McNamara and Abbott set to race in Lignano Tuesday...

LIGNANO, Italy--Several athletes with ties to the state of Washington will run in Tuesday's Meeting Internazionale di Atletica Leggera, led by Auburn-Riverside alum Jordan McNamara (left/photo by Paul Merca), who is riding a bit of a hot streak over the last two weeks.

McNamara, who will contest the 1500 in Lignano, won the 1500 at Saturday's KBC Nacht meeting in Heusden, Belgium, running 3:35.39 to beat among others, Olympic bronze medalist and world indoor champ Abdelaati Iguider.

McNamara will have five Americans in the field , including Will Leer, Matt Elliott, Mac Fleet, Ben Blankenship, and De'Sean Turner.

In the men's 800 meters, Washington State alum Joe Abbott makes his 2013 season debut on the European continent, as he is entered in the men's 800 and faces a field with four other Americans including Oregon's NCAA champ Elijah Greer.

Abbott is riding a wave in which he won his last two races--the Harry Jerome in Burnaby, and the Victoria International, earlier this month.

Tacoma's Matt Scherer is the designated pacer for this race as well as the 1500.

The start lists for Tuesday's meet are available here.