Alexa Efraimson runs fastest outdoor 1500m time since 2019 at Bryan Clay...

AZUSA, California--Camas native Alexa Efraimson (Paul Merca photo) finished fourth in the women's 1500 as the Bryan Clay Invitational wrapped up three days of competition Friday on the campus of Azusa Pacific University.

Efraimson, who is looking to get back to the form that made her one of the world's top under-20 middle distance runners several years ago, ran 4:14.94, after having fought through injuries and a coaching change to Pete Julian of the Union Athletics Club, based on the Nike campus in Beaverton.

The time was her fastest outdoors since she ran 4:08.63 to finish third at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru on August 9, 2019.

Right behind Efraimson was Washington's Anna Gibson, who finished sixth in 4:15.15.

In the men's 1500, Washington's Luke Houser finished ninth in 3:37.51, breaking the UW outdoor school record of 3:37.74 set by Izaic Yorks in 2016. It's also the second fastest absolute 1500m time in school history, behind only Olympian Sam Tanner, who ran 3:34.72 at last year's New Balance indoor meet in New York.

On the field, Seattle University's defending Western Athletic Conference champ Nicole Whittern was third in the javelin, with a best of 137-1 (41.79m), while in the open men's pole vault, Kacey Provo of Western Washington finished in a tie for fourth at 15-2.25 (4.63m).

Complete results of the Bryan Clay Invitational are available here.

MT SAC RELAYS

In Walnut at the Mt. SAC Relays, Washington's women's 4 x 100 relay team of Aaliyah Wilson, Olivia Ribera, Jelani Heath & Victoria Gersch finished fourth overall, winning their heat in 45.40. That mark is the fifth fastest time in school history, surpassing the mark the identical team set last year.

Gersch came back in the 400 meters and ran 54.20, the third fastest time in school history.

Washington State's 4 x 400 relay team of Mackenzie Fletcher, Janeet Nijjar, Elise Unruh-Thomas, and Elena Willems finished fourth in 3:42.71. 

Garfield HS alum Iman Brown of Oregon was fifth in the 200 meters in a time of 23.04.

Washington State's Micaela De Mello had the third fastest time in the 100 hurdles, as she ran 13.24 to advance to Saturday's finals.

Complete results from Friday's competition is available here.

BEACH INVITATIONAL

In Long Beach, Olympic Trials finalist Brock Eager finished sixth in the hammer throw on the first day of the Beach Invitational hosted by Long Beach State University.

Eager, a native of Renton, and a Washington State alum, threw 232-6 (70.88m), as Sean Donnelly won with a best of 247-10 (75.55m).

In the meantime, Washington's Jayden White crept closer to the legendary Scott Neilson's school record of 238-7 (72.72m) as he threw 227-3 (69.27m) in finishing eighth. The mark is the second furthest throw in school history.

Central Washington's Rajesh Gill was sixth in the men's 5000, running 15:20.60.

The Beach Invitational finishes competition Saturday. Day 1 results are available here.

NOTE: The media relations offices of Azusa Pacific University, Mt. San Antonio College, and Long Beach State University contributed to this report.

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