While the collegians are at conference, the pros are racing in Irvine...

While the collegians are competing in their conference championship meets this weekend, a contingent of Washington affiliated professionals head to Irvine, California (location undisclosed as no fans are allowed) for what's known as The Track Meet on Friday and Saturday.

Friday night's session consists of two men's heats of the 10000 meters, along with a women's heat of the 10000.

2016 US Olympic team and multi-time world championships team member Hassan Mead (Paul Merca photo), who attended Emerald Ridge HS in Puyallup until his senior year is entered in the top section, along with Kirkland native Dillon Maggard.

Mead, who has not completed a track 10000 since the 2017 world championships in London, is looking to get the Olympic Trials standard of 28:00.00, and/or the Olympic Games standard of 27:28.00. In contrast, Maggard is in the Trials, but only in the 1500, based on his 3:37.43 time at the 2019 Brooks PR meet.

Among those entered in the top section of the 10000 are Mead's Nike OTC teammate Patrick Tiernan, BYU's Connor Mantz, Chris Derrick of the Nike Bowerman TC, Olympian Leonard Korir, and Colorado alum Joe Klecker.

Gonzaga's James Mwaura and alum Willie Milam are entered in the second section of the 10000, as is Spokane native Nick Hauger, and Seattle Pacific grad Turner Wiley.

Washington alums Lindsay Flanagan and Amy-Eloise Markovc are entered in the women's 10000, as is Kirkland native Tansey Lystad, and Hockinson HS grad Georgia Porter.

For Markovc, the European Indoor champ at 3000m this winter, this marks her debut at 10000 meters.

The meet continues Saturday at 11 am on ESPN, as the worldwide leader will show 90 minutes of the meet as part of the American Track League series.

Federal Way HS grad Hannah Cunliffe is entered in the 100 meters, while Brannon Kidder and Drew Windle of the Brooks Beasts are in the 800 meters.

Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts is slated to run the women's 800, and teammate Henry Wynne is entered in the men's 1500. Idaho grad and former Washington volunteer assistant coach Christie Moerman is in the women's 100 hurdles.

Saturday night's session includes additional heats of the men's and women's 800 and 1500, along with two sections of the men's and women's 5000.

Among those entered in the Saturday night session are Marta Pen Freitas (800), Spencer Brown (800), Karisa Nelson & Allie Buchalski (1500). Garrett Heath, David Ribich & Josh Kerr (5000), Allie Ostrander (5000), all from the Brooks Beasts, along with Tom Anderson of Club Northwest (5000), Washington alum Mel Lawrence (5000);  and UW volunteer assistant coach Alli Cash (5000).

Friday's 10000s and the Saturday night session will be streamed on pay-per-view for $5.99. According to former Seattle resident Jesse Williams, who, with his Sound Running group, is directing the meet, 90% of the pay-per-view fee will go towards prize money for those competing. The link to purchase the meet is available here.

The link to live results is available here.

In a related note, the American Track League recently announced on its website that the final stop of its 9-meet series will be held at a site to be determined in Seattle on Saturday August 18th.

When the series was announced two weeks ago, the site of the final meet was listed as Pacific Northwest. A meet which was originally scheduled for Des Moines, Iowa on May 31st was cancelled and replaced by a meet in Jacksonville, Florida for the same day.

NOTE: Sound Running and the American Track League contributed to this report.

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