1:57.52 for Mutola in Ostrava (© Getty Images)
World and Olympic 800m champion Maria Mutola will make a record 13th appearance at the Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix on Saturday (19 June 2004) at Hayward Field.
Last year, Mutola was undefeated in every race she ran, including the World Championships in Paris, and earned a $1 million Jackpot for winning at all the Golden League meets. This winter she won her sixth World Indoor 800m title, and in all she has an impressive win streak at 800m (indoors and out) of 26 races (finals only).
“Million Dollar Mutola” the former Eugene resident has won 11 times at the Pre Classic, more than any other athlete. This year, she has the world-leading time of 1:57.72, set last week in Ostrava, in the Czech Republic.
Saturday’s run at the IAAF Grand Prix meet will be no exhibition for Mutola, as she faces American Nicole Teter who ran 1:58.83 when winning the Oregon Track Classic in Portland, and Canadian Diane Cummins who came second in 1:59.38 on that occasion.
Add in Marian Burnett of Guyana (1:59.47) and Jen Toomey of the U.S. (1:59.64 indoors), and five of the 9 entrants in the Pre Classic have already broken 2-minutes in 2004.
Plus, with fast seasonal times already on the books, Francis Santin (2:00.84), Chantee Earl (2:01.34), Hazel Clark (2:01.46), and Brigita Langerholc (2:01.6) are all capable of dipping under 2-flat at Saturday's meet.
800m Women
Maria Mutola (Mozambique)
Diane Cummins (Canada)
Marian Burnett (Guyana)
Brigita Langerholc (Slovenia)
Nicole Teter
Chantee Earl
Jen Toomey
Hazel Clark
Francis Santin