Seattle resident Sam Prakel wins USATF road mile title at Drake Blue Oval Shootout...

DES MOINES, Iowa--University of Washington volunteer coach and Seattle resident Sam Prakel (photo by Luke Lu/Drake Relays) highlighted the results of a small group of Washington affiliated athletes that headed to Iowa to compete in the Drake Blue Oval Showcase at Drake University Saturday.

With what few meets contested around the country concentrating on specialties (i.e., distance oriented meets like the Portland Track Big Friendly series, sprint/field event meets in Florida, Texas & Georgia, etc.), the Drake Blue Oval Showcase was the first major elite track & field meet contested in the USA in this odd and truncated 2020 season.

Prakel won the USA Track & Field road mile title, which started in the heart of campus, before finishing with 500 meters on the track. Prakel surged from fifth to first in the last 400 meters. covering the last quarter in 53.4 to pull away from Colby Alexander and recent University of Colorado grad Joe Klecker.

Prakel took the win in 3:58.3 to Alexander's 3:58.8, and Klecker's 3:59.0, as they were the only three to break 4 minutes.

Prakel's time was the second fastest time in the event's history.

Iowa native Erik Sowinski of the Seattle based Brooks Beasts, primarily an 800 meter specialist, was in the lead group early, before finishing tenth in 4:06.7.

Marisa Howard (Luke Lu photo)

In the women's road mile, Pasco native Marisa Howard, dropping down in distance from the steeplechase, led early and stayed near the front, but could not hang on in the final 400, as Emily Lipari won the title with a 63-second last 400, clocking 4:29.3 to Howard's 4:31.1.

Howard's second place finish was the highest placing in a USATF national championship event for the Boise State and Pasco HS alum.

University of Washington volunteer coach Alli Cash was a surprise fourth place finisher in 4:33.3, ahead of Husky alum Katie Mackey's 4:36.0, and Karisa Nelson of the Brooks Beasts' sixth place finish in 4:38.4.

In the only track race involving a Washington affiliated athlete, 2016 Olympic finalist and former Renton resident Devon Allen finished second in a photo finish in the 110 hurdles.

The Oregon grad and former NCAA champion was credited with a time of 13.54 (13.538) as he was nosed out by Michael Dickson (13.532).

Oregon native Ryan Crouser had the performance of the meet, blasting a best of 22.72m/74-6.5 in round two to smash his own stadium record and equal the 13th best performance in history. Crouser’s shortest mark of the day was a 22.27m/73-0.75 on his opening attempt, and he had four throws better than 74-feet.

The USATF release is available here. 

Complete results of the Drake Blue Oval Showcase are available here.

NOTE:  USA Track & Field and the sports information office of Drake University contributed to this report.