Miles highlight exciting Husky Classic meet...

SEATTLE--The miles may have been the highlight of day 2 of the Husky Classic Saturday at the Dempsey Center on the University of Washington campus, but there was also some exciting action elsewhere.

In the featured men's mile, Alex Maier from Oklahoma State battled Washington's Luke Houser (Paul Merca photo) before Maier got the win over the last 20 meters in 3:56.44 to Houser's 3:56.57, as four others broke 4 minutes in the race.

In the previous heat, the Huskies' Joe Waskom took the victory, but used a desperate dive to get himself under 4 minutes, winning in 3:59.65 to become the fourth Husky to go under 4 this season, the ninth since Andy Powell took over as the men's head coach at Washington, and the 15th Husky all time.

Katie Camarena of Portland State, who was the Vikings' first ever NCAA cross country championship qualifier in November, took the victory in the women's mile, winning in a mild upset in a time of 4:32.27, as the Huskies' Anna Gibson nearly ran her down.

Gibson finished second in 4:32.34, the second fastest in school history. 

Nine runners in the women's mile heats finished under 4:36.64, which was the number 16 time in NCAA Division I as of the start of competition around the country on Saturday. 

Other highlights:

--In the women's pole vault, Hana Moll of Olympia's Capital HS won with a clearance of 14-6.25 (4.43m), then took three solid shots at the current national high school record of 14-9.5 (4.51m) set by West Seattle's Chloe Cunliffe.

Twin sister Amanda finished second at 13-9.25 (4.20m), followed by Eastern Washington's NCAA outdoor qualifier Morgan Fossen at 13-3.5 (4.05m).

Both the USC men's and women's 4 x 400 meter relay teams set new Husky Classic records, with the men winning in 3:08.29, and the women in 3:35.49.

Jan'Taijah Ford of USC ran the second fastest time in the NCAA in winning the 400 in a meet record 51.96.

Complete results of the Husky Classic are available here.

In Spokane, Washington State athletes picked up six wins, while Seattle Pacific athletes took three victories Saturday at the Whitworth Invitational at The Podium.

The Cougars got wins from its women's 4x400 relay, as they ran 3:47.84.

Skyler Walton won the women's 60 in 7.55, while Mackenzie Fletcher took the 60 hurdles in 8.76.

In the field events, Daylon Hicks won the men's high jump at 6-7 (2.01m); Kolby Weiss won the women's pole vault at 12-6.25/3.82m, while Audrey Hughes won the women's shot put at 46-10/14.27m. 

Seattle Pacific winners included Annika Esvelt in the women's 3000 in 9:38.43; Peace Igbonagwam in the women's long jump at 18-4.5/5.60m; and David Njeri in the men's triple jump at 47-11.25/14.61m.

Complete results of the Whitworth Invitational are available here.

On Saturday, the American Track League staged its only indoor meet at Louisville's Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center.

Former Renton resident Devon Allen won the mens 60 hurdles in a season best 7.50, after winning the preliminary heat in 7.65.

Washington alum Olivia Gruver finished second in the women's pole vault, clearing a best of 14-5.5 (4.41m), as Rio Olympic silver medalist Sandi Morris won with a best of 15-5.5 (4.71m).

Complete results of the American Track League meet is available here.

At the Adelaide Invitational Saturday, Washington alum Izzi Batt-Doyle took the win in the 5000 meters, as she ran 15:13.35, just over three seconds behind the world championships qualifying standard of 15:10.00.

Batt-Doyle's personal best is 15:04.10, set in May of last year; however, that mark will not carry over, as the qualifying period for the world championships opened on June 27th.

The Washington alum's time is currently the fastest outdoor time in the world so far this season.

Results of the Adelaide Invitational are available here.

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Washington State's Mitch Jacobson won the men's high jump with a clearance of 7-0.5 (2.15m) at the Don Kirby Elite meet to highlight the vertical jumps crew's trip.

Jacob Englar finished sixth in the men's pole vault with a best of 17-3.75 (5.28m).

Aislinn Overby finished eighth in the women's high jump with a clearance of 5-8 (1.73m).

Emily Coombs was eleventh in the women's pole vault at 13-0.25 (3.97m).

Results of the Don Kirby Elite meet are available here.

NOTE: Spokane Sports, Athletics Australia, the American Track League and the sports information offices of the University of Washington  Washington State University and Seattle Pacific University contributed to this report.

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