Pro track circuit resumes for Washington athletes with meets in Monaco and Edmonton...

Now that the US Olympic Track & Field Trials are clearly in the rear view mirror, the pro track & field circuit returns, with two meets involving Washington athletes.

The Fontvielle district of Monaco hosts the annual Herculis meeting Friday, which is always one of the best Diamond League meets of the year.  If you’re looking for world record holders, World and Olympic champions galore, the Herciulis meet has it.  Here’s the IAAF’s preview of the meet.

Washington alum Katie Mackey (left/photo by Paul Merca) will try and shake off the disappointment of a sixth place finish in the 5000 at the Olympic trials, as she runs the 3000 along with Brooks Beasts teammate Gabe Grunewald, who was 12th in the 1500 at the Trials.  They’ll face a field that includes the Kenyan trio of Mercy Cherono, Hellen Obiri, and Janet Kisa, along with NCAA 5000/10000 champ Dominique Scott of Arkansas & South Africa.

The start list for the Herculis meeting is available here.

Also on the docket Friday evening is the TrackTown Classic (the meet formerly known as the Edmonton International) at Foote Field in Edmonton, where a number of athletes with Washington ties will compete.

Federal Way resident and Cape Verde Olympian Jordin Andrade squares off in the 400 hurdles against Washington State alum Jeshua Anderson and 2015 world champs team member Johnny Dutch.

Others competing in Edmonton include Seattle Pacific alum McKayla Fricker and Megan Malasarte of the Brooks Beasts in the women’s 800; Cas Loxsom and Drew Windle of the Beasts in the men’s 800; and, Edmonton native, Washington State assistant coach and Canadian Olympian Angela Whyte in the 100 hurdles.

The start list for the TrackTown Classic is available here.  Media partner Runnerspace.com will have live streaming coverage starting at 5:30 pm Pacific.

SHEEN OUT AS UW SPRINTS COACH...

According to numerous sources in the local track & field community, University of Washington sprints coach Raul Sheen has left the school.

Sources told paulmerca.blogspot.com that his departure happened sometime last week, and was a topic of discussion among several club coaches attending the Region 13 USATF Junior Olympic championship meet last weekend at the Southwest Community Center track in West Seattle.

Neither UW head coach Greg Metcalf nor anyone from the school has commented on this personnel matter; however, Sheen’s name and bio was removed from the UW website. 

NOVY THROWS FOR TEAM USA AT NACAC U-23 MEET...

Montesano native Tera Novy competes Friday in the NACAC U-23 discus competition Friday in San Salvador, El Salvador as part of the Team USA U-23 delegation competing this weekend.

The start lists and results for the NACAC U-23 meet are available here, while USA Track & Field's roster is available here.