Eight athletes with Washington ties, including WSU alum Caroline Austin, on Team USATF for The Match...

INDIANAPOLIS—USA Track & Field announced the team that will head to Minsk, Belarus for next weekend’s dual meet against Europe, in what is called “The Match”.

Marking a return to the famous intercontinental duels of the 1960s and 70s, the best of Europe’s athletes will take on Team USATF in the last major athletics competition before this year’s IAAF World Championships in Doha.

“The Match is a phenomenal opportunity for American athletes to represent the U.S. in what is sure to be a stellar competition in Belarus. Team USATF features an impressive variety of Olympians and world champions that will lead a strong contingent of some of the brightest up-and-coming athletes in the U.S.,” said USATF CEO Max Siegel. “We are excited to revive this old rivalry between Team USATF and Europe in a great battle for bragging rights.”

“I am thrilled that so many of our continents top stars have accepted the invitation to defend Europe’s honour next month and that our rivals Team USA have selected a strong squad to make this a truly memorable encounter. Both teams feature many, many world-class stars of our sport and The Match will be compelling watching,” said European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen.

In The Match, four athletes in each event will represent Team USATF, while Team Europe will have four athletes in every event.

Among those going to Minsk are eight athletes with Washington ties. Of the eight, Washington State alum Caroline Austin (left/photo by Paul Merca) will compete on her first ever US national team.

Austin, who finished ninth at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships in Des Moines in late July, is joined on the women’s 3000 steeplechase squad by Pasco HS alum Marisa Howard, and University of Washington hall of fame member Mel Lawrence.

Speaking of Husky hall of fame members, Katie Mackey of the Brooks Beasts and a teammate of Lawrence’s on the 2008 Washington cross country team that won the national title, will run the 1500 meters for Team USATF.

Fellow Brooks Beasts member Brannon Kidder, who was just named to the world championship team after Donavan Brazier received a wild card berth after winning the Diamond League final a few days ago, will run in the men’s 800.

Former Pullman resident Katie Nageotte will head to Minsk immediately after competing in the women’s pole vault finals in Brussels on Friday.

US Olympic team members Kara Winger from Vancouver (javelin) and former Emerald Ridge HS standout Hassan Mead (3000 meters) round out the eight athletes going to Minsk with Washington ties.

Former University of Washington head coach Orin Richburg will serve Team USATF as the combined relay coach, while Mercer Island HS alum Dena Evans will serve as the women’s head coach. Former Washington javelin thrower Justin St. Clair will serve as the men’s throws coach.

The two day meeting with 37 track and field events will be broadcast live, September 9-10, on NBCSN and NBC Sports Gold from 9 am PT to noon PT.

Here’s the alphabetical roster of athletes with Washington ties, along with their events:

Caroline Austin—steeple
Marisa Howard—steeple
Brannon Kidder—800m
Mel Lawrence—steeple
Katie Mackey—1500m
Hassan Mead—3000m
Katie Nageotte—pole vault
Kara Winger—javelin

Here’s the link to the USA Track & Field release, while the European Athletics release is available here.

NOTE:  USA Track & Field and European Athletics contributed to this report.