In 2024 Christian Coleman stormed to victory in the 100m at the iconic meet, marking just his third race of the season.
Now, returning to Eugene amid a rocky campaign, he’s refusing to let a string of sub-par finishes weigh him down.
Christian Coleman is back at Hayward Field , and while his 2025 season hasn’t unfolded the way he might have hoped, the American sprint star is banking on the “Hayward Magic” to turn things around at the Prefontaine Classic this weekend.
“I mean, for me, I really feel like the Hayward Magic is real,” Coleman told reporters during a pre-race press conference on July 4.
“We’re able to just feel the fans and the support right there, you know, close and right up on the track. And then I think it’s just a fast track in general.”
That sentiment might be what fuels him on Saturday as he chases a historic milestone. A win would make Coleman only the second man after Justin Gatlin (2012–2014) to claim a Prefontaine Classic 100m three-peat — and it would be his fourth career Pre Classic title overall.
Calm Amid the Pressure
Despite having yet to win a race in seven 100m outings this season, with a silver finish as his best result, Coleman remains unfazed.
“My mentality is just getting out my own way, getting out there, executing, relaxing, having some fun, and putting the race out there that I know I’m capable of,” he said.
“And I’ll be just fine.”
Beyond chasing his own place in Prefontaine Classic history, Coleman faces one of the deepest and most in-form sprint fields of the year.
Stacked Field Awaits Coleman’s Challenge
The 100m lineup at this year’s Prefontaine Classic is nothing short of world-class. Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson arrives in red-hot form, fresh off a world-leading time to claim his national title. Fellow Jamaican Ackeem Blake has also dipped under the 10-second mark this season.
American rival Trayvon Bromell surged to a world-leading 9.84s at the Rome Diamond League in June, while Australian sprint sensation Lachlan Kennedy broke the 10-second barrier for the first time in May, becoming the second Australian ever to do so. Adding further depth is South Africa’s teenage prodigy Bayanda Walaza, who shattered his country’s U20 record and narrowly missed the world junior record earlier this season.
It’s a daunting lineup for anyone, but Coleman isn’t letting that alter his plan.
“I think it’ll be a really big breakthrough for me,” he added.
Coleman’s relaxed, confident attitude in the face of a tough season and a stacked field speaks volumes about his belief in both himself and this storied venue.
And if Christian Coleman gets it right on race day, the magic he talks about might just deliver one more dazzling performance.