Brooks Beasts open 2021 season in Orange County Saturday night...

After a long training stint in Albuquerque, New Mexico, several members of the Brooks Beasts will open their 2021 campaign Saturday night at JSerra High School in San Juan Capistrano, CA in Orange County at the Sound Running Invitational.

In addition, a few pros with Washington ties will toe the line in yet another in a series of pop-up meets organized by former Brooks Running sports marketing manager Jesse Williams.

The men's 1500 features Washington alum Izaic Yorks, (photo by Paul Merca) along with Beasts teammates Henry Wynne, Josh Kerr and David Ribich. Current UW volunteer assistant coach Sam Prakel is in the field, along with former Husky volunteer coaches Amos Bartelsmeyer and Matthew Centrowitz.

Karisa Nelson makes her 2021 season debut in the women's 1500, while Nia Akins opens her season at 800 meters. Olympia's Brooke Feldmeier, who ran in Austin last week, is also in the women's 800 field.

Drew Windle of the Beasts is entered in the men's 800, along with Georgetown alum Spencer Brown.

In what could be a very competitive women's 5000, Allie Buchalski of the Beasts along with Washington volunteer coach Alli Cash will go up against a field that includes Great Britain's Eilish McColgan, former NCAA cross country champion Weini Kelati, and US Olympians Molly Huddle and Kim Conley.

The meet will be streamed on Sound Running's YouTube channel beginning at 7pm, Pacific.

Tentative start lists for the Sound Running Invitational are available here.

USTFCCCA RELEASES FINAL NCAA DIVISION I COACHES' POLL AFTER CHAMPIONSHIP FRIDAY...

In advance of Selection Sunday, the USTFCCCA released late Friday its final NCAA Division I national coaches poll after the completion of several conference championship meets around the country.

After analyzing results from Friday's meets, the coaches' panel moved Gonzaga up one spot to number 14 in the mens poll, while the University of Washington dropped down two spots to number ten after its third place finish at the Pac-12 championships.

The nation's top five teams remain in order: BYU, Northern Arizona, Arkansas, Stanford, and Tulsa.

Colorado moved up one spot to number eight after finishing second at the Pac-12s, while Oregon dropped four spots to number 16. Portland, who finished third at the West Coast Conference meet behind BYU and Gonzaga, dropped one spot to number 17.

On the women's side, Washington remained at number twelve after its third place finish at the Pac-12s behind Stanford and Colorado.

The nation's top three teams remain in order: Arkansas, BYU & New Mexico. Stanford's victory at the Pac-12s enabled the Cardinal to switch places with North Carolina State for positions 4 and 5.

Colorado's second place finish at Pac-12s kept the Buffaloes at 6, while Oregon State moved up one spot to number 23 after finishing fourth at Pac-12s.

Out of the West Region, Boise State moved one spot to number 10, while Portland moved up to number 20.

All teams looking to move on to the NCAA cross country championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma will learn their fates Sunday. The NCAA Selection Show will take place on Sunday, March 7 at 1 pm ET/10 am PT on NCAA.com.

The USTFCCCA release is available here.

NOTE: Sound Running and the USTFCCCA contributed to this report.

paulmerca.blogspot.com may receive a commission for any purchases made from links clicked. Please support our sponsors by clicking on the links.