton, who recorded a lifetime
best of 3:57.40 in 2000. They
include Mexico’s Dulce Maria
Rodriguez (4:06.12), Canada’s Leah
Pells (4:03.56), and Jamaica’s
Mardrea Hyman (4:05.25).
The race should prove nothing
short of monumental as Favor
Hamilton has been a part of some of
the closest races in Pre history. In
1991, she won a photo finish against
PattieSue Plumer and lost by mere
millimeters to Romania’s Gabriela
Szabo nine years later.
The Pre meet should prove to be
more than just track events as the
high jump field ranks among the
best to ever step on Hayward field in
the 29-year history of the Classic.
Kajsa Bergqvist of Sweden is the
definite favorite after clearing the
two-meter mark 10 times last year,
which equals the total of every other
high jumper in the world combined.
The 26-year-old is ranked No. 1
by Track and Field News and has
back-to-back World Indoor
Championships on her resume. If
Bergqvist can clear 6-6 3/4, her
. personal best, it would better the
meet record by 3/4 of an inch.
Amy Acuff, who set that record,
will attempt to hold it as she joins
the crowd along with Tisha Waller,
No. 1 in the U.S., to provide another
star-studded event.
Emerald
Suzy Favor Hamilton (103) will run at the Pre for the first time since 2001.
“Overall, the women are stronger
than the men and it has never been
that way,” Jordan said.
World recordholder Stacy Dragila
will attempt to again win the pole
vault event as Australia’s Olympic
Gold Medalist Cathy Freeman is a
favorite in the 400 meters. Yet, Mex
ico’s Ana Guevara, who was recently
ranked No. 1 in the world by Track
& Field News and in the IAAF World
Rankings, could contest that position.
Contact the sports reporter
at jessethomas@dailyemerald.com.
Freeman
continued from page 2C
feelings. I was worrying about
whether I still had it or not. I was
asking myself what the hell I really
wanted to do.”
In that five years, Freeman has
faced her fair share of challenges.
She took off the entire 2001 cam
paign, then was beset by a stress
reaction in her tibia at the outset
of 2002. But that didn’t even come
close to being her biggest chal
lenge last year.
Her husband, Sandy Bodecker,
was diagnosed with throat cancer in
May. Freeman, who lit the Olympic
torch at the 2000 Sydney games, de
cided to sit out while he received ra
diation treatments.
Months later, it was determined
that Bodecker, an executive with
Nike in Portland, was free of the
problem. He had already convinced
her to go back and compete, but for
Freeman, it was a relief.
“She’s a fantastic competitor,”
Track and Field News statistician
Dan Lilot said. “It’s exciting to see
if she can come back to the suc
cess she had in 2000. She’s hugely
talented. But she didn’t reach the
top overnight.”
The last time Freeman participat
ed in the Prefontaine, she nipped
the competition in the 400, finish
ing in 50.02. It set the Prefontaine
and Hayward Field record at the
time, one that still stands today.
But, according to Lilot, it will
take a supreme effort for Freeman
to take first Saturday. Also run
ning will be Ana Guevara of Mexi
co, this year’s No. 1-ranked runner
in the event.
Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal
is also competing, setting up an
impressive eight-competitor list in
the event.
“The Prefontaine meet is the only
place in the U.S. where you can see
that kind of matchup,” Lilot said.
Nevertheless, having Freeman
back in the Prefontaine fold is a
welcome sight for meet Director
Tom Jordan.
“Cathy Freeman transcends
track and field,” he said. “She’s been
seen by more people on the face of
the Earth. And it’s like having a
celebrity here.”
Freeman begins her run to Pre
fontaine immortality Saturday at
2:45 p.m.
As Lilot said, don’t blink. “You
might miss it.”
Contact the sports reporter
at hankhager@dailyemerald.com.
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