Tacoma's Mark Wieczorek seventh in 800m at Birmingham Diamond League stop...

BIRMINGHAM, England--Tacoma's Mark Wieczorek (left/photo by Paul Merca) finished seventh in the 800 meters at the Sainsbury's Grand Prix, stop number seven on the IAAF Diamond League tour on a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon.

With training partner and rabbit du jour Matt Scherer setting the pace for the field, Wieczorek ran 1:48.74, as Ethiopia's Mohammed Aman took the win in a time of 1:45.18, making it Aman's third win this season on the IAAF Diamond League circuit this season.

The meet's highlight was the appearance of national hero Mo Farah, who trains in Beaverton as part of the Nike Oregon Project, as Farah showed his readiness to defend his world title in the 5000 with a 52.36 last 400 and a 27.26 last 200 to win the 5000 in 13:14.24 over Ethiopia's Yenew Alamirew (13.14.71) and Hagos Gebrhiwet (13:17.11).

The IAAF recap of the meet is available here.

The IAAF Diamond League tour moves to Lausanne, Switzerland for the Athletissima meeting on July 4th.

NOTES:  University of California grad Deborah Maier is now the newest member of the Seattle based Brooks Beasts middle distance squad that Wieczorek and Scherer are members of.

Maier joins Washington alum Katie Mackey, SPU grad Jessica Tebo, along with Stanford alum Lindsay Allen and Tacoma's Brie Felnagle in the group led by Danny Mackey.

At Cal, Maier was an NCAA All American in cross country, and was third in the 10000 at the 2012 NCAA championships, and second at both 3000 and 5000 at the NCAA indoors.  She also won two MPSF titles over 3000 indoors during her stint at Berkeley.