Fifth place finishes for Patricelli, Kidder & Buchalski as Olympic Trials reaches halfway point...

EUGENE--Fifth was the common denominator for the three Washington affiliated athletes competing in the finals of the mens javelin and 800 meters, along with the women's 5000 as the US Olympic Track & Field Trials hit the halfway mark on a hot afternoon, with temperatures reaching the 90 degree mark.

Washington alum Denham Patricelli (Paul Merca photo for TrackTown USA) set a personal best of 251-5 (76.63m) in finishing fifth in the javelin.

After two fouls in rounds 1 and 3, he was able to get a mark of 241-2 (73.51m) to keep himself in contention for three more throws and a shot at the Olympic standard of 278-10 (85.00m), knowing that a third place finish was no guarantee of a spot on the Olympic team.

In round 4, he threw 240-4 (73.26m), then followed with a throw of 237-4 (72.35m) before unleashing his personal best of 251-5 (76.63m) in the final round.

Curtis Thompson was the winner with a best of 271-7 (82.78m), followed by Michael Shuey at 260-0 (79.24m) and Riley Dolezal at 252-10 (77.07m).

Though none of the three have the Olympic standard, all three are ranked in the top 30 on the World Athletics ranking system, so they should get Tokyo invites.

In the men's 800, Brannon Kidder of Seattle's Brooks Beasts tried to take a page from former Beast Nick Symmonds' school of racing, hanging back for the first 400, then mounting a late charge.

The Penn State alum's late charge was a tad short, as he finished fifth in 1:45.08, as former Nike Oregon Project standout and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Clayton Murphy won in a world leading time of 1:43.17, followed by USC's Isaiah Jewett (1:43.85) and Bryce Hoppel's 1:44.14.

Allie Buchalski of the Brooks Beasts also was a fifth place finisher, this time in the 5000 meter final.

In the race, Buchalski, who held the Olympic standard of 15:05.00, stayed in the middle of the pack for most of the race, but lost contact on the penultimate lap, running a 78 second lap as the front runners wound it up with a 68 second lap.

While she finished with a 71 second final 400, the damage was done, as Elise Cranny of the Portland based Nike Bowerman TC won in 15:27.81, followed by teammate Karissa Schweizer's 15:28.11. Rachel Schneider finished third in 15:29.56. 

Finals were also contested in the men's pole vault, triple jump and women's 1500.

The meet's two rest days are Tuesday and Wednesday, with competition resuming Thursday.

Thursday, Katie Nageotte, Olivia Gruver & Chloe Cunliffe (pole vault); Henry Wynne, Brannon Kidder, Sam Prakel, Izaic Yorks, Paul Ryan, Jack Yearian, Dillon Maggard & David Ribich (1500); Nia Akins & Brooke Feldmeier (800); Elijah Mason (discus); CJ Allen & Cass Elliott (400 hurdles), and Hassan Mead (5000) all go in qualifying action, while Mel Lawrence, Marisa Howard, Allie Ostrander and Katie Rainsberger all race for spots on the Olympic team in the 3000 steeplechase.

Going into Thursday's final, Lawrence and Howard both hold the Olympic qualifying standard of 9:30.00.

NBC Sports (KING 5 in Seattle) and NBCSN, along with nbcsports.com will offer live and streaming coverage of the US Olympic Track & Field Trials.

Day 4 results and the start lists for Thursday's events are available here.

NOTE: NBC Sports, TrackTown USA and USA Track & Field contributed to this report.

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