Prefontaine Classic Throwing Event Fields

[Per Andersen]

Canada's Dylan Armstrong in the SP actually makes it the top 4 from the Olympics.
He was just 5cm from silver in Bejing.

In the women's HT another Canadian record holder and no 1 in North America so far this season, Sultana Frizell is competing.

Both these athletes are coached by Dr. Anatoly Bondarchuck in Kamloops, British Columbia.

[AS]

The women's DT fields aint quite as good as we were seeing down here over summer, but still pretty good

[TJ]

May 13, 2009
For Immediate Release


3 FOR 3: GOLD MEDALISTS HEADLINE PRE CLASSIC THROWS

Eugene, Oregon--It quite literally doesn't get any better than this. In the three throwing events at this year's Prefontaine Classic on June 7th, each is headlined by the Olympic gold medalist from Beijing in that event.
In the men's Shot Put, it's a clean sweep: gold medalist Tomasz Majewski of Poland, silver medalist Christian Cantwell of the U.S., and bronze medalist Andrey Mikhnevich of Belarus. Not to overlook defending Pre Classic champion Adam Nelson and reigning World Champion Reese Hoffa, who has the farthest throw in the world this year. In fact, with 8 out of the top 10 putters in the world in the field, including Nos. 1 through 6 as ranked by Track & Field News magazine, this will arguably be the best field of shot putters ever assembled on American soil.
American Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown Trafton takes center stage in the Discus ring, returning to Hayward Field where she narrowly made the Olympic team last summer. The defending Pre Classic champion then went on to Beijing to become the first U.S. gold medalist in the event since 1932 in what was the biggest upset of the track & field portion of the Games. She will be joined by Olympic Trials winner Aretha Thurmond, ranked 10th in the world, and American Recordholder Suzy Powell.
Adding to the medal haul is the women's Hammer Throw, which features Olympic gold medalist Oksana Menkova of Belarus, who makes her first visit to Hayward Field, as is Olympic bronze medalist Wenxiu Zhang of China. In addition to these No. 1 and No. 3-ranked throwers, the hammer features the No. 5 Darya Pchelnik of Belarus and No. 8 Betty Heidler of Germany, last year's Prefontaine Classic winner.
Running total: three events, five Beijing Olympic medalists!
Tickets for the 35th annual Prefontaine Classic are on sale at 1-800-WEBFOOT or online at www.goducks.com

SHOT PUT (MEN)

Tomasz Majewski (Poland)
Christian Cantwell
Andrey Mikhnevich (Belarus)
Reese Hoffa
Adam Nelson
Dorian Scott (Jamaica)
Dylan Armstrong (Canada)
Dan Taylor

DISCUS THROW (WOMEN)

Stephanie Brown Trafton
Aretha Thurmond
Suzy Powell
Becky Breisch
Summer Pierson
Gia Lewis-Smallwood

HAMMER THROW (WOMEN)

Oksana Menkova (Belarus)
Xiang Wenxiu (China)
Betty Heidler (Germany)
Britney Henry
Amber Campbell
Jessica Cosby
Darya Pchelnick (Belarus)
Sultana Frizell (Canada)
Loree Smith