Nia Akins gets world championships qualifying standard in 800...

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, California--Nia Akins (Paul Merca photo) of the Seattle based Brooks Beasts made a significant breakthrough at Friday night's Sound Running Track Meet at JSerra High School in Orange County as she broke two minutes in the 800 meters, and earned the world championships qualifying time standard.

The Penn grad, who joined the Beasts nearly two years ago, ran 1:58.82, surpassing her previous personal best of 2:00.24, set last year at the Sound Running Sunset Tour meet at Azusa Pacific by over a second.

Akins finished second in the race to former Monmouth standout Allie Wilson, now competing for the Atlanta TC, as she ran 1:58.18.

Beasts teammate Laurie Barton finished eighth in the race in 2:05.93.

In a separate section of the 800, Washington's Carley Thomas was fifth in her heat, running a season best 2:03.58.

Other highlights:

--Brannon Kidder of the Beasts finished second in the top section of the men's 800, as the 2019 world championships team member ran 1:47.38 to finish behind Tony van Diepen of the Netherlands, who ran 1:47.10.

Drew Windle of the Beasts was fourth in 1:48.16.

--In the top section of the men's 1500, Washington 1500m school record holder and Tokyo Olympian Sam Tanner of New Zealand finished fourth, running 3:38.58, as Neil Gourley of Great Britain won in 3:38.11.

Washington volunteer coach Sam Prakel was seventh in 3:39.55, while current Dawgs Brian Fay (3:40.43) and Kieran Lumb (3:42.90) were ninth and tenth. UW alum Izaic Yorks of the Brooks Beasts was 11th in 3:45.71.

--Washington alum Izzi Batt-Doyle was seventh in the women's 10000, running 31:58.25, as the Australian Olympian at 5000m took a shot at the world championships qualifying standard of 31:25.00.

--Both Henry Wynne and Josh Kerr of the Brooks Beasts didn't have the performances they thought they would have in the 5000, as they ran 13:37.31, and 13:37.99, respectively in finishing 19th and 20th.

In a separate section of the men's 5000, Washington State alum Paul Ryan won in a personal best 13:34.77, while UW alum Julius Diehr was third in a personal best 13:41.09

--Portuguese Olympian Marta Pen Freitas of the Brooks Beasts was 11th in the top section of the women's 1500, running 4:11.96.

Nia Akins and Laurie Barton are expected to double back and run in Saturday's American Track League Orange County Classic on the same JSerra HS track.

Complete results of the Sound Running Track Meet are available here.

OTHER FRIDAY MEETS...

In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Washington State alum Alissa Brooks-Johnson stands 11th after the first day of competition in the heptathlon at the USATF Combined Events Championships at the University of Arkansas.

Brooks-Johnson has 3346 points, 435 behind current leader Anna Hall of the University of Florida's first day score of 3781.

The former Pac-12 champ's best event on the day was in the shot put, where she was seventh with a throw of 39-10.75 (12.16m).

The meet resumes on Saturday at 1 pm Pacific with the final three events, the long jump, javelin and 800 meters.

Results from the USATF Combined Events Championships are available here.

In Eugene, Washington State alum Nick Johnson won the 110 hurdles at the Oregon Twilight meet at Hayward Field Friday night.

Johnson ran 14.02 to win against a small field.

UW volunteer coach Tim Duckworth won the men's long jump with a first round leap of 24-2.25 (7.37m).

WSU alum Caroline Austin was third in the steeplechase, running 10:09.20.

Gonzaga's Cullen McEachern was seventh in the men's steeple, running 8:57.43.

Complete results of the Oregon Twilight meet are available here.

NOTE: USA Track & Field, Sound Running and the sports information office of the University of Oregon and the University of Washington contributed to this report.