Sam Prakel wins Downtown Yakima Mile, while Nikki Hiltz earns bonus for fastest women's road mile...

YAKIMA--It was a Seattle 1-2 finish in Saturday night's Downtown Yakima Mile road race, as University of Washington volunteer coach Sam Prakel (Paul Merca photo) of adidas held off Seattle resident Tripp Hurt to take the elite men's mile.

A group of four that included Prakel and Hurt led through the half mile split on the downhill portion of the course, as they went through in 1:57, significantly slower than the 1:51 or so that was requested before the race.

Prakel made a push over the last quarter mile to win in 3:54 to hold off Hurt, who was one second back.

Vince Ciattei of the Nike Oregon TC was third in 3:55.

Washington State alum Paul Ryan was seventh in 3:56, while 2016 Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz was tenth at 3:57, just ahead of Bellingham native David Elliott's 3:58.

The women's elite race saw 2019 world championship team member Nikki Hiltz (Paul Merca photo) lead from the start to win in 4:21, after going through the half in 2:12.

Hiltz, who earned a $5000 bonus for running the fastest road mile time in Washington state history in addition to the $5000 first place prize, finished one second ahead of Washington alum Eleanor Fulton.

Behind Fulton was Pasco native Marisa Howard, who was clocked in 4:24, the same time as Washington alum and British Olympian Amy-Eloise Markovc in fourth.

Camas native Alexa Efraimson was eighth in 4:41, while southwest Washington resident Ashley Mason was tenth in 4:55.

The Downtown Yakima Mile results are available here. 

WOODRUFF EARNS FIRST DIAMOND LEAGUE WIN...

In Paris, University of Washington alum Gianna Woodruff captured her first Wanda Diamond League victory Saturday afternoon as she won the 400 hurdles at the Meeting de Paris.

Woodruff made a late charge off the final straightaway to get the win in a time of 54.44, holding off Anna Ryzhykova of the Ukraine, who finished second in 54.59, and Janieve Russell of Jamaica, who was third in 54.75.

Woodruff's training partner, Arizona alum Nnenya Hailey, who led for most of the race, finished fourth in 54.78.

With the win, Woodruff moves into sixth in the Wanda Diamond League standings with 14 points with only the Ivo Van Damme meet in Brussels remaining before the finals in Zurich.

Courtesy of the Meeting de Paris, here is video of Woodruff's race (commentary is in Spanish; video may be geoblocked).

Former Renton resident Devon Allen continued his strong post-Olympic campaign as he finished second in the men's 110 hurdles, running a season best 13.08.

Reigning Olympic champion Hansle Parchment of Jamaica took the victory, also in a season best of 13.03.

Despite his second place finish, Allen currently leads the Wanda Diamond League standings in the 110 hurdles with 20 points.

Complete results of the Meeting de Paris are available here.

NOTE: The Downtown Yakima Mile, Wanda Diamond League, and the Meeting de Paris contributed to this report.

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