Brad Walker & Bernard Lagat look to get back on track in Gateshead...

After his stunning exit from the Beijing Olympics in which he failed to clear a height in the pole vault qualifying round, Mountlake Terrace's Brad Walker (left/photo by Paul Merca) looks to jump start his season Sunday at the Aviva British Grand Prix in Gateshead, England.

While the former University of Washington standout would gladly trade any victory for an Olympic medal, he will face in Gateshead the silver and bronze medalists in the Olympic pole vault final, Yevgeniy Lukyanenko (RUS) and Denys Yurchenko (UKR).

Walker is looking to avenge a loss to Lukyanenko the last time the former Husky stepped on British soil, as the Russian world indoor champion defeated the American at the London Grand Prix meet in late July.

Here's a meet preview, courtesy of the IAAF.

Former Washington State University standout and 2007 double world champion Bernard Lagat, who was hampered by a sore Achilles tendon in Beijing, will run in the men's 1000 meters at Gateshead. Like Walker, Lagat did not look sharp in his last outing on British soil, losing over one mile at the London Grand Prix meet.

American viewers can watch the meet on a subscription basis at universalsports.com. Please check their website for details of the meet.