Seven Pros to Watch This Weekend at Hayward Field

By Scott Bush

The Oregon Relays have arrived and as can be expected the professional athletes entered contains a strong line-up of contenders in the sprints, distances and throws.

Oregon Relays Details: Oregon Relays Event Page | Webcast Info - Watch Live | Entries

Here are ten of the top pros to watch this weekend:

Maggie Vessey (USA) - The 800m star is entered in the 1500m at the Oregon Relays, which is a bit surprising, but very exciting. Two weeks ago she threw down a 54.80 400m effort and followed that up with test of speed in the 200m, finishing in 25.58. Now Vessey tests her strength. Her personal best in the distance is 4:17.87 set back in 2011, which seems like a time she could challenge in the right race, but the field here isn't set up to be super fast, as she'll take on fellow pros Nicole Blood and Geena Gall, along with a few top Oregon runners.

Ryan Bailey (USA) - Similar to Vessey, Bailey tests his strength against the competition this weekend, competing in the 400m. The Olympic medalist doesn't race the 400m all too often, with his PR coming back in 2008 with a 47.05 best. While it seems unlikely Bailey will make the 400m a focus this year, he'll have some talent to key in on, including Oregon standout Marcus Chambers.

Edward Kemboi (KEN) - Yup, the two-time NCAA champion from Iowa State is ready to test himself over the 1500m distance. Kemboi seldom run the event in college, but he does own a 3:39.02 personal best in the event from last year and has hopes of making the Kenyan Olympic Team. He'll find plenty of competition in the 1500m, both from the professional side and collegiate side.

Tara Welling (USA) - Welling is back running incredibly well, having gotten her Olympic qualifier in the 10000m two weeks ago at the Stanford Invitational in 32:02.80. She tests herself over 5000m this time around, having High Performance West teammate Kristen Rhode and Team Run Eugene's Charlotte Browning to key off of early on, as well as...

Alexi Pappas (GRE) - Pappas is also entered in the 5000m. She won the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago recently and is gearing for what she hopes is an Olympic caliber season, having committed to running for Greece this year. Pappas' 15:28.38 PR doesn't seem unreasonable to challenge, especially with Welling pushing the pace.

Britney Henry (USA) - One of the top-ranked athletes in Eugene this weekend is Henry. She finished ranked US#6 in the hammer throw in 2015 and was four feet off of US#3 Amanda Bingson. Henry is clearly capable of being the top American hammer thrower this year and the Oregon Relays starts her big season ahead.

Harun Abda (USA) - It'll be fun to see if Abda simply paces out the 1500m or competes from start to finish. The two-lap Oregon Track Club Elite star has a 3:48.04 personal best from 2014, but is coming off an indoor campaign where he set a new 800m indoor best of 1:47.99, clearly showing some good shape. Can he carry over that fitness over to 1500m is the question that needs answering.