Pre Classic draws big stars

The glamour event at the Prefontaine Classic this weekend will be the men's 100 meters featuring a showdown between Walter Dix and Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin.

No, wait, the marquee race Saturday is Carmelita Jeter taking the line against Allyson Felix in the 200.

Check that, it's got to be the men's 400 as teen sensation Kirani James of Grenada takes on American rivals LaShawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner.

And the list goes on and on.

That's actually the intriguing thing about this year's installment of Pre: There are so many attractive races containing so many of track's biggest stars — with the notable exception of Usain Bolt — that this meet may provide a sneak peek at what could be in store at the London Games.

At the very least, it will tell athletes if their training has them on the right road with the Olympics rapidly approaching.

''If I can win this race, it will be a great indicator,'' 400-meter runner Sanya Richards-Ross said.

But only a gauge. That's all.

See, Richards-Ross and the rest of the field are hardly tapered for this competition. For the Americans, that comes later this month at the US Olympic trials back here at Hayward Field.

No reason to peak too soon.

That said, no reason not to open it up on the track, either.

''My coach has backed me off a little bit so I can run really well here,'' Richards-Ross said. ''But our main goal here is to have fun and just see where I'm at.''

Not to mention check out some of the other races. It's not often a field this talented gathers so close to the Summer Games.

''Best fields ever assembled on American soil,'' meet director Tom Jordan said proudly Friday at a news conference.

Hyperbole? Maybe a little.

However, look at the entries and it's not all that much of an exaggeration.

The meet got off to a soggy start Friday night, with Americans Alysia Montano (800), Alice Schmidt (1,500) and Christian Taylor (triple jump) all winning despite competing in a steady downpour.

Germany's Betty Heidler (hammer), Croatia's Sandra Perkovic (discus), Kenya's James Kiplagat Magut (mile) and Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba (10,000) also won. Wilson Kiprop captured the men's 10,000 in a separate race to help decide the Kenyan Olympic squad.

The drizzly and cool conditions gave the meet almost a London feel.

''This (weather) is great,'' said Taylor, who edged fellow Florida Gators standout Will Claye. ''I feel like I'm on top of the world now. This is where I want to be right before trials.''

Here are some other appealing races on the docket for Saturday:

- 2004 Olympic gold medalist Liu Xiang of China going against world champion Jason Richardson and American record holder David Oliver in the 110-meter hurdles.

- Reese Hoffa, the clown prince of the shot put, leading a solid cast that includes reigning gold medalist Tomasz Majewski of Poland and Hoffa's US teammate Christian Cantwell, who holds the meet record.

- 37-year-old Bernard Lagat participating in the Bowerman Mile and facing an up-and-coming crop of runners.

- A compelling 5,000-meter race that pits Mo Farah of Britain against Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, the 2004 and `08 Olympic champ. Also in the field will be Farah's training partner and former Oregon standout, Galen Rupp.

- Dix returning to the track an hour after the 100 to run the 200 as well.

''It's crazy how many great races there are,'' Felix said. ''I'm really looking forward to the men's hurdles.''

That seems to be a popular pick. The hurdles field is dynamic, even if reigning Olympic champion Dayron Robles of Cuba had to back out because of issues securing his visa.

So, does Felix have a favorite in the hurdles?

''I can't even pick,'' Felix said. ''I love those races that are so close and you can't pick. It's anybody's race.''

The same can be said of her duel with Jeter, who holds a 3-2 lifetime advantage over Felix in the 200 despite that being Felix's signature event.

''Going to be a great race,'' said Felix, who is still pondering whether to pair another event — either the 100 or 400 — with the 200 at US trials. ''It's comforting to come in and have a little dress rehearsal (before trials).''

Or face someone new in between now and the Olympics.

James had quite a showing at worlds last summer, beating Merritt down the stretch. But this will be James' first encounter with Wariner, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist who missed worlds due to turf toe.

''I respect him and what he's done for the sport and our event,'' James said of Wariner. ''It's a big deal for me, just to be in the same event as him. This is a very talented field.''

Certainly is at that, and it also includes Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee sprinter known as the ''Blade Runner.'' A time of 45.30 seconds or better would give the South African his second Olympic time in the qualifying window and make Pistorius fully eligible for London.

For Farah, the matchup to watch is the mile. His race should be over in plenty of time to catch the action.

''I like the 1,500 race and the mile. The 100 meters, also — if Bolt were here,'' said Farah, smiling. ''Then you'd say, `Yeah, the 100 meters.'''