Ahmed and Knight going head-to-head in Pre Classic 2-mile

Five-time Canadian record-holder Mohammed Ahmed and NCAA champion Justyn Knight are going head-to-head this Sunday in the Pre Classic two-mile.

RELATED: RECORD ALERT: Mohammed Ahmed smashes his own 5,000m record in Rome

Both runners have had great 2019 seasons. Knight has already run a huge 5,000m personal best 13:09.76 at the Rome Diamond League to secure Olympic standard and one of the fastest 5,000m times in Canadian history.

In the same race, Ahmed became the first Canadian ever to go sub-13 in a 5,000m. He broke his own Canadian record by three seconds, running a 12:58.16 to finish sixth.

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Ahmed had been hunting the 12:59 for a long time, but to run that fast takes a special day, and in Rome his time came. Heading into Pre this weekend, both runners have an Olympic standard, which means they also have World Championship standard for this year’s championship in Doha. Ahmed has already been named to the team in the 10,000m.

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RELATED: Athletics Canada rolls out five more members of World Championship team

Gabriela DeBues-Stafford is hunting to break that elusive 4:00.00 barrier in a stacked 1,500m field, and Melissa Bishop-Nriagu will be helping her get there. The 1,500m runs at 2:31 p.m. PT and the 2-mile goes at 1:34 p.m. PT. You can stream the event live and for free at cbcsports.ca.

RELATED: Bishop-Nriagu to pace DeBues-Stafford in Pre Classic 1,500m