Plethora of Washington based runners head to Azusa looking for USATF, world & Olympic standards...

A large contingent of runners from the state of Washington are headed to Azusa, California for Tuesday night’s Sunset Tour distance meet at Cougar Stadium on the campus of Azusa Pacific University.

Many of them will be looking to hit or exceed the qualifying standards for the Toyota USA Track & Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa at the end of the month, the IAAF World Track & Field Championships in Doha, Qatar that start at the end of September, or next year’s Olympic Games qualifying standard.

In the men’s 800, Izaic Yorks, Henry Wynne and David Ribich of the Brooks Beasts move down in distance in one heat, while defending Olympic 1500 meter champion and UW volunteer coach Matthew Centrowitz goes against Brannon Kidder and Josh Kerr of the Beasts in another heat.

The women’s 800 features 2016 Portuguese Olympian Marta Pen Freitas of the Beasts, along with Seattle resident Savannah Colon and Olympia native Brooke Feldmeier.

Pasco HS grad Marisa Howard (left/photo by Paul Merca) is entered in the women’s 3000 steeplechase, while Washington State’s Paul Ryan is entered in the men’s open 1500 and UW alum Baylee Mires in the women’s open 1500.

In the invitational men’s 1500, Washington volunteer coaches Sam Prakel and Amos Bartelsmeyer are entered. Washington alums Mel Lawrence and Eleanor Fulton are entered in one heat of the women’s invitational 1500, while fellow alum Katie Mackey of the Brooks Beasts is entered in another, with Karisa Nelson making her Brooks Beasts debut.

The invitational mens’ 5000 has former Emerald Ridge HS standout and 2016 Olympian Hassan Mead and Bellingham native David Elliott, along with Kirkland native Dillon Maggard of the Beasts.

Fresh off a second place finish in the 1500 at the NACAC U23 championships, Katie Rainsberger of the Huskies moves up in distance to 5000 meters, where she’ll run against a field that includes Inglemoor HS alum Tansey Listed and Allie Buchalski of the Brooks Beasts.

The meet, which is organized by former Brooks sports marketing manager Jesse Williams, will be webcast on Flotrack ($).

The start list for the Sunset Tour meet is available here.

BATT-DOYLE FINISHES SIXTH IN WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES 10000...

Recent Husky grad Izzi Batt-Doyle ran her first race since she took third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships Monday, as she suited up for Team Australia at the World University Games in Naples, Italy. Batt-Doyle placed sixth in the 10,000-meters.

This was the second World University Games appearance for Batt-Doyle, the native of Adelaide, Australia. She was seventh two years ago and improved to sixth this time around, running a time of 34:21.45 in the hot and humid conditions. China's Deshun Zhang won the race in 34:03.31.

Day 1 results of the World University Games track & field competition are available here.

NOTE:  The Sunset Tour, Finished Results, and the University of Washington sports information office contributed to this report.