Wilma Nielsen storms back to win 1,500 in pro debut at Pre Classic

Former Oregon star Wilma Nielsen wasn't sure she was going to be able to keep pace with Lucia Stafford when she soared out in front of the women's 1,500 meters July 3 at the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field.

>Stafford at one point led the race by almost 20 meters, pushed ahead by a brisk pace set by Maddy Mooney.

>But with a lap to go, Nielsen stuck with Stanford star Juliette Whittaker and both cruised past Stafford over the final 100 meters, with Nielsen surging across the finish line in front of her home crowd for the first time in a pro uniform.

>"I was really nervous representing Nike, it's a big thing, it's a dream," Nielsen said. "Going out here and representing Nike for the first time and going pro, I was nervous but I'm really happy I got to represent both the Ducks and Nike well today."

>Nielsen, who finished the race in a season-best 4 minutes, 5.6 seconds, was fourth in the 1,500 at NCAAs in mid-June and shortly after signed with Nike as a professional.

>Whittaker finished second in 4:05.78 and Lindsey Butler finished third in 4:06.46.

>Nielsen admitted she didn't think she would win the race after heading home to Sweden following NCAAs and dealing with some jetlag after arriving back in the United States two days before the Prefontaine race.

>Especially with the pacer and Stafford, who ended up finishing ninth after leading heading into the final lap, really pushing the pace.

>"It felt good but I kind of felt like they would go with her," Nielsen said. "So I was a little sad that the race got away. But then I was like, 'I'm a pro now, time-wise it doesn't really matter I want to try and get a better placing. So let's go for second.' But I'm happy to get the win here since I didn't get it at nationals."

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>Oregon commit and Portland high school distance star Ellery Lincoln put up another historic mark by finishing eighth in 4:07.06, a personal best. It's the fifth-fastest mark for a high school girl in the 1,500 ever after she ran the third-fastest mile a month ago at the OSAA state meet.

>"This is the biggest and most competitive field I've ever run in," Lincoln said. "Coming out here tonight I just wanted to come away learning some lessons and learning from these women. To make decisions I was really proud of and come away with a little (personal best) was really exciting."

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Dejanea Oakley continues dominance among pros in women's 400The collegiate record-holder keeps stacking wins at Hayward Field. The Georgia senior, just weeks after setting the record in the women's 400 at NCAAs to help the Bulldogs win a women's team title came back win in Eugene at the Pre in 49.64.

>Former Bulldog and 2025 NCAA champ Aaliyah Butler finished second in 49.78 and Stacey Ann Williams took third in 50.12.

>Oakley said following the race she felt much more composed than in last year's Pre Classic, her first. She competed in that race against Butler, as well, when Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won in a stacked field.

>"That race was great because I've never been in a stadium that big with that many fans just cheering for us," Oakley said. "So compared to last year, I definitely had more composure in this year's race and more experience coming in."

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Valarie Sion wins fifth Pre Classic in a row in women's discusTwo-time Olympic champion and reigning world champion Valarie Sion, formerly Allman, added more hardware to a shelf that could likely hold awards just from the Pre Classic.

>The dominant thrower won the women's discus with a best toss of 225 feet, 2 inches, admittedly not her best performance, but her fifth consecutive win at the Pre.

>"I love Hayward and I was really looking forward to this competition," Sion said. "At the end of the day, it feels incredible to get a win here at the Prefontaine. It is one of those things that when it's on the calendar, you really hope to have that moment here at Hayward."

>Former Duck Jorinde van Klinken finished second at 223-9 and Alida van Daalen finished third with a best throw of 213-4.

>Van Klinken is the only athlete at the Pre, man or woman, competing in more than one event as she's entered in the shot put Saturday.

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Sandi Morris wins first pole vault title at PreFour-time world championships silver medalist and one-time Olympic silver medalist Sandi Morris picked up her first-ever win at the Prefontaine Classic, besting fellow American great Katie Moon with a clearance of 15-11.

>Moon missed on her first attempt at 15-11 and then dropped out after missing twice at 16-3/4.

>Morris has competed at the Pre just once in her career and joked after the meet that 50% is a pretty good win rate.

>"I'm pumped," Morris said. "Sport has so many ups and downs. Earlier this season I had three really bad performances in a row and it just feels really good to bounce back from that. It just demonstrates that you have to know yourself and I know myself now."

>Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football and women’s basketball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com.

>This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Wilma Nielsen storms back to win 1,500 in pro debut at Pre Classic