UW alum Gianna Woodruff breaks Panamanian national record in 400H & gets Olympic standard...

DES MOINES, Iowa--University of Washington alum Gianna Woodruff (photo by Luke Lu) broke her own Panamanian national record in the 400 hurdles at the Drake Relays Saturday, and most likely earned herself a spot on her country's Olympic team this summer.

Woodruff, who was positioned in lane 6, got out well, and led from the second hurdle all the way to the finish, clocking a 2021 world leading time of 55.02, pulling runner-up Ashley Spencer (55.52) to the second fastest time in the world this season.

Going into the race, her previous personal best and national record time was 55.60, set in 2018 in Barranquilla, Colombia.

A few minutes after her race, Washington State alum CJ Allen finished fourth in the men's 400 hurdles race, running 49.72, as Alison Dos Santos of Brazil won in a world leading time of 48.15.

In other action, former Pullman resident Katie Nageotte finished second in the pole vault, clearing 15-1 (4.60m), as Sandi Morris took the win at 15-5 (4.70m). 

Washington alum Olivia Gruver was fourth at 14-9 (4.50m).

Results of the Drake Relays are available here.

MARKOVC FINISHES THIRD IN 5000M AT USATF GRAND PRIX IN EUGENE...

In Eugene, Washington alum Amy-Eloise Markovc (photo by Howard Lao) finished third in the 5000 meters at the USATF Grand Prix at the Oregon Relays Saturday at Hayward Field.

Markovc, who was shooting for the Olympic Games standard of 15:10.00, ran 15:17.13, as fellow countrywoman Eilish McColgan won in 14:52.44.

Washington State alum Brock Eager earned a US Olympic Trials qualifying mark in the hammer, finishing fourth in a personal best 248-7 (75.76m).

Oregon alum and UW volunteer coach Sam Prakel finished fourth in the 1500, running a season best 3:37.74.

Fellow Oregon alum and UW volunteer coach Alli Cash was seventh in the 1500, as she ran 4:08.37, while Marta Pen Freitas of the Brooks Beasts was 11th in 4:20.56.

Federal Way HS grad Hannah Cunliffe was fifth in her heat of the women's 100, running 11.40.

In the Oregon Relays portion of the meet that ended before the start of the USATF Grand Prix, Washington State's Suzy Pace led a 1-2-3 finish in the high jump, tying her personal best of 5-9.75 (1.77m).

The Cougars' Charisma Taylor won the 100 hurdles in 13.72, while Sam Brixey won the men's 110 hurdles in 14.33.

Oregon alum and Tacoma native Marcus Chambers won the 400 in 46.53.

Complete results of the USATF Grand Prix and the Oregon Relays are available here.

NOTE: The sports information offices of the University of Oregon, Drake University, Washington State University, & USA Track & Field contributed to this report.

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