The greatest weekend of track & field and cross country in Washington state history!

Just got home to Seattle from a long day in Spokane at the USA Cross Country Championships, and what a weekend in both venues!

In Spokane, Olympians Dathan Ritzenhein & Shalane Flanagan showed their dominance over the field as they romped to victories in the mens open 12k and womens open 8k titles.

In the junior men's race, Portland's Trevor Dunbar built up a 17 second lead after only four kilometers, and cruised to victory in the 8-kilometer race.

Washington State freshman Andrew Kimpel (left/photo by Paul Merca) earned a spot on Team USA by placing fourth in the junior men's race, as the graduate of Spokane's North Central HS ran 24:19 to punch his ticket to Bydgoszcz, Poland.

In the junior women's 6k race, Providence College freshman Shelby Greany broke away from pack of four runners to secure the victory on the final lap of the 6-kilometer race.

Greany ran 20:27 to finish five seconds clear of high school senior Emily Sisson from Chesterfield, Missouri, who ran 20:32.

Meanwhile at the friendly confines of the Dempsey Indoor, what can you say about perhaps the best all around track and field meet in the facility's history?!?

The meet started off Friday night with an American best in the distance medley relay, as the Oregon Track Club Elite's foursome of Nick Symmonds, Matt Scherer, Tyler Mulder, and Will Leer covered the 4,000-meter relay course in 9:21.77 (it should be noted that they will not get credit for an American record because it was contested on an oversized track).

Oregon's Nicole Blood (15:51.59) led six women under 16:00 in the 5000 meter run, while Adams State's Aaron Braun led eleven men under 14 minutes, running 13:42.22.

The hits kept coming in the Saturday session!

What can you say about these numbers--five women under 4:40 in the mile, led by Florida's Charlotte Browning in a facility record 4:31.24, with Seattle Pacific's Jessica Pixler second at 4:32.48, and UW's Katie Follett third at 4:34.98?

In the men's mile, how about 13 men under 4 minutes in the mile, three of which were in the B section, and one (UCLA's Marlon Patterson) missing the 4 minute mark by .45?

In the men's 800, Oregon's Olympian Andrew Wheating tearing up the race in the B section, by running 1:46.34, and setting a new facility record?

In the women's 800, how about world championship 1500-meter bronze medalist Shannon Rowbury being a non-factor in the race?

How about freshman sensation Jordan Hasay of Oregon running away with the women's 3000 in 9:12.25? In the men's 3000, EIGHTEEN men under 8:00 in the fast section, and four in the B section? Not to mention a facility record by Northern Arizona's David McNeill at 7:47.52, taking down among others, Oklahoma State's German Fernandez!

And if that wasn't enough, how about Ryan Bailey, the sprint find of this indoor season, running a facility record 20.84 in the 200, and 6.61 in the 60?

If you thought this was awesome, how about on the field, where Olympian Jesse Williams cleared 7-7 (2.31m) for a facility record, and ex-Husky Carly Dockendorf cleared a Canadian indoor record of 14-6 (4.42m)?

Honestly, this was the best weekend of track & field and cross country in the state of Washington.

Period.

Complete results from the Husky Classic can be perused here...and results from the USA Cross Country Championships are available here.