Gianna Woodruff sets new Panamanian national record in 400H in Olympic semis...

TOKYO--University of Washington alum Gianna Woodruff (photo courtesy ecotvpanama.com) advanced to the final in the women's 400 hurdles Monday night as day 4 of the Olympic track & field competition concluded at Olympic Stadium on a hot, rainy and muggy night in the Japanese capital city.

As she did in the first round, Woodruff was drawn into the same heat as current world record holder Sydney McLaughlin of Team USATF.

The results of the semifinal was identical, with McLaughlin winning in 53.03, and Woodruff second in a new Panamanian national record time of 54.22, eclipsing her old national record of 54.70, set at the USATF Golden Games in Walnut, California on May 9th.

Afterwards, she said, "I am really happy and grateful to run a new national record. Been a great year so far and just trying to finish it stronger!"

"The rain definitely caught me off guard so maybe a slight effect but knew what I needed to do despite what was going on. Listened to my coach and got it done."  

She'll run in the finals Wednesday morning Tokyo time at 11:30 am (7:30 pm Tuesday night Seattle time) in a field that includes all three Americans--McLaughlin, Anna Cockrell, and defending Olympic and world champion Dalilah Muhammad, who is Woodruff's training partner with coach Boogie Johnson's Hurdle Mechanic crew in southern California.

Former Pullman resident Katie Nageotte easily advanced to the finals in the women's pole vault, needing only one jump at 14-11 (4.55m) to secure her place in Thursday's finals at 7:20 pm Tokyo time/3:20 am Seattle time.

Joining Nageotte is US teammate Morgann Leleux, who also was one of fifteen vaulters to clear 14-11 (4.55m), as  officials advanced everyone who cleared the height, as the proceedings were interrupted by heavy rains.

One athlete who didn't advance was Olympic silver medalist Sandi Morris of Team USATF, who broke her pole on her first attempt at 14-11, and in the process, injured herself.

In the three finals contested Monday night, US Olympic Trials champion Valarie Allman won the discus with a first round throw of 226-4 (68.98m) that held up as the conditions got worse over the following two rounds before officials stopped the competition in the third round before resuming.

Former Nike Oregon Project standout Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands won the women's 5000 in 14:36.79 to complete the first leg of an unprecedented triple, as she attempts to win the 1500, 5000 and 10000 in the same Olympics.

In the first round of the 1500 Monday morning, Hassan was knocked down with 300 meters to go, but somehow managed to get up and win her heat in 4:05.17.

Tuesday morning will be the busiest day for Washington athletes, as 2018-19 University of Washington volunteer coaches Amos Bartelsmeyer and Matthew Centrowitz, along with current Husky Sam Tanner and Josh Kerr of the Brooks Beasts go in the first round of the men's 1500. 

Kerr and Bartelsmeyer will run in heat 1 at 9:05 am (5:05 pm Monday afternoon in Seattle), while Tanner runs at 9:16 am (5:16 pm in Seattle).

Centrowitz enters the meet as the defending Olympic champion, and will also run in heat 2 with Tanner.

US women's team captain Kara Winger of Vancouver will throw in group A of the javelin at 9:20 am (5:20 pm Monday) as the four-time US Olympian attempts to make an Olympic final for the first time in her storied career.

Results and start lists are available through the home page of the World Athletics Tokyo Olympics microsite.

NOTE: The Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, USA Track & Field, & World Athletics contributed to this report.

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