Weekend roundup: May 2-3...

Here's a quick roundup of what happened with some of the top track & field athletes with Washington state affiliations over the weekend, focusing primarily on the post-collegians:

At the Stanford Invitational, former Auburn HS runner Chris Lukezic finished fourth in the 1500 meter run, clocking 3:37.32.

Also at Stanford, former Renton HS and University of Washington All-American Ryan Brown was third in the 800 meters, running 1:49.03.

In Kingston, Jamaica, another former Husky, Norris Frederick finished fifth in the long jump with a mark of 24-3 1/2. Frederick is currently training at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California under 1984 Olympic triple jump champion Al Joyner.

Ex University of Washington pole vaulter Brad Walker from Mountlake Terrace, the reigning world outdoor champion in that event, is scheduled to open his 2009 season on May 9th at Osaka Grand Prix meet in the Japanese city, according to the meet's web site.

Walker, who is also training at the Olympic training center in Chula Vista under Dan Pfaff after Pfaff's training group in Stockton, California lost its funding, has an automatic spot to compete in this summer's world championships in Berlin (provided he competes in the USA Championships in Eugene next month) by virtue of being the defending world champion.

Another reigning world champion, former Cougar Bernard Lagat, is in the middle of his annual high altitude training session in Flagstaff, Arizona, according to several readers of the mighty blogspot.

Lagat, the defending world champ at 1500 and 5000 meters, is scheduled to open his outdoor season on May 16th at the adidas Track Classic in Carson, California.

Part two of the Chula Vista discus world record challenge continues on Cinco de Mayo, featuring reigning world champion Gerd Kanter of Estonia, along with Kanter's training partner, former Husky Mart Israel, and two time US Olympian and ex-Cougar Ian Waltz.

For those of you who want to follow the Chula Vista Challenge live, you can click here to check out Kanter's web site!