Ethan Katzberg Breaks Diamond League Record In Hammer; Sandi Morris Beats Katie Moon; Parker Wolfe Wins Tactical 2-Mile

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

John Nepolitan and Evan Poulsen Photos

EUGENE -- A couple of things happened after Brandon Miller finished his 2025 season with a fifth-place finish in the USATF Outdoor Championships and he missed making the national team by two spots. 

There was some soul-searching. And there was a convesation with Brooks Beasts teammate Josh Kerr, a two-time world champion, who shared his advice on racing tactics and mindset. And that fifth-place finish fueled motivation through months of workouts. 

All of that came to the forefront on Friday under the lights at the Prefontaine Classic, when Miller beat the three guys who represented the U.S. in Tokyo last summer. 

Miller ran 1:43.68 and was able to outkick 17-year-old marvel Cooper Lutkenhaus, who had looked unbeatable in two previous Diamond League races in Scandinavia. 

"With 200 to go I saw Cooper and (Yusuf) Bizimana fighting (for position), so I knew I had to take my spot," Miller said. "I felt good with 150 to go so I just send it."

Lutkenhaus, the world indoor champion, lost for the first time as a pro. He still finished second in 1:44.62 but didn't have the final gear this time to go with Miller. 

"It wasn't a bad race, but I wouldn't call it a great race, so you just keep on training," Lutkenhaus said. "The legs weren't there today and it felt pretty quick."

The pacer was instructed to go through 400 meters in 49-second pace, which was ambitious. No one in the field went that hard that early and Lutkenhaus led most of the race. 

"If 1:44 is my bad race, I'm happy with it," Lutkenhaus said. "Miller's on a different level right now. He'll be tough to beat."

The best individual result of the first day of the Prefontaine Classic, the ninth stop of the Diamond League season, belonged to world champion and Olympic champion Ethan Katzberg in the hammer. 

The Canadian broke the Diamond League record, the meet record and achieved a new world lead with his second round throw of 83.33 meters.

The men's 2-mile didn't go out as fast as expected and became a tactical affair with a crowd of runners still in it with a lap to go. 

Parker Wolfe won the last lap and won the race in 8:10.13. 

Germany's Mohamed Abdilaahi was second in 8:10.34 and Grant Fisher moved up late for third in 8:10.96. 

In the women's 1,500 meters, recent Oregon grad Wilma Nielsen, who represents Sweden, made late charge and won in 4:05.60, just ahead of Juliette Whittaker, who was second in 4:05.78 for a new personal best. 

High school junior Ellery Lincoln ran admirably in her first chance to race professional women and was eighth in a personal best 4:07.06. Lincoln, who will represent Team USA at the World U20 Championships, moved to No. 4 on the all-time high school list. 

Liam Murphy edged out Stefan Nillessen of The Netherlands by a hundredth of a second in an entertaining men's mile, winning in 3:50.49. 

Jackson Spencer, a recent graduate of Herriman High in Utah, concluded a spectacular high school career by running 3:57.34 in a race where he was chasing the field for most of the four laps. He was a tenth of a second shy of his season's best, which he ran a month ago at the HOKA Festival of Miles. 

Georgia's Dejanea Oakley, the NCAA champion and collegiate record holder in the 400 meters, made a big move late to overtake former Georgia star and training partner Aaliyah Butler to win in 49.64 seconds. Butler was second in 49.97 seconds. 

Earlier in the week Oakley was named a finalist for The Bowerman. 

Sandi Morris outdueled Katie Moon as those two put on a show in the women's pole vault. 

Morris jumped a season's best 4.85 meters (15-11). 

Both women took attempts at 4.90m (16-0.75) but could not clear it.  

"I'm pumped. It was a win. It was actually my first Pre win. I'll take that for sure," Morris said.  

Olympic and world champion Valarie Sion ruled the women's discus competition and her second-round throw of 68.64m (225-2) held up for the win. 

Jorinde Van Klinken of The Netherlands, a former Oregon thrower, nearly matched Sion and finished second with 68.21m (223-9). She'll competed in the shot put on Saturday.