Julien Alfred, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Faith Kipyegon, and Mondo Duplantis are among dozens of Paris medalists set for America’s biggest one-day track and field event of the year.

Julien Alfred, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Faith Kipyegon, and Mondo Duplantis are among dozens of Paris medalists set for America’s biggest one-day track and field event of the year.

It’s a big weekend of racing on the sports calendar. There’s the start of the Tour de France, the Formula 1 British Grand Prix in Silverstone, and the 50th edition of the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Named in memory of the legendary American long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine, the Prefontaine Classic has become one of the premier annual global track and field meets and doubles as the only American stop on the Diamond League circuit.

We won’t see Dominican Olympic champion Mareiledy Paulino or Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, the top two 400m runners right now. It’s nevertheless a very good field that includes Americans Alexis Holmes and 2025 NCAA champion Aliyah Butler, plus 2023 NCAA champ Rhasidat Adeleke of Ireland. McLaughlin-Levrone has the fastest personal best and only needs to shave 0.05 seconds off that to eclipse Sanya Richards-Ross’ 19-year-old American record of 48.70.McLaughlin-Levrone is unquestionably the GOAT of the women’s 400m hurdles, but her versatility is remarkable. She’s one of the 12 fastest 400m flat runners ever and even beat eventual Olympic champion Gabby Thomas in a 200m race last year. The 25-year-old was scheduled for the 200m/400m double at (the ill-fated?) Grand Slam Track in Los Angeles before the meet was cancelled.It’s a big weekend of racing on the sports calendar. There’s the start of the Tour de France, the Formula 1 British Grand Prix in Silverstone, and the 50th edition of the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Named in memory of the legendary American long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine, the Prefontaine Classic has become one of the premier annual global track and field meets and doubles as the only American stop on the Diamond League circuit.If you loved track and field at last year’s Olympics, you’re in for a treat. There are over 60 Olympic and Paralympic medalists from the Paris Games, with five full podium rematches on tap. This meet is so loaded that an outstanding women’s 100-meter hurdles isn’t in the two-hour television window. Let’s look at some of the top storylines and athletes to watch this Saturday.Julien Alfred, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Faith Kipyegon, and Mondo Duplantis are among dozens of Paris medalists set for America’s biggest one-day track and field event of the year.