UW volunteer coach Matthew Centrowitz gets world champs qualifying standard at Pre Classic...

STANFORD, California—The venue may have changed temporarily while Historic Hayward Field in Eugene undergoes its remodeling project in advance of the 2020 US Olympic Trials and the 2021 IAAF World Track & Field Championships, but the athletes put on a show Sunday afternoon for the worldwide television audience and the 8000-plus spectators who made the trek to Cobb Track & Angell Field on the campus of Stanford University for the Nike Prefontaine Classic.

The fans who made it to Stanford University's on-campus track facility were treated to sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, making it nearly perfect conditions for the seventh stop of the season long IAAF Diamond League tour.

University of Washington volunteer assistant coach Matthew Centrowitz (above/photo by Howard Lao) had a solid performance in his 2019 season debut after struggling through most of the winter and early spring with an injury.

In the featured Bowerman Mile, Centrowitz, the reigning Olympic champion, was towards the back of the pack in the early part of the race, then slowly moved up, and finished sixth, closing with a 55.56 last 400 to finish in 3:52.26, as Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya successfully defended his title, winning in 3:50.49.

More importantly for Centrowitz, who also made his debut as a member of the Nike Bowerman TC after running for the Nike Oregon Project, he ducked under the world championships standard.

"The time wasn't special, but it was the standard," said Centrowitz who needed to run at least 3:53.10 to be qualified for Doha.  "I didn't have the standard coming in to this, so that was pretty big for me to get because I only have a few opportunities between now and USA's."

Former Renton resident Devon Allen also made his 2019 season debut at Prefontaine, finishing fifth in the 110 hurdles in 13.33, as Spain’s Orlando Ortega won in 13.24.

In the women’s 1500, Camas’ Alexa Efraimson finished tenth in 4:06.77, as defending Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon of Kenya made a successful comeback  after taking maternity leave last year, taking the victory in 3:59.04.

Washington alum Mel Lawrence was 14th in the 3000 steeplechase, running 9:33.48.

Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech, the current world record holder in this event, won in a world leading time and new meet record of 8:55.58.

The 2019 IAAF Diamond League tour moves to Lausanne, Switzerland, for the Athletissima Meeting on July 4 and 5.

Complete results of the Nike Prefontaine Classic are available here.

NOTE:  The Prefontaine Classic and the IAAF contributed to this report.