Brad Walker takes second at Herculis meeting in Monaco...

FONTVIEILLE, Monaco--University of Washington alum and former world champion Brad Walker (left/photo by Mike Scott) finished second in the pole vault at the Herculis Meeting International d'Athletisme, the tenth stop on the IAAF Diamond League tour on Friday night.

Walker cleared a best of 18-11 1/2 (5.78m), to finish behind Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie of France, who cleared a 2013 world leading mark of 19-6 1/2 (5.96m).

Walker opened with first attempt makes at 18-4 1/2 (5.60m), and 18-8 1/4 (5.70m), before clearing his best mark of the day on his third attempt.

After Lavillenie cleared 19-2 3/4 (5.86m) to take the lead, Walker missed all three attempts at 19-4 3/4 (5.91m), which would have been a season best.

In the men's 5000, Washington State University alum Bernard Lagat was forced to drop out of the race, as Kenya's Edwin Soi won in a world leading time and meet record of 12:51.34.

On his Twitter feed after the race, he wrote, "Sorry to disappoint tonight. Thank you @DrJoshGlass & Dustin Williams @trainer911 for taking care of my hip. I'll be back strong for Moscow"

Tacoma's Matt Scherer of the Brooks Beasts set the table in the 800 for Duane Solomon to take the win in 1:43.72.

There were seven world leading marks set at the Herculis meet, as many of the world's best track and field athletes begin sharpening for the IAAF world track & field championships in Moscow that begins on August 10th.

Complete results of the Herculis meeting are available here.

KARA PATTERSON GOES FOR A STANDARD IN CHICAGO...

With this weekend the deadline for American athletes to attain a A or B mark in order to go to next month's world championships, Vancouver native and two-time Olympian Kara Patterson takes aim at the IAAF A standard of 203-5 (62.00m) at the Chicagoland Throws Series meet at Benedictine University in Chicago.

With national champion Brittany Borman already holding a B standard of 196-10 (60.00m) or better this season, the only way for Patterson to go to Moscow is to throw 203-5 or better Saturday.

On her Facebook page, Patterson said, "Feeling excited and ready, with my main goal being to retain my health. This season has been so fun so far though, and I'd love to keep that going."

At the USA championships last month, Patterson, who underwent knee surgery after the Olympics to repair the ACL damaged at the Olympic Trials, threw for the first time in 2013, finishing third with a best of 183-4 (55.88m).

The start list for the Chicagoland Throws Series meet is available here.