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Ethan Katzberg of Canada competes in the Men’s Hammer Throw during the Prefontaine Classic, part of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League at Hayward Field on July 3, 2026 in Eugene, Oregon. (AFP)
Olympic and world hammer champion Ethan Katzberg kicked off the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League athletics meeting with a world-leading throw of 83.33m in Eugene, Oregon, on Friday.
Canada’s Katzberg eclipsed the previous Diamond League record of 81.92 set by Poland’s Wojciech Nowicki in Oslo in 2023, and improved on this season’s world-leading performance of 82.44 set by France’s Yann Chaussinand in California on June 13.
American Rudy Winkler was second with an impressive throw of 81.12 while Merlin Hummel of Germany secured the third spot at 79.01.
Brandon Miller pipped 17-year-old sensation Cooper Lutkenhaus in the men’s 800m, winning in 1min 43.68sec.
Lutkenhaus, the indoor world champion coming off a victory in Oslo in June, was powerless when fellow American Miller, a 2024 Olympian, powered past him late, holding on to finish second in 1:44.62.
Back-to-back Olympic women’s discus champion Valarie Sion won her event with a best throw of 68.64 metres.
30-MEET STREAK ENDED IN MARCH
Sion, who was previously known as Valarie Allman before marrying this year, has been on a tear since her 30-meet winning streak came to a shock end in March.
American Brandon Miller (1:43.68) held on to upset 17-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus by almost a second in the 800m, while 2019 world champion Donavan Brazier was third in 1:44.86.
Sandi Morris cleared 4.85m to get the better of American compatriot and longstanding rival Katie Moon in the women’s pole vault.
Jamaica’s Dejanea Oakley (49.64) won the women’s 400m, beating American Aaliyah Butler by more than three tenths of a second.
Sweden’s Wilma Nielsen outlasted the United States’ Juliette Whittaker down the final straight to win the 1,500m in 4:05.60.
The Prefontaine Classic, one of the highlights of the annual U.S. athletics calendar, continues on Saturday.
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