Kidder, Harris & Feldmeier advance to finals in 800; Nageotte takes third in vault...

EUGENE--While the focus on day two of the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships were on the two high profile 100 meter dashes and on shot putter Ryan Crouser, there were some significant happenings in the 800 meter semifinals.

Brannon Kidder (Paul Merca photo) of the Seattle based Brooks Beasts won the first of two semifinal heats in the men's 800, cruising to the victory in 1:46.62, just ahead of teammate Isaiah Harris, who took second in 1:46.72.

For the second night in a row, Olympia native Brooke Feldmeier set a personal best in the women's 800, breaking 2 minutes for the first time in her career.

Feldmeier ran 1:59.44 to finish fifth in a heat won by defending Olympic champion Athing Mu, who ran 1:57.55.

In the process, Feldmeier got the final time qualifier and ducked under the world championship standard (1:59.50), as the top three finishers in each of the two semifinals advanced to Sunday's final, along with the two fastest time qualifiers, which came out of her heat.

In the previous heat, Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts finished fourth in 2:01.90.

Former Pullman resident and reigning Olympic champion Katie Nageotte finished third in the finals of the women's pole vault, clearing a season best 15-3 (4.65m) as training partner and world indoor champion Sandi Morris won with a world leading mark of 15-9.75 (4.82m).

Washington alum Olivia Gruver finished sixth with a best of 14-9 (4.50m), as she appeared to hurt herself during one of her attempts.

In qualifying action, Washington State alum CJ Allen finished second in his heat of the 400 hurdles in 50.03, while Washington's Cass Elliott finished fourth in his heat in 51.83. Elliott got the final time qualifier to advance to Saturday's semifinals.

The women's steeplechase saw Yale's Kayley DeLay, who will attend the University of Washington as a grad transfer this fall, finish fifth in her heat in 9:40.17 to advance to Sunday's final. In the other heat, Washington alum Katie Rainsberger was third in 9:41.83 to advance, while Washington State alum Caroline Austin was eleventh in 10:15.13.

Saturday's competition involving Washington athletes include the women's javelin featuring four-time Olympian Kara Winger from Vancouver in her final national championship meet; Renton's Brock Eager & Ridgefield's Trey Knight in the hammer; the finals of the women's triple jump featuring Lexi Ellis of University Place, and WSU alum Kiana Davis; the finals of the men's 1500 with Henry Wynne of the Brooks Beasts, along with UW volunteer coach Sam Prakel and WSU alum Paul Ryan; the men's steeple finals with Kenneth Rooks; the first round of the men's 110 hurdles with two time Olympian Devon Allen, along with WSU alums Sam Brixey and Nick Johnson & Eastern Washington alum Parker Bowden; and the semis of the men's 400 hurdles with CJ Allen & Cass Elliott.

Complete day 2 results of the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships are available here.

USATF U20 DAY 2 RECAP...

In the USATF Under-20 championships, JaiCieonna Gero-Holt of Emerald Ridge HS, the day 1 leader in the heptathlon, finished second with a final score of 5401 points, as Blakelee Winn of Pittsburg State University overtook her in the 800 to win with a final score of 5473 points.

Winn chipped away by winning the long jump with a mark of 18-10.5 (5.75m), while Gero-Holt went 18-5.25 (5.62m).

Winn won the javelin with a throw of 140-11 (42.97m), while Gero-Holt, who finished her freshman year at Emerald Ridge, was second with a throw of 127-1 (38.75m) to cut the lead to a 4749-4733 margin going into the 800.

In the 800, Winn ran 2:26.32 to pick up 740 points, while Gero-Holt finished in 2:33.29 for 652 points.

In the finals of the 110 hurdles, Bellingham's Andre Korbmacher of Squalicum HS finished fifth in 13.53.

The semis of the men's 400 hurdles saw Washington freshman Matthew Wilkinson finish second in his heat in 51.49 and advance to Saturday's final.

One event we missed from Thursday was the final of the women's javelin, as incoming Washington freshman Saydi Orange from Kentridge HS finished second with a throw of 156-4 (47.65m) to claim a spot on the World U20 championship team.

The USATF U20 championships conclude Saturday afternoon.

Complete day 2 results of the USATF U20 Championships are available here.

NOTE: USA Track & Field contributed to this report.

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