Shalane Flanagan and Matt Tegenkamp entered in mile at UW Invitational...
Sharpening up for her title defense at the USA Cross Country Championships in San Diego next week, 2008 Olympic 10000 meter bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan (left/photo by Paul Merca) returns to the Dempsey to contest the mile, where she'll face a field that includes 2009 world championships competitors Bridget Franek and Geena Gall, as well as former Oregon All-American Nicole Blood.
Two weeks ago, Flanagan ran as a pacesetter for training partner Lisa Koll, as Koll set a new Dempsey facility record in the 3000, clocking 8:53.14.
University of Washington freshman Katie Flood, the Pac 10 newcomer of the year in cross country, is expected to make her 2011 indoor debut in the mile.
Gall is entered in the 800 as well.
The women's 3000 has among its entries Blood, Franek, former Bellarmine Prep and North Carolina All-American Brie Felnagle, and the season opener for Oregon sophomore Jordan Hasay.
In the men's mile, 2008 US Olympian Matt Tegenkamp is entered in the mile, along with Oregon All-American Matthew Centrowitz.
Rainier Beach HS grad Michael Berry, a world junior championships gold medalist last year in the 4 x 400 relay, is entered in the 60, 400 and on a leg of Oregon's 4 x 400 and distance medley relays.
A pair of athletes on the USTFCCCA Bowerman Watch list are entered in the meet, as Oregon's Brianne Theisen makes her season pentathlon debut on Friday, while Washington State's Jeshua Anderson is entered in the 60 hurdles and the 4 x 400 relay.
In the men's heptathlon that starts on Friday, Washington All-American Jeremy Taiwo goes against a field that includes Cal's Michael Morrison, the NCAA runner-up in the decathlon and third in last year's NCAA heptathlon, high school All-American Dakotah Keys of Oregon, former Seattle Pacific standout Chris Randolph, and Nick Trubachik, formerly of Portland State, who was second at the NACAC U23 decathlon last summer.
Former Washington All-American Falesha Ankton makes her pro debut in the 60 hurdles against Canadian Olympians Angela Whyte and Ruky Abdulai, who is also entered in the long and high jumps.
In addition to Abdulai in the high jump, watch for Washington State's Holly Parent, and Washington's Kelly McNamee.
The women's pole vault features former Husky Carly Dockendorf, the bronze medalist at last fall's Commonwealth Games in India, against NCAA All-American Melissa Gergel of Oregon, along with Cal's Allison Stokke.
The men's pole vault features Washington's reigning NCAA indoor champ Scott Roth, in a battle against former NCAA indoor and outdoor champ Jason Colwick, reigning Pac-10 champ Ryan Vu of the UW, and NCAA D2 champ Ryan Brown of Western Washington.
The heralded Husky freshman from Boise, Kasen Covington, is entered in both the long and triple jumps. Husky All-American Elisa Bryant is slated to contest the 20-pound weight throw.
As always, the accepted entry lists are fluid and subject to change. It can be accessed here.
Heat sheets are expected to be posted within the next day or so.
The most current time schedule is posted here, and is subject to change. The UW Invitational gets under way Friday at 3 pm.
For those of you who are following the professional circuit, the indoor season formally opens Friday with the running of the Millrose Games at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Washington State grad and reigning world indoor 3000 meter champion Bernard Lagat is gunning for his ninth Wanamaker Mile title against a field that includes Ethiopia's Dresse Mekonnen, the two time world indoor champ at 1500.
Start lists for the Millrose Games, which will be televised on ESPN2, are available here.
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