The location has changed, but the Prefontaine Classic is as good as ever. Construction at Hayward Field has sent the meet south to Stanford for this year. There are no weak spots in the fields. The timing of World Championships pushed the meet after NCAA Championships, adding top collegians into an already deep pool of the world’s best. Here’s what to watch for in the men’s events:

Men’s Mile

Top Names: Yomif Kejelcha, Timothy Cheruiyot, Elijah Manangoi, Samuel Tefera, Ayanleh Souleiman, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Filip Ingebrigtsen, Nick Willis, Matthew Centrowitz, Johnn Gregorek, Clayton Murphy

Biggest Question: Can Yomif Kejelcha shake up this field? Despite the fact that he has the indoor mile world record, Kejelcha is, for the moment, a 5000m runner. His two appearances outdoors have been in the 5000m, both wins. His 3:47 ability and his aggressive racing style will make this a fascinating watch. Even with the herky-jerky pacing this year in the Diamond Leagues, there are too many big names for it not to be fast. 

Curious to see…Matthew Centrowitz’s first race for the Bowerman Track Club. The Olympic champ hasn’t raced at all in 2019. Four weeks before USAs, Centrowitz will get his season going against a potent field. If anyone can get race sharp in four weeks, it’s Centrowitz. But the shortened time table does introduce some mystery into the equation. 

Men’s 400m 

Top Names: Michael Norman, Lashawn Merritt, Kahmari Montgomery, Fred Kerley

Biggest Question: Can Michael Norman drop another time in the 43s? Norman’s debut of 43.45 at the Mt.SAC Relays set the bar for his season way up in the ether. He’s run two races since--a 44.53 in poor weather in Stockholm and a 19.70 200m when he beat Noah Lyles. 

Curious to see…if Lashawn Merritt is still in the mix for a Worlds spot. The 2008 Olympic champion hasn’t run an open 400m since 2017 and has only run once this year (a 20.51 200m in June). 

Men’s 100m

Top Names: Christian Coleman, Justin Gatlin, Zharnel Hughes, Cravon Gillespie, Mike Rodgers 

Biggest Question: Is Coleman ready to get into the 9.7s in June? It’s trending that way so far. He’s opened up with times of 9.86 and 9.85, good signs this early in the year. Depending on weather and competition, Coleman could better his personal best of 9.79 on Sunday.

Curious to see…the youth vs. experience divide. 37-year-old Justin Gatlin has a bye to the World Championships so he doesn’t need a big performance in the early part of the summer. Regardless, he’s looked solid with a season-best of 10.00 from Osaka. Cravon Gillespie is running his first Diamond League of his career and is coming off second-place finishes in the NCAA 100m and 200m. He’s had a long season, but his 9.93 in Austin shot him up the projections.

Men’s Pole Vault

Top Names: Mondo Duplantis, Renaud Lavillenie, Sam Kendricks, Thiago Braz, Chris Nilsen, Piotr Lisek

Biggest Question: What impact will the two NCAA stars have on the competition? Nilsen (South Dakota) had the jump of his life at the NCAA Championships when he vaulted 5.95m to upset LSU’s Mondo Duplantis. Duplantis went pro shortly after leaving Austin and has already competed in a Diamond League meet. 

Curious to see…..How Renaud Lavillenie does in his second meet this summer. The world record holder has only competed once outdoors, a sixth-place finish in June where he only cleared 5.45m. This is a deep field, with several men capable of vaulting six meters. 

Men’s 400m Hurdles

Top Names: Rai Benjamin, Yasmani Copello, Kerron Clement, Kyron McMaster

Biggest Question: How fast will Benjamin go? In a field without Abderrahman Samba and Karsten Warholm, Benjamin is a big favorite. He hasn’t touched his 47.02 from last year, but his 47.80 and 47.58 marks are the second and third best times of his career. He’s also turned in two good open 400m times, more indications that he is ready for something in the low 47s. 

Curious to see…..the form of two-time Olympic champion Kerron Clement. The 33-year-old has only raced once this year--a 51.47 two weeks ago. He’s made a habit of getting into very good shape in a short amount of time, but with USAs next month it will be a tall order. 

Men’s 2 Mile

Top Names: Selemon Barega, Hagos Gebrhiwet, Joshua Cheptegei, Birhanu Balew, Paul Chelimo, Eric Jenkins, Mo Ahmed, Justyn Knight

Biggest Question: Can Selemon Barega stay hot? The 19-year-old Ethiopian has put together three great races--he was runner-up in two Diamond League 5000s (one run in 12:53) and then was victorious in the Oslo 3000m. His main rivals will be people he is familiar with (Gebrhiwet, Cheptegei, Balew, etc.), but so far he’s been the most consistent of them all. 

Curious to see...if Paul Chelimo can get back in the top three. The American was a mainstay in the lead pack last year. In his two races on the track, he’s placed 12th in the 5000m and fifth in his 10,000m debut. 

Men’s 110m Hurdles

Top Names: Daniel Roberts, Omar McLeod, Sergey Shubenkov, Devon Allen

(Editor's Note: Roberts is a late scratch from the meet)

Biggest Question: Will we see another big run from Daniel Roberts? It’s only been three weeks since Roberts ran 13.00 to finish second to Grant Holloway in the greatest collegiate hurdle race of all-time. Without Holloway in the race, Roberts has the fastest time in the field. McLeod and Shubenkov have been the best in the world over the past two years and they look to be getting into sub 13 shape. 

Curious to see...Devon Allen in his outdoor debut. Allen won Millrose and US indoors, but hasn’t run this spring. With the rise of Holloway and Roberts, spots to Worlds are at a premium in the event. 

Men’s Shot Put

Top Names: Ryan Crouser, Konrad Bukowiecki, Darrell Hill, Joe Kovacs, Tomasz Walsh, Michal Haratyk, Darlan Romani

Biggest Question: Can Crouser match his 22.74 from April? It was the seventh best throw in history and the best mark since 1990. Two months later, and against a stout field, will Crouser match that performance?

Curious to see…who provides the biggest challenge Crouser. This is a stacked field with the top four, and six of the top eight, men in 2019 on the start list.