Joe Klecker (right) edges Grant Fisher of the Bowerman Track Club to win the USA Track & Field men's 10,000-meter championship race on Friday, May 27, 2022, in the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in Eugene. Klecker and Fisher earned spots on Team USA for the World Athletics Championships in July at Hayward Field.Howard Lao for The Oregonian/OregonLive

EUGENE — Joe Klecker won a back-and-forth battle with Grant Fisher on the last lap’s home straight to claim the USA Track & Field men’s 10,000-meter championship Friday at Hayward Field.

Fisher, who runs for the Portland-based Bowerman Track Club, made a hard move coming off the last turn and surged into a slight lead as the fans roared on the first night of the Prefontaine Classic.

But Klecker gathered himself to make one more supreme effort in his final few steps to pass Fisher and win in 28 minutes, 28.71 seconds.

It was a thrilling finish for the crowd of 4,182 on a cool, dry evening.

Fisher, the U.S. record-holder in the 10,000, was a close second in 28:28.81. Sean McGorty, who trains with Fisher with the BTC, crossed third in 28:29.57.

“I went to the front with maybe a ‘k’ to go,” Klecker said. “I was just going to stay here until someone pulled up on my shoulder. When Grant did, then it was just trying to match his footspeed. Grant has great footspeed.”

Mission accomplished. Klecker, Fisher and McGorty all claimed spots on Team USA for the World Athletics Championships, which will be contested July 15-24 at Hayward Field.

USA Track & Field elected to hold its individual championship races in the men’s and women’s 10,000 in conjunction with the Pre Classic rather than during the USATF Outdoor Championships, June 23-26, also at Hayward.

In theory this will allow distance runners to more easily double back in the 5,000, which will be contested with the other USATF events in June.

Much of the men’s 10,000 was run at a pedestrian pace, with almost all of the runners still in the race until things heated up over the final few laps.

Klecker stayed tightly focused. His plan was simple.

“I didn’t really think about who was left,” he said. “I couldn’t really see who was left. If anyone pulled up on my right shoulder, I wanted to go with him and give him a fight to the line.”

Fisher second-guessed himself after the race for not being in better position late in the race, and leaving himself too much to do on the last lap.

“I have mixed feelings,” Fisher said. “Ultimately the goal was to get on the team. That was kind of the base level I had for myself. But I wanted to win. …

“It’s kind of a weird feeling to think you’re disappointed with second in the USAs. But I am disappointed.”

The BTC had a big presence in the race. Two-time Olympian Lopez Lomong placed sixth. Woody Kincaid, a Tokyo Olympian, dropped out of the race.

Reigning Olympic champion and world record-holder Armand Duplantis breezed to victory in the Pre Classic pole vault with a best clearance of 19-4¾.

The event was moved from Saturday to Friday after meet organizers looked at forecasts calling for rain on Saturday.

As it turned out, conditions Friday were perfect with temperatures in the low 60s and little wind. Duplantis took advantage. He was the only vaulter to clear the winning height. He then had the bar moved to 19-11. He missed his three attempts at that height, although the last was a near thing.

Olympic silver medalist Chris Nilsen was second. Two-time Olympic champ Renaud Lavillenie had a quick night’s work. Lavillenie, the meet record-holder, successfully cleared just one height at 17-9 before bowing out with three misses at 18-5.

Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh celebrates with her country's flag after she won the women’s high jump at the Prefontaine Classic on Friday, May 27, 2022, at Hayward Field in Eugene.Howard Lao for The Oregonian/OregonLive

The crowd gave Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh an enthusiastic ovation when she broke out her country’s flag after winning the high jump with a best mark of 6-6¾. U.S. Olympian Vashti Cunningham was second.

The three announced world record attempts Friday — in the women’s two mile, and the men’s and women’s 5,000 — all came up short.

Francine Niyonsaba won the two mile in 8:59.08, just missing the world record of 8:58.58. Taye Ejgayehu took the women’s 5,000 in 14:12.98. The world record is 14:06.62. Joshua Cheptegei cruised to victory in the men’s 5,000 in 12:57.99, well shy of his world record of 12:35.36.

Here are results from the USATF 10,000-meter championship and the Prefontaine Classic.

-- Ken Goe for The Oregonian/OregonLive

KenGoe1020@gmail.com | Twitter: @KenGoe

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