2011 Prefontaine Classic: South Africans Will Stir Curiosity and Controversy

The Prefontaine Classic is arguably the greatest non-Olympic international track meet held on American soil. It annually draws the world's top athletes and guarantees a global television audience and a packed house at Eugene, Oregon's Hayward Field.

Usually, by this point in the season, the all-star lineup of elite athletes has been released, and track fans are beginning to imagine the possibilities.

Perhaps because only two headliners have been officially confirmed so far, the spotlight is unfairly focused on them.

They are two South Africans. Ironically, both will be looking to overcome personal challenges and settle into a groove of acceptance and relative normalcy.

Unfortunately, that probably will not happen. The things which distinguish them from the rest of the athletic world may have created a chasm too great for even the most tolerant among us to bridge.

One has no legs. The other's very persona has been called into question.

And yet, there they will be on June 4, lining up with the world's best in a sanctioned competition, with every intention of winning their particular event..

Oscar Pistorius, 24, who specializes in the 400-meter dash, was born without fibulae (lower leg bones) and had both legs amputated below the knee at 11 months of age. He runs using two carbon fiber prostheses—thus his nickname, The Blade Runner.

As a testimony to his athletic ability, his dominance in the Paralympics in the 100m, 200m and 400m speaks for itself.. Problems began to arise for Pistorius when he pursued the next level—to run against so-called "able-bodied" athletes.

Scientists convinced the IAAF (world track's governing body) that Pistorius' artificial limbs gave him an unfair advantage. The IAAF then ruled that the use of prostheses such as those used by the Blade Runner made him ineligible to run against able-bodied competitors under their covering.

A sports arbitration board, citing lack of evidence, then overruled the IAAF's decision and Pistorius was granted the right to freely compete.

With a chance to run in the 2012 London Olympics as his long range goal, Pistorius has one more barrier to cross: the Olympic "A" qualifying standard for the 400m, which is 45.25 seconds. His personal best is 45.61.

The 400m field which will eventually be put into place at the Pre Classic will be world class. Will it be enough to pull Pistorius across that "A" standard?

And what if Pistorius should somehow win? Will the "unfair advantage" question come into play again?

Caster Semenya, 20, has already been to the top. She is the reigning World Champion in the women's 800-meter run, a title she won convincingly in Berlin, 2009.

Some think a little too convincingly.

Her rapid progression on the world stage as an 18-year-old, her deep voice and muscular frame, and her total domination of the field in the 800m final in Berlin (1:55.45) convinced the IAAF to look into the matter of her gender.

What followed was an 11-month inquisition and banishment from competition in IAAF-sanctioned meets.

Finally, in July 2010, she was declared eligible to compete as a woman.

Having lost her competitive edge in the long lay-off, she was still able to post a respectable 1:58.16 in 2010. So far this year, after recovering from a back injury, Semenya has run a best of 2:01.77.

Her immediate goal is to continue to improve her times and eventually defend her world title at this year's World Championships in Daegu, South Korea in August.

In Eugene, at the Pre, Semenya will get a foretaste of the high-caliber competition she might face in Daegu.

Catch-22 Situation?

It's a given that Pistorius and Semenya are intent on winning against the best competition at the highest level.

Yet, what if they do win at that level?

Would that not raise the "unfair advantage" questions again?

It's the possible tension between our kinder, gentler side—wanting the underdog to win—and our skeptical, analytical side—wondering if there really is an unfair advantage—which makes these two athletes interesting.

As tolerant and open-minded as we may think ourselves to be, the real challenge may fall upon us, the spectator, as we attempt to resolve that tension.

Rojofact: Michael Johnson owns the Hayward Field (43.74) and Pre Classic (43.92) records in the men's 400m. Russia's Mariya Savinova holds both records in the women's 800m (1:57.56).

36th Prefontaine Classic and Diamond League meet Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m. Pacific.
Television coverage on NBC begins at 11:30 a.m. Pacific.

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