Pasco native Marisa Howard sets PR in fifth-place finish in steeple at US Olympic Trials...

EUGENE--The day after the rest break was the busiest at the United States Olympic Track & Field Trials, with no less than twenty athletes with Washington ties competing Thursday at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.

In the one final involving Washington athletes, Pasco High School and Boise State alum Marisa Howard (Paul Merca photo) finished fifth in perhaps the deepest 3000 meter steeplechase race in American history, setting a personal best of 9:24.74.

Howard was in contention for most of the race, but began to lose contact over the last two laps, and could only answer with laps of 75 and 76 seconds.

Washington alum Mel Lawrence also set a personal best in finishing seventh in 9:26.15, as did Allie Ostrander of the Brooks Beasts in eighth at 9:26.96, and 2021 NCAA bronze medalist Katie Rainsberger, who set yet another UW school record, running 9:30.18 to finish tenth.

Emma Coburn, the 2017 world champion, earned yet another Olympic berth, winning in a meet record 9:09.41, followed by Nike Bowerman TC's Courtney Frerichs in second at 9:11.79, and Colorado alum Val Constien's third place finish in 9:18.34.

The rest of Thursday's competition involving Washington athletes consisted of qualifying in the women's pole vault, men's 1500, women's 800, men's discus, men's 400 hurdles, and men's 5000.

In the pole vault, former Pullman resident Katie Nageotte needed only one jump to clear 14-9 (4.50m), which ten women cleared, including Washington alum Olivia Gruver.

West Seattle HS grad Chloe Cunliffe didn't clear the opening height of 14-1.25 (4.30m).

The men's 1500 saw Washington volunteer coach Sam Prakel run the fastest time out of the three heats, winning heat 3 in 3:39.02.

Also advancing to Friday's semifinals are Henry Wynne of the Brooks Beasts (3:39.10), Colorado alum Tripp Hurt, who is interning in Seattle in product assessment at Brooks (3:39.18); Ole Miss grad Waleed Suliman (Paul Merca photo), who was just added to the Brooks Beasts roster this week (3:39.92); Izaic Yorks of the Brooks Beasts (3:40.18); Tacoma native Jack Yearian of Oregon (3:40.19); Kirkland native Dillon Maggard (3:40.93); David Ribich of the Brooks Beasts (3:45.71); and Paul Ryan of Washington State (3:45.86).

In the women's 800, Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts was a time qualifier, running 2:00.82, while Olympia native Brooke Feldmeier ran 2:03.10 in her heat.

Washington's Pac-12 discus champ Elijah Mason missed the finals by one inch and one place, finishing 13th in qualifying with a throw of 194-0 (59.14m).

Washington State alum CJ Allen had the sixth fastest time of the day in the 400 hurdles, running 49.45 to advance to Friday's semis, while Washington's Cass Elliott did not advance, running 51.19.

Former Puyallup resident and 2016 Olympian Hassan Mead and late addition Garrett Heath of the Brooks Beasts advanced to Sunday morning's 5000 meter final, running 13:36.80 and 13:44.48, respectively.

Friday's competition will see Vancouver native Kara Winger and Western Washington alum Katie Reichert in the women's javelin qualifying round at 1:00 pm. Former Renton native and defending Olympic Trials champion Devon Allen goes in the first round in the 110 hurdles, along with Eastern Washington's Parker Bowden at 2:33 pm.

Nia Akins runs in the semis of the women's 800 at 3:02 pm, with CJ Allen going in the 400 hurdles semis 16 minutes later.

At 4:05 pm, all eight runners with Washington ties go in the semifinals of the men's 1500.

The last event of Friday's competition is the men's 3000 steeplechase finals at 4:42 pm.

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.

The start lists along with all results from previous days are available here.

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

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