American record holder Fisher scheduled to square off with Ethiopian standouts Barega and Mehary, in addition to World Cross Country Championships medalists Kiplimo and Aregawi, plus Cheptegei in deep field at UCLA; Men’s steeplechase lineup is stacked, led by Rooks, with Jeruto leading women’s lineup in first steeplechase race since 2022 Worlds

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The addition of the elite section of the men’s 5,000 meters to Friday’s schedule at the USATF L.A. Grand Prix Distance Classic provides an exceptional conclusion to an already impressive lineup of events at UCLA’s Drake Stadium.

Ethiopian athletes Selemon Barega, the world outdoor leader this season at 12 minutes, 55.68 seconds, and Biniam Mehary, the No. 2 global competitor at 12:56.37, highlight a field that also includes American record holder Grant Fisher, who ran 12:51.84 in February in Boston to produce the top indoor performance this year.

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Barega and Mehary are two of the eight athletes who have eclipsed the 13-minute barrier during the outdoor season.

Fisher led six competitors running under 13 minutes during the winter indoor schedule, along with Kenya’s Edwin Kurgat and Great Britain’s Sam Atkin, who are also scheduled to compete Friday.

Jacob Kiplimo, who repeated as gold medalist March 30 at the World Cross Country Championships in Serbia, along with fellow Ugandan standout Joshua Cheptegei – who secured sixth at the cross country final in Belgrade – are both scheduled to make their outdoor debut Friday as part of the 5,000 field.

Ethiopian competitor Berihu Aregawi, who earned the silver medal in Serbia, is also expected to race at UCLA.

Abdihamid Nur, who won last year’s 5,000 race at the USATF L.A. Grand Prix Distance Classic in 13:05.17, is also part of the lineup, along with fellow American entries Cole Hocker and Cooper Teare.

Moh Ahmed, the Canadian record holder at 12:47.20, is scheduled to race, along with Australian athletes Morgan McDonald and Stewart McSweyn.

The women’s elite 5,000 race Friday features a lineup that is expected to include American athletes Elle St. Pierre, Elly Henes, Whittni Orton-Morgan, Allie Buchalski, Annie Rodenfels, Ella Donaghu, Abby Nichols, Katie Wasserman and Taylor Werner, in addition to British competitor Hannah Nuttall, Australian performers Jenny Blundell and Natalie Rule and Venezuelan standout Joselyn Brea.

The elite sections of the men’s and women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase are also being showcased Friday, with American athlete Maddie Boreman returning to compete at UCLA following last year’s triumph in 9:22.99.

Norah Jeruto, representing Kazakhstan, highlights the women’s 3,000 steeplechase field in her season debut. Jeruto hasn’t raced the steeplechase since winning the gold medal in 8:53.02 at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon.

Lizzie Bird of Great Britain, Lea Meyer from Germany, Parul Chaudhary of India and Alicja Konieczek from Poland are also scheduled to compete, in addition to American entries Marisa Howard, Lexy Halladay-Lowry, Logan Jolly, Angelina Ellis and Carmen Graves.

The Canadian trio of Regan Yee, Ceili McCabe and Grace Fetherstonhaugh is also expected to race, as well as Australian standout Amy Cashin and Turkey’s Tugba Guvenc.

Kenneth Rooks, who prevailed May 11 at the Sound Running Track Fest in a lifetime-best 8:15.08, looks to continue his momentum in a men’s steeplechase field that includes fellow American athletes Anthony Rotich, Duncan Hamilton, Evan Jager, Benard Keter, Isaac Updike, Matthew Wilkinson, Daniel Michalski and Travis Mahoney.

British competitor Zak Seddon is also expected to race, in addition to Canadian entries Jean-Simon Desgagnes and John Gay.

Men’s and women’s hammer throw combined competition, men’s and women’s discus mixed showcase and the women’s pole vault are also scheduled to be part of Friday’s schedule.

The women’s hammer field is expected to include the top four competitors in North America, including the past two World Athletics Championships winners in Canadian record holder Camryn Rogers and American athlete Brooke Andersen, who will be joined by fellow global medalists DeAnna Price and Janee' Kassanavoid.

The men’s hammer lineup features American standouts Daniel Haugh, Rudy Winkler and Alex Young squaring off against Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Kokhan, Mexico’s Diego Del Real and Dutch record holder Denzel Comenentia.

Valarie Allman, the reigning Olympic gold medalist, and defending World champion Laulauga Tausaga-Collins, are both representing the U.S. in the women’s discus, competing against Yaime Perez of Cuba, Kristin Pudenz from Germany and Dutch standout Jorinde Van Klinken.

Alex Rose from Samoa and Roje Stona of Jamaica lead the men’s discus field, which also includes American competitors Reggie Jagers III, Andrew Evans and Brian Williams. Claudio Romero of LSU, representing Chile, is also scheduled to participate.

Sandi Morris, who triumphed in the women’s pole vault last year at UCLA with a 15-1.50 (4.61m) clearance, is expected to compete Friday, in addition to fellow American athletes Bridget Williams, Gabriela Leon, Emily Grove and Kristen Leland, as well as Canadian standout Anicka Newell and Venezuela’s Robeilys Peinado.