Eugene, OR - In the 30-year history of the Prefontaine Classic, there has never been a field in the women's 1500 Meters with the overall quality of the one assembled for the June 19th meet at historic Hayward Field.

Heading the metric-mile field is the 2003 U.S. Champion Suzy Favor Hamilton, who has a lifetime best of 3:57.40. Already a 3-time Olympian at the distance, Favor Hamilton will be pointing towards making her fourth team at the Olympics Trials in Sacramento three weeks after the Pre meet.

Returning to the event that launched her international career, Marla Runyan of Eugene will bring to the race a lifetime best of 4:02.95 and the strength gained from races at 5K, 10K, and the marathon over the past two years. Runyan was ranked No. 2 in the United States at 5000 Meters by Track & Field News magazine last year.

Both of these runners will have to deal with the potent kick of Jolanda Ceplak of Slovenia, the defending Pre Classic champion. Ranked fourth in the world at 800 meters by T&FN in 2003, Jeplak set her lifetime 1500 best of 4:02.44 in last year's meet.

Joining the Big Three will be an extremely strong field: Courtney Babcock, the Canadian 5K recordholder, who has a 1500 best of 4:01.96; Sarah Schwald, ranked No. 3 in the U.S. by T&FN, with a lifetime best of 4:04.43; rising Russian runner Yelena Zadorozhnaya, who was ranked No. 6 in the world last year by T&FN with a 4:00.12; Malindi Elmore of Canada, third- fastest in the world at 1500 thus far in 2004; Mardrea Hyman, the Jamaican national recordholder; Mary Jayne Harrelson, ranked fourth in the U.S. last year; Shayne Culpepper of the U.S., who has the second-fastest time at 5000 this year; Suzy Walsham of Australia, fifth-fastest at 1500 so far this year; and Carmen Douma-Hussar of Canada, second at the World Indoor Championships in Budapest this past March.

Tickets for the Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix are on sale at 1- 800-WEBFOOT or at www.goducks.com.

For more info, visit www.preclassic.com