Husky alum Gianna Woodruff breaks Panamanian NR in 400H again at Nike Prefontaine Classic...
EUGENE--The Nike Prefontaine Classic lived up to its billing as one of the premier meets of the Wanda Diamond League series, as nine meet records, six world leading marks, and two Diamond League records were set Saturday afternoon at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.
In a bounce back from a seventh place finish in the finals of the Olympic 400 hurdles, University of Washington alum Gianna Woodruff (Howard Lao photo) finished third in a Panamanian national record time of 54.20, marking the fourth time this season that she's broken her own national record.
Training partner and reigning world champion Dalilah Muhammad won in a meet record 52.77, while American Shamier Little was second in 53.79.
Woodruff, whose only Wanda Diamond League meet this season is the Nike Prefontaine Classic, sits tenth in the Diamond League standings in the 400 hurdles with 6 points.
Reigning Olympic champion and former Pullman resident Katie Nageotte continued her winning ways, clearing 15-9.75 (4.82m) on her third attempt to take the victory from Great Britain's Holly Bradshaw, who cleared 15-5.75 (4.72m).
Washington alum Olivia Gruver finished third with a best of 14-10 (4.52m).
“I felt good in the warm-up, but then it just crashed,” Nageotte said. “So I’m really, really proud that I came away with the win.”
After Saturday's competition, Nageotte currently sits in second place in the Diamond League point standings with 24, six behind Bradshaw's 30 points.
Gruver is currently in eighth place in the season-long Diamond League point standings with 8 points, which could earn her a spot in the Wanda Diamond League finals in Zurich September 8-9 if she competes in the remaining Diamond League meets in Lausanne, Paris or Brussels.
In the women's steeplechase, Pasco HS grad Marisa Howard scored a big personal best with her ninth place finish, as she ran 9:22.69 in a race that saw Kenya's Norah Jeruto, who missed the Olympics as she awaits a transfer of nationality to Kazakhstan win in 8:53.65, and saw Courtney Frerichs of the Nike Bowerman TC break her own American record and become the first American to break 9 minutes, running 8:57.77 for second.
While there were numerous marks and races of significance, the highlight of the meet came in the women's 100, as reigning Olympic champ Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica ran the second fastest time ever, winning the race decisively in 10.54 with a +0.9 wind.
Countrywoman and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price was second in 10.73, while Jamaica's Shericka Jackson was third in 10.76, as all three replicated the order of finish in Tokyo.
Complete results of the Nike Prefontaine Classic are available here, while the World Athletics recap of the meet is available here.
NOTE: The Wanda Diamond League and the Nike Prefontaine Classic contributed to this report.
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