Pros are front and center at Mt.SAC and Tucson for specialty meets Thursday...

With the collegians off this week before the NCAA regional meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas and the NCAA Division II championships at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, the pros take center stage as they pursue qualifying marks for both the USA outdoor championships next month and the World Athletics outdoor championships in Eugene in July.

USA Track & Field will put on the annual USATF Distance Classic at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the campus of Mt.SAC in Walnut, California, with a large group of runners with Washington ties competing.

The Brooks Beasts will have their full squad competing at Mt. SAC, with Drew Windle, Devin Dixon, and Brannon Kidder in the 800; Nia Akins and Marta Pen Freitas in the women's 1500; Izaic Yorks, Waleed Suliman, David Ribich, & Henry Wynne in the men's 1500; and Allie Buchalski in the women's 5000.

Seattle resident Rebecca Mehra (Paul Merca photo) is entered in both the 800 and 1500; Washington alums Katie Rainsberger, Mick Stanovsek, and Eleanor Fulton are entered in the 3000 steeple, 1500, and 5000; former Husky Sam Tanner is in the men's 1500, as is UW volunteer coach Sam Prakel and WSU alum Paul Ryan.

Camas native Alexa Efraimson is entered in the women's 1500.

Action gets underway at 7:00 pacific time, with media partner RunnerSpace.com ($) streaming the meet.

The start list for the USATF Distance Festival is available here.

Meanwhile, four-time US Olympian from Vancouver Kara Winger, along with Renton native Brock Eager and Spokane native Josh Syrotchen are in Tucson for the first day of competition at the Tucson Elite throws meet at Drachman Stadium.

Winger goes in the javelin, while Eager is in the hammer, and Syrotchen is in the discus.

All are expected to compete in Saturday's USATF Throws Festival at Drachman Stadium.

While Thursday's Tucson Elite will not be streamed, media partner RunnerSpace.com ($) will stream the USATF Throws Festival.

Action at the Tucson Elite gets underway at 3 pm Thursday with the men's hammer throw.

The start list for the Tucson Elite is available here.

paulmerca.blogspot.com is on site in Tucson for both the Tucson Elite and the USATF Throws Festival.

NOTE: USA Track & Field contributed to this report.

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