American distance runners have been formidable figures in many races so far this outdoor track season. At this weekend's Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field, expect more rewriting of the all-time U.S. lists at events from 800 to 10,000 meters, and don’t be stunned if an American or two wins at this Diamond League meet. Here are five races we're especially keen to watch.

Men's 10,000

The main Pre Classic schedule is on Saturday, but the men’s 10,000 is part of Friday’s “Distance Night” at Hayward Field. Native Oregonian Galen Rupp arrives with a personal best and American record of 26:48.00, the fastest track time among the entrants.

The consensus is that the race is being set up for Rupp to target his American record. The field, including 2013 world championships silver medalist Paul Tanui and several others with sub-27:00 bests, is formidable enough to guarantee a brisk pace, with no entrant so superior that he can run away with it early. When Rupp needs to pounce, expect him to be in just the position to do so.

Men's 5000

Ben True (13:02.74) and Hassan Mead (13:02.80) arrive at Saturday’s men’s 5000 with 2014's fastest times, and the chances of one or both of them joining the handful of sub-13:00 Americans makes for a riveting subplot. They’ll have to do that and more to be threats to Ethiopians Hagos Gebrhiwet (12:47.53 career best) and Yenew Alamirew (12:48.77), who won in Shanghai on May 18. Bernard Lagat, whose 12:53.60 is the American record, and the man who consigned him to a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships 3000-meter race, Caleb Nkidu of Kenya, have closing speed that should worry the Ethiopians.

Women's Steeplechase

There are six runners in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase with faster personal bests than Emma Coburn. But that was also the scenario in Shanghai on May 18, when the pack, including reigning world champion Milcah Chemos of Kenya, didn't respond as Coburn built up a 12-second lead with a lap remaining and won in 9:19.80. Much of the same cast will assemble in Eugene. One would have to think they won’t let Coburn escape so easily in Eugene. On the other hand, in Shanghai Coburn looked like she had something better than a 9:19 in her.

Women's 1500

Jenny Simpson ran 4:00.22 for the women's 1500 in Shanghai, and Brenda Martinez was the masterful anchor on the American gold medal 4 x 800 and silver medal 4 x 1500 at the World Relays last weekend. The prospect of both going sub-4:00 on Saturday is real.

Doing so, however, won't in itself solve the problem of Sweden’s Abeba Aregawi, the 2013 outdoor and 2014 indoor champion, who beat Simpson at the world championships last summer and more recently in Shanghai. Also entered is Hellen Obiri of Kenya, who ran the fastest women’s 3000 in 21 years in Doha on May 9 and anchored her country’s 4 x 1500 world record last weekend.

Men's 800

Duane Solomon, who’s run 1:42.82, has made it clear that on Saturday he hopes to take down his coach Johnny Gray’s American men's 800-meter record of 1:42.60, which has endured since 1985.

He may need to run that fast to stay near the lead in a race that marks the return of Olympic gold medalist and world record holder David Rudisha. The lanky Kenyan has been out for so long with knee issues that predicting his fitness level would be wild speculation. Ethiopia’s Mo Aman, the 2013 outdoor and 2014 indoor world champion, has thrived in his absence, and Olympic silver medalist Nijel Amos of Botswana is close to Aman’s level. If Solomon dips into the 1:42 range, he is almost sure to have company.

Friday's events will be streamed live at USATF.TV starting at 7:15 p.m. Pacific/10:15 p.m Eastern. Saturday's meet will be shown on the NBC Sports Network from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern, and then on NBC from 4:30 to 6 p.m.



The complete Prefontaine Classic starting lists are here.

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