U.S. vs. The World in the Shot Put Ring at The Prefontaine Classic
The United States’ top-two women shot putters are set to take on the Olympic Medalists from the Paris Olympic Games in the Women’s Shot Put event at the 50th edition of The Prefontaine Classic. In addition to the below headliners, the full field for this year’s Women’s Shot Put is now available here.
Chase Jackson (U.S.A) is currently ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and world in the women’s shot put, and has claimed the last two World Athletics Championships titles in the event. The last time Jackson tossed at the Pre Classic was in 2023, when the meet served as that year’s Wanda Diamond League Final and Jackson walked away with both the American record (20.76m / 68’ 1 1/2”) and her second-straight Diamond Trophy. Jackson is an eight-time national champion between both indoor and outdoor women’s shot put, and opened this year’s outdoor season with a 20.31m (66’ 7 3/4”)throw at the Xiamen Diamond League meeting.
Jaida Ross (U.S.A.) grew up in Medford, Oregon and recently joined the professional ranks after a record-filled collegiate career with the University of Oregon. Ross closed out her Oregon Duck career with an 18.98m (62’ 3 ¼”) throw at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships–her second-place finish helping the Ducks secure their indoor national title. Currently ranked second in the U.S. in the women’s shot put, Ross owns the collegiate record (20.01m / 65’ 7 ¾”) and won the 2024 NCAA Outdoor title in the event.
Yemisi Ogunleye (GER) is the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the women’s shot put, throwing 20.00m (65’ 7 ½”) for her first ever Olympic title last summer in Paris. That was the first time Ogunleye broke the 20-meter barrier. Ogunleye is a three-time national champion between both indoor and outdoor women’s shot put, her personal-best mark of 20.27m (66’ 6”) being achieved in her gold medal throw at the 2025 German Indoor Championships. Ogunleye is currently ranked third in the world in the women’s shot put.
Maddison-Lee Wesche (NZL) is the reigning Olympic silver medalist in the women’s shot put, earning her first Olympic medal with a 19.86m (65’ 2”) throw–her personal best mark in Paris Olympics. Wesche previously represented New Zealand at the Tokyo Olympics and the past two World Athletics Outdoor Championships. A six-time national champion, Wesche opened her 2025 outdoor season with a 4th-place finish (19.51m / 64’ ¼”) at the Xiamen Diamond League meeting on April 26.
Jiayuan Song (CHN) is the reigning Olympic bronze medalist in the women’s shot put, her second time representing China at an Olympic Games, but her first ever medal. 2024 also saw Song’s first-ever national title in the event. Song has broken the 20-meter barrier twice in her career, with her personal best mark standing at 20.38m (66” 10 ½”). Song is currently ranked fifth in the world in the women’s shot put.
The 50th edition of The Prefontaine Classic will be held on Saturday, July 5 at Hayward Field. Tickets start at just $35 and may be purchased here. Lexus Legacy Experience VIP packages, which can be purchased in addition to an event ticket, are on sale now.