Two of the most exciting teenage talents in men’s distance running will take on Olympic and world champion Cole Hocker in the mile at the Eugene leg of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League.
Australia’s Cameron Myers and New Zealand’s Sam Ruthe will line up against home favourite Hocker in the iconic Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic on July 4, with all three men chasing their first ever Diamond League victories.
Hocker is the reigning Olympic champion over 1500m, having stunned favourites Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr at Paris 2024.
The American, who is known for his fearless racing style, also won the gold medal over 5000m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last year.
He posted a personal best of 3:47.43 in last year’s Bowerman Mile, coming in fourth behind Niels Laros, Yared Nuguse and Azeddine Habz in a record-breaking race.
Australian star Myers is the world U20 record holder in the mile since his 3:47.48 in New York last year.
The 19-year-old returns for his second appearance at Hayward Field, having finished sixth in the Bowerman Mile last season.
New Zealand’s Ruthe broke the four-minute barrier at the age of just 15, and recently posted a world U18 best of 3:48.88 in Boston.
The 17-year-old finished 13th in last year’s mile in Eugene, which was also his first ever Diamond League appearance.
Eugene is the ninth leg of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League, which begins in Doha on May 8 and ends at the two-day series final in Brussels on September 4-5.
The series unites the biggest names in track and field in some of the world’s most iconic arenas, crossing four continents and 15 cities over the course of the season.
