The 2025 Diamond League season has delivered one electric meet after another, offering fans around the globe a front-row seat to some of track and field’s finest moments.
From Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s relentless reign in the 400m hurdles to Cole Hocker’s breathtaking mile in Zurich, this year’s circuit has been anything but ordinary. Now, the action shifts to Eugene, Oregon, for the 50th Prefontaine Classic on July 5, but with superstar Noah Lyles absent, can the famed meet still live up to its hype?
Olympic legend Donovan Bailey certainly thinks so.
Bailey, speaking passionately on his YouTube channel, praised the Prefontaine Classic.
“the prominent meet in North America… a must-watch for any track and field fan, anyone who wants to see what professional track and field should look like.”
Often dubbed a “mini Olympics”, the meet boasts a hefty budget and a deep, world-class lineup that consistently draws the sport’s biggest names. From Julien Alfred to Mondo Duplantis, the Prefontaine Classic’s tradition of elite showdowns continues.
However, this year’s edition faces a notable void. Noah Lyles, the Paris 2024 Olympic 100m champion with a personal best of 9.79 seconds, won’t be on the starting blocks in Eugene. The American sprint star is recovering from a minor ankle injury picked up in April, while another global headliner, Ryan Crouser, has also withdrawn, skipping the outdoor season altogether.
Yet, as Bailey and many insiders point out, the meet’s brilliance doesn’t hinge on a single athlete.
The men’s 100m remains one of the marquee events, with Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, fresh off a blistering 9.75-second performance, leading a stacked field. He’ll square off against American Trayvon Bromell (season’s best 9.84) and Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, setting the stage for a possible upset and breakout moment. Beyond the sprints, Athing Mu-Nikolayev is set to headline a competitive women’s 800m, while Germany’s Malaika Mihambo leads a star-studded long jump contest.
This ability to maintain world-class fields despite absences is what cements the Prefontaine Classic’s status as a cornerstone of the track and field calendar. And with the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo rapidly approaching, Eugene’s meet is a proving ground.
London Calling
While he may be sidelined from the Prefontaine Classic, Noah Lyles isn’t slowing down. The 27-year-old sprint king is targeting a return at the London Athletics Meet on July 19, a venue that’s been the scene of some of his career-defining runs. Earlier this season, Lyles opened his outdoor campaign with a personal best 45.87 in the 400m, signaling sharp form ahead of a crucial summer.
London holds special significance for Lyles. In 2023, he scorched to a 200m season’s best of 19.47 there, outpacing Letsile Tebogo in a riveting duel. A year later, he delivered a career-best 9.81 in the 100m at the same venue, a mark he bettered to 9.79 en route to Olympic gold in Paris.
Now, as he eyes the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, Lyles hopes to use his London outing as a springboard, sending a clear message to his rivals. With four individual world titles and one of the fastest 200m times in history (19.31), the American sprinter’s dominance shows no signs of waning.
The Prefontaine Classic is a celebration of the sport’s rich legacy and its electrifying present. And come July 5, expect new storylines, unexpected victories, and perhaps a glimpse of Tokyo’s future champions.
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