Washington pros head to the Big Apple for Saturday's Millrose Games...
A large contingent of athletes with Washington ties look to take a bite out of the Big Apple in the second stop of World Athletics' Indoor Tour Gold series of elite meets in Europe and the United States.
Former Pullman resident and reigning Olympic gold medalist Katie Nageotte (Paul Merca photo) will take on 2016 Olympic silver medalist and defending Millrose champion Sandi Morris.
“I'm so excited to be back at Millrose this year,” Nageotte said. “It's one of my favorites meets, and a great place to jump. The competition is going to be really exciting, and I can't wait.”
The duo will be joined by Washington alum Olivia Gruver, as the US Olympic Trials fourth place finisher looks to make her mark on the road to the world championships this summer in Eugene.
Former Renton resident Devon Allen, the 4th place finisher in the Tokyo Olympics, and the current world ranked number 1 hurdler, goes against 2019 US national champ and Olympic teammate Daniel Roberts in the 60 hurdles.
Olympic Trials fourth place finisher Isaiah Harris makes his debut as a member of the Seattle based Brooks Beasts, as he races a field that includes US Olympians Bryce Hoppel and Isaiah Jewett, along with former UTEP star Michael Saruni of Kenya and Charlie Hunter of Australia and the Portland based Nike Union AC.
The women's 3000 features Portuguese Olympian Marta Pen Freitas and Allie Buchalski of the Brooks Beasts, along with Washington alum and reigning European champion Amy-Eloise Markovc.
Another member of the Brooks Beasts, Nia Akins, is entered in the women's 800 in a field that includes US Olympian Ajee' Wilson and Jamaica's Natoya Goule.
The climactic men's Wanamaker Mile has Olympic bronze medalist Josh Kerr of the Brooks Beasts in the field along with teammate Henry Wynne.
The Beasts duo is joined by Seattle resident and Washington volunteer coach Sam Prakel, along with his former Oregon teammate and 2017 world championships team member Johnny Gregorek. Gregorek is now being coached remotely by UW men's head coach Andy Powell.
NBC Sports will offer live coverage of the Millrose Games Saturday starting at 11:30 am Pacific time (KING 5 in Seattle).
The link to live results is available here, while the meet's preview is available here.
While the Cougar distance runners are competing in Seattle at the UW Invitational, the majority of its team are headed to Albuquerque, New Mexico to compete in the New Mexico Team Open meet at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
In addition to the Cougs, UCLA and Arizona State will be representing the Pac-12 at the meet. New Mexico State, Grand Canyon, San Jose State, UC Irvine, UNLV, and UTEP make up the rest of the NCAA Division I schools competing, along with host New Mexico.
WSU head coach Wayne Phipps said, "We are excited to return to Albuquerque for the first time in two years. The venue features a brand-new track and is a great place for our sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers and throwers to compete."
David Ribich and Brannon Kidder of the Brooks Beasts are entered in the meet. Ribich is entered in the mile and the 3000, while Kidder is in the mile.
The duo are in Albuquerque for the Beasts' annual winter altitude camp.
The list of accepted entries, time schedule and streaming information is available through the University of New Mexico's track & field schedule web site (scroll to UNM Team Open links).
NOTE: The Millrose Games and the sports information offices of the University of New Mexico and Washington State University contributed to this report.
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