EUGENE, Ore. – The 2003 Nike Prefontaine Classic on Saturday proved why it is the standard-bearer of world-class invitational track meets in the United States, with 10 world-best performances being turned in over the course of the two-hour meet.

The second stop on USA Track & Field’s Golden Spike Tour, the Nike Prefontaine Classic is an IAAF Grand Prix I meet. It will be broadcast nationally on NBC on Sunday, May 25, from 1:30-3 p.m. Eastern Time. Check local listings.

The meet got off to a frenetic start, with the first four events on the track yielding four world-leading marks – often by stunning margins – as 11,097 captivated fans looked on at Hayward Field.

The Nike women’s 1,500 meters set the standard as the first running event of the day. In a three-woman race between Suzy Favor Hamilton of the United States, Jolanda Ceplak of Slovenia and Meskerem Legesse of Ethiopia, Favor Hamilton led narrowly until the final straight. Then Ceplak, the world indoor record holder at 800 meters, powered to the win in 4 minutes, 2.44 seconds for a Slovenian national record. It was the fastest time in the world this year by seven seconds. Favor was second in 4:03.47 with Legesse third in 4:03.96.

Up next was the men’s 400 meters, where 2003 world indoor champion Tyree Washington proved his mettle on the outdoor oval with a world-leading time of 44.70 seconds. Michael Blackwood of Jamaica was second in 45.03, with Greg Haughton of Jamaica third in 45.34.

In the women’s 100m, Kelli White burst out of the blocks and sprinted to victory in 10.96 seconds, improving her own world leader by .01 seconds. 2001 U.S. champion Chryste Gaines was second in 11.03 and 2000 Olympic Trials 400m champion LaTasha Colander-Richardson, stepping down in distance for this season, was third in 11.08. \ The initial barrage of WLs concluded with Brigitte Foster of Jamaica winning the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.45 seconds, a Jamaican national record. Americans Miesha McKelvy (12.51) and Donica Merriman (12.65) were second and third, respectively. In her first race since injuring her right hamstring three weeks ago, Gail Devers led through the first five hurdles before fading to eighth in 13.06.

The world leaders continued a few minutes later. Maria Mutola of Mozambique, the defending world and Olympic champion, opened her outdoor season in grand style, winning the Nike women’s 800m in 1:57.98 for another world leader by two seconds. Jearl Miles-Clark finished second in a U.S.-leading time of 1:58.61, with Diane Cummins of Canada third in 1:59.41.

Kenyan Abraham Chebii brought the Hayward Field to its feet in the men’s 5,000 meters. A final lap of 51.9 seconds propelled Chebii to the win in 13:08.10, a world leader by eight seconds. Fellow Kenyans Ben Limo (13:11.67) and Shadrack Kosgei (13:12.24) were second and third, respectively.

Mexican hero Ana Guevara turned in perhaps the most dominant performance of the meet. Undefeated last season, Guevara kept her streak going by winning the women’s 400 meters in 49.34 seconds to defeat the field by more than a full second. Tonique Williams of the Bahamas was second in 50.39 with Ronetta Smith of Jamaica third in 51.44. Olympic champion Cathy Freeman of Australia placed fifth in 51.70.

The final world leader on the track both came courtesy of Bernard Lagat in the Bowerman men’s mile. The world indoor silver medalist from Kenya came through 1,500 meters in 3:34.47, leading the pack by nearly two seconds. At the finish of the race, Lagat’s 3:50.21 led the world and the field, with Kevin Sullivan of Canada third in 3:53.34 and Alex Kipchircihr of Kenya third in 3:53.73.

The women’s field events saw two world leaders, both by American athletes who defeated the top-ranked women in their events. Olympic and world champion Stacy Dragila won the Visa women’s pole vault with a clearance of 4.62m/15 feet, 1.75 inches, to defeat world #1-ranked Svetlana Feofanova of Russia (4.52m/14-10). American Kellie Suttle was third at 4.32m/14-2.

Defending American champion Tisha Waller fended off world indoor champion Kajsa Bergqvist in the women’s high jump, clearing a world-leading 1.98m/6-6 to Bergqvist’s 1.95m/6-4.75. Amy Acuff placed third at 1.95m/6-5.75.

Among the four events where world leaders were not set, the worst performance was third-best in the world. Kevin Toth won the men’s shot put with a throw of 21.76m/71-4.75. Christian Cantwell placed second with 21.47m/70-5.25, with Canadian Brad Snyder third at 20.54m/67-4.75. John Godina withdrew from the meet with a hyperextended finger.

