AROUND THE OVAL: Sam Prakel sets personal best in finishing third at Sir Walter Miler Friday...

Here’s some happenings from the world of track and field over the last few days:

In Raleigh, North Carolina, University of Oregon alum Sam Prakel (left/photo courtesy Total Sports Management US/adidas) finished third in the Sir Walter Miler invitational race Friday night, as all 13 athletes in the race broke 4 minutes.

Prakel, who finished third in the NCAA mile indoors and sixth in the 1500 outdoors for the Ducks, ran a personal best of 3:54.64, as two-time US Olympian Lopez Lomong of the Portland based Nike Bowerman TC won in a meet record 3:53.86.

Prakel earlier in the week announced that he signed a professional contract to run for adidas, and that he would be moving to Seattle to train under UW head track & field coach Andy Powell, who coached him at Oregon.

Former Emerald Ridge HS standout and 2016 US Olympian Hassan Mead finished eighth in a personal best 3:55.91.

Complete results of the Sir Walter Miler race are available here.

As we noted in a post Wednesday, USA Track & Field announced on Thursday that Eugene was awarded the 2020 US Olympic Track & Field trials.

The meet will be contested in the newly renovated Historic Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus that will be finished a few months before the Trials, which are scheduled for June 19-28th.

“No domestic event is more important to athletes and fans than the Olympic Trials,” USATF Chairman of the Board Steve Miller said. “The 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials is even more critical because it will lead off an unprecedented opportunity to elevate track & field in this country. Having continuity in location as we move from the Olympic Trials into 2021 will enhance and amplify everything around the sport in the United States, from marketing and promotions to operational efficiencies.”

“We could not be more excited to host the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials,” TrackTown USA CEO Mike Reilly said. “We are confident that the Eugene-Springfield community, our public and private partners, and the fans who travel from across the country will ensure an extraordinary atmosphere for this event. A new, state-of-the-art Hayward Field on the beautiful University of Oregon campus will be a perfect setting for the athletes striving to become a part of the World’s #1 Track & Field team.”

The USATF release is available here.

Also, USA Track & Field announced the members of Team USATF that will compete at next week’s 2018 North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) Senior Championships to be held at Varsity Stadium in Toronto, Ontario August 10-12.

Among the athletes with Washington ties who will compete in Canada are University of Washington grad Izaic Yorks (1500m); Emerald Ridge HS standout Hassan Mead (5000m); former Renton resident Devon Allen (110 HH); UW graduate Mel Lawrence (steeple); Bellevue resident Katie Burnett (20k walk); Pullman resident Katie Nageotte (pole vault); and Western Washington alum Bethany Drake (javelin).

Former Brooks Beast Riley Masters, who relocated to Colorado, will run the men's 5000 for the USA, and former University of Washington volunteer assistant coach Christie (Gordon) Moerman will run the 100 hurdles for Canada.

The USATF release is available here.

paulmerca.blogspot.com will be on site to cover next weekend’s NACAC Track & Field Championships in Toronto.

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