UW alum Markovc fifth in 5000m at European Champs; NACAC starts Friday in Bahamas...
The start of the race saw a steady pace that held for the first half, until Turkiye's Yasemin Can injected some pace to break up the pack.
Can tried to run away from the field, but was caught by Germany's Konstanze Klosterhalfen, who trains on the Nike campus in Beaverton as part of the Union Athletics Club group with 600 meters left in the race.
Klosterhalfen took the win in 14:50.47, with Can second in 14:56.91, and Great Britain's Eilish McColgan was third in 14:59.34.
Markovc outsprinted British teammate Calli Thackery for fifth in 15:08.75 to 15:08.79.
NACAC BEGINS FRIDAY IN FREEPORT...
Friday marks the start of the three-day NACAC Track & Field Championships at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex, featuring national teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Seven athletes with Washington ties are part of Team USA, while two others with Washington ties, Kieran Lumb, and Diamara Planell Cruz, will represent Canada and Puerto Rico.
Friday, Washington State alum CJ Allen kicks things off in the semifinals of the men's 400 hurdles at 5:00pm local time (2:00 pm in Seattle; Nassau is in the Eastern time zone), with the finals set for Sunday at 3:35 pm.
Allen will be followed by UW alum Katie Rainsberger in the finals of the women's steeplechase 30 minutes later.
As the sun sets Friday night, Washington alum Eleanor Fulton runs in the women's 5000 at 8:45pm local time, followed by Kirkland native Dillon Maggard in the men's 10000 at 9:05 pm.
Saturday's competition begins with the men's 20K race walk with Vancouver native Daniel Nehnevaj at 6:30 am local time.
Former Husky and 2016 Olympian Diamara Planell Cruz of Puerto Rico competes in the women's pole vault at 3:00 pm local time, and recent Husky Kieran Lumb runs the men's 5000 for Canada at 6:45 pm local time.
Sunday's competition for athletes with Washington ties begins at 3:35pm local time, with the finals of the men's 400 hurdles with the top runners from Friday's heats.
A pair of runners coached by UW men's head coach Andy Powell are in the 1500m field, as Oregon alum Johnny Gregorek goes for Team USA, and Kieran Lumb is scheduled to double back after the 5000 for Team Canada.
Vancouver native and world championship silver medalist Kara Winger closes out the Washington contingent competing at NACAC as she throws in the finals of the women's javelin at 5:00 pm local time.
NOTE: European Athletics and NACAC contributed to this report.
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