Competing with a broken left arm suffered five weeks ago, Larry Wade prevailed in the men’s 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.24 seconds to finish ahead of Haitian Dudley Dorival (13.43) and American Ron Bramlett (13.48).

Kim Collins of St. Kitts & Nevis won his second straight Golden Spike Tour Verizon men’s 100 meters with his time of 10.00. He was followed by Darrel Brown of Trinidad in 10.08 and Bernard Williams of the United States in 10.10.

American men continued their 1-2-3 winning ways in the men’s long jump. 2001 U.S. indoor champion Miguel Pate won with a best of 8.27m/27-1.75, but he injured his left knee upon landing on his final jump. The extent of his injury will be diagnosed in coming days. Defending U.S. outdoor champion Savante Stringfellow placed second at 8.23m/27-0, and 2003 world indoor champion Dwight Phillips was third at 8.05m/26-5.

For complete results from the Prefontaine Classic, visit www.usatf.org

ATHLETE QUOTES, Prefontaine Classic

Jolanda Ceplak (SLO), women’s 1,500m winner: “The first 400 was very quick; the second was a little slower. From 800 meters to the last lap, I thought I don’t know if I can do this. It’s so many laps. The last 100, I said, ‘I’m going. I want to win this race.’”

Suzy Favor Hamilton, women’s 1,500m second place: “I’m quite pleased with today. This was my first race since September, and I felt really, really good. I’m only about 80 percent of my fitness right now. In four weeks, I’ll be ready. I wanted to go out fast because this race has a lot of 800 meter runners, and they great kicks. You don’t want to have them sitting on you with 100 to go, and that’s where I found myself.”

Tyree Washington, men’s 400m winner: “To run 44.7 today is good. I still have a lot of things to improve on and critique, but I’m happy. … I think the more I train and compete, the more it’s going to help.”

Kelli White, women’s 100m winner: “I was very ready for this race. This was my first time here at the Prefontaine Classic. My start [was the best part of her race]. I don’t know exactly what happened, but it was good. This gives me a lot of confidence. I’ve never really had a lot of confidence in the 100. To win against this field is great.”

Kevin Toth, men’s shot put winner: “Christian Cantwell got off to a good start, but it didn’t faze me at all. My victory lap was the hardest thing. [In addition to running 400 meters, Toth jumped – and we do mean jumped – over a hurdle.] That’s the farthest I’ve run all year. I wasn’t really pleased with my performance, but I improved what I’ve been doing the last few weeks.”

Gail Devers, 8th, women’s 100 hurdles: “I really don’t know what happed. I was cool for five hurdles. I was off for three weeks doing nothing but rehabbing [her hamstring]. I wanted to come out here and test my leg.”

Brigitte Foster (JAM), women’s 100 hurdles winner: “Technically, it wasn’t a great race. I think I hesitated. I was hoping to run 12.5, so that was good. My start has improved immensely from last year, and I think that’s what made the difference.”

Larry Wade, men’s 110 hurdles winner: “That was a terrible race. I didn’t get out, which is normal for me. Mid-way through, I hit a couple of hurdles. From then on, I knew it wasn’t going to be fast, so I just wanted to win.”

Maria Mutola (MOZ), women’s 800m winner: “I didn’t want to go fast because this is my first race. I haven’t done any speed work heading into the race. I think I could go even faster.”

Jearl Miles-Clark, second women’s 800m: “I felt good. I didn’t know what type of shape I was in, so I came here just wanted to go under 2:00. To run that fast was pretty cool. It’s as fast as I’ve run in a long time, and it’s the fastest I’ve ever run this early in the season.”

Stacy Dragila, women’s pole vault winner: “I knew I needed to be on my toes. I didn’t know how fit Svetlana is. It’s good to go against her this early on, and I look forward to competing against each other at World Outdoors. I’ve got a new coach and I’m working on some pretty major things, technically. [She is now coached by Greg Hull, the coach of men’s Olympic Champion Nick Hyson. Following the World Indoor Championships March 14-16, Dragila moved to Phoenix, Ariz., to train with Hull.] I didn’t feel pressure from her [Feofanova], I felt pressure from myself. We’re working on technical things, and you can’t always jump high when you’re doing that, so I’m happy with the win.”

Ana Guevara (MEX), women’s 400m winner: “I didn’t expect to run this fast. I was really surprised when I looked at the time. I was very excited. I was a little reserved [in the race]. The first 200 was a little hard. I have to say I feel very good. 49 this early in the season is fantastic.”

Bernard Lagat (KEN), men’s mile winner: “The race went good. I wanted 1:53 at 800 meters, and we ran 1:53.7. I was happy Kiptoo kept pushing another 400 meters. I’m really pleased. I wanted 3:50 or better.”