Marta Pen Freitas of the Brooks Beasts sets personal best in Memphis...

MEMPHIS, Tennessee--Two weeks after failing to get out of the first round at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Marta Pen Freitas (Paul Merca photo) of the Brooks Beasts set a personal best in the 1500 meters Friday night at the Ed Murphey Classic on the campus of the University of Memphis.

Pen Freitas ran 4:03.79 to better her previous best of 4:03.99 set in 2018, as she finished second to Colorado alum Sage Hurta, who ran 4:01.79.

Washington alum Katie Follett, who was on maternity leave in 2021, finished tenth in 4:21.77.

UW volunteer coach Sam Prakel was fourth in the men's 1500, running 3:36.17, finishing behind former Oregon Duck teammate and world championships team member Johnny Gregorek, who was third in 3:36.17.

Waleed Suliman of the Brooks Beasts was 12th in 3:43.82.

Tokyo Olympian Yared Nuguse won in 3:34.95.

Washington alum Katie Rainsberger was fifth in the women's 3000, running 8:56.65.

The meet resumes Saturday, with Isaiah Harris, Brannon Kidder, Nia Akins, and Laurie Barton of the Brooks Beasts entered in the men's and women's 800, as part of the American Track League's outdoor season finale.

ESPN2 will televise the meet Saturday starting at 8:30am.

Day 1 results of the Ed Murphey Classic are available here.

LESKO NAMED TO USATF FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS...

In a press release, the USATF Foundation announced that Seattle resident Sarah Lesko has been named to the USATF Foundation Board of Directors.

After running collegiately at Yale and practicing as a family doctor in the Community Health Center setting, Sarah served as Director of Corporate Development at Oiselle. She currently coaches Rebecca Mehra, who is part of Oiselle's elite squad.

In a release from last week, the USATF Foundation also announced that Washington grads Katie Rainsberger, Lindsay Flanagan and Olivia Gruver, along with Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts, were among the fifty athletes who received grants of $8000 to help with training and travel costs.

NOTE: The Ed Murphey Classic and the USATF Foundation contributed to this report.

paulmerca.blogspot.com may receive a commission for any purchases made from links clicked. Please support this site and our sponsors by clicking on the links