Six athletes with Washington ties set to participate in London Diamond League meet...

LONDON, England--The two-day Sainsbury's Anniversary Games at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London that begins Friday marks the first major track meet held at the Olympic Stadium since last year's Olympics.

The meet is the final IAAF Diamond League meet before next month's IAAF world track & field championships in Moscow.

With several countries either holding selection meets or making athletes attend mandatory pre-world championship training camps, one gets the sense that the quality of the London meet may be watered down.

However, it's also given athletes who normally wouldn't receive an invitation to a meet of this caliber the opportunity to showcase their talents in a Diamond League meet.

There will be a significant Washington presence in the meet, as six athletes with ties to this state will participate in the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games.

On Friday, Tacoma's Brie Felnagle (#1, far right/photo by Paul Merca), who trains with Danny Mackey's Brooks Beasts group, but competes for adidas, goes in the 3000 against a field of seven Americans, including world championship team members Shannon Rowbury, Kim Conley, Jordan Hasay, Treniere Moser, and Molly Huddle.

In the men's 800, Washington State alum Joe Abbott is in a field that includes seven Americans, including all three world championship team members--Duane Solomon, Nick Symmonds, and Brandon Johnson.  Matt Scherer of the Brooks Beasts will handle pacemaking chores in the race. 

Brooks Beasts' Katie Mackey is entered in the 1500 against three Americans, led by the high school phenom and world championships team member Mary Cain.

Saturday, University of Washington alum Brad Walker goes in the pole vault against all three Olympic medalists--Renaud Lavillenie of France, along with Bjorn Otto and Raphael Holzdeppe of Germany.

Auburn-Riverside alum Jordan McNamara will run in the Emsley Carr Mile against five Americans, including former Oregon and current world championship team members Matthew Centrowitz and Galen Rupp.

The start list for the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games is available here.

QUICK TAKES:  Rainier Beach HS alum Ginnie Crawford announced on her Twitter and Instagram accounts that her season is over, after having surgery on her knee to repair cartilage damaged in training.

One name you have not seen this season is that of former University of Washington standout Ingvill Måkestad Bovin, who injured her Achilles before the London Olympics.

At the end of April, Måkestad Bovin gave birth to a boy, which has kept her busy, as she is slowly working her way back into competitive shape for the 2014 season.

She also published a sports nutrition book, called "Winning Food", which features recipes contributed by a number of world class athletes, including Usain Bolt, David Rudisha, Jesse Williams, and Andreas Thorkildsen.