Christian Coleman to Run 100 and 200 Meters at Prefontaine Classic in Hayward Field Return

By Adam Kopet

Christian Coleman will double in the 100 and 200 meters Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic.

Last week it was announced Coleman would take on the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor 100-meter champion, Justin Gatlin, in the 100 meters, but Gatlin has since withdrawn because of a right hamstring injury. The men's 100, which still includes Americans Ronnie Baker and Isiah Young, will be a non-Diamond League event at the Prefontaine Classic.

Then on Wednesday, meet organizers released the start list for the men's 200 meters, the men's Diamond League sprinting event at the Prefontaine Classic. Coleman will take on Noah Lyles in the 200.

Coleman is no stranger to doubling in the 100 and 200 at Hayward Field. He won NCAA titles in both events last year, running 10.04 and 20.25 into strong headwinds. Coleman broke the collegiate record in the 100 during the semifinal, running 9.82, the fastest wind-legal time in the world last year.

Since last year's NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, Coleman has turned professional and begun making his mark on the world scene. He secured silver at the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in the 100, finishing just behind Gatlin and ahead of Usain Bolt.

During Coleman's 2018 indoor campaign, he broke the world record for the 60 meters, running 6.34 at the USATF Indoor Championships and he won the gold medal at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Coleman is scheduled to race the 100 at 1:18pm PDT and the 200 at 2:44pm PDT. That will give him just under 90 minutes to recover between the events. He only had 45 minutes between those two events at last year's NCAA Championships.