US elite throwers, jumpers in Tuscon; distance runners at Occidental for high-performance meets...

For most of America's top throwers, jumpers, and middle distance runners, this weekend will serve as a key benchmark for those with aspirations of competing in next month's US Olympic Trials, or the Olympics in London.

Thursday and Saturday, the University of Arizona hosts the Tuscon Elite meets, a two day competition involving many of the country's top throwers and jumpers in a competitive situation designed to help push each other to the requisite Olympic Games and Olympic Trials standards.

Among those in Thursday's meet include South Whidbey HS alum and former University of Washington volunteer assistant coach Kimery Hern, and Spokane native Britney Henry (hammer); WSU alum Marissa Tschida, Vancouver native Kara Patterson (above/photo by Paul Merca), and former Husky Kyle Nielsen (javelin); Marysville-Pilchuck alum Jarred Rome (discus); and former Husky All-American Norris Frederick (long jump).

All are expected to compete in day 2 of the meet on Saturday.

The start list for day 1 of the Tuscon Elite meet is available here.

On Friday, the cream of American middle distance running assembles at Occidental College outside of Los Angeles for the USATF High Performance Meet in a competitive situation designed to give runners the best opportunity to meet or exceed the Olympic Trials and/or Games standards.

Running at Oxy are: Lois Keller and John Ricardi of Club Northwest (steeple); Seattle's Kevin Hicks and Gig Harbor's Mark Wieczorek (800); former UW All American Katie Mackey, Tacoma native Brie Felnagle (1500), and Auburn-Riverside HS alum Jordan McNamara (1500); and, Western Washington alum Sarah Porter (5000).

The start list for the Oxy High Performance Meet are available here.

On the collegiate front, the NCAA announced its list of declared athletes for next week's first round of the Division I track & field championships (aka the West and East Regional meet) in Austin, Texas and Jacksonville, Florida.

In the West Region, those with Washington ties in the top eight in the field of 48 (24 relays) include on the women's side: Washington State's Shawna Fermin (400); Washington's Katie Flood (1500); Colorado's Jessica Tebo from Sammamish (5000); Washington's Logan Miller (pole vault); and, University Place native Andrea Geubelle of Kansas (long/triple jumps).

Men with Washington connections ranked in the top eight include: Washington's James Alaka (200); Rainier Beach HS grad Michael Berry of Oregon (400); Gig Harbor's Miles Unterreiner of Stanford (10000); Washington's JJ Juilfs (pole vault); Washington State's Stephan Scott-Ellis (long/triple jumps); and, Tahoma HS grad Derek Eager of UCLA (javelin).

The NCAA field of declared entries are available here.