WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Akins & Woodruff take third in Padua; Diamond League finalists announced...

The weekend roundup begins in Padua, Italy at the XXXV Meeting Citta' di Padua Sunday, as Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts finished third in the women's 800.

Akins broke 2 minutes for the second time in a row on her tour of Italy, running 1:59.56, as Allie Wilson won in 1:58.37.

Olympia native Brooke Feldmeier was ninth in 2:01.10.

In the 400 hurdles, Washington alum Gianna Woodruff finished third in 55.09, as training partner and former world champ Dalilah Muhammad ran a meet record 53.84 to take the win.

Washington volunteer coach Sam Prakel finished seventh in the men's 1500 in 3:36.90, as former Notre Dame standout and US Olympian Yared Nuguse won in a meet record 3:33.26.

Complete results of the XXXV Meeting Citta' di Padua are available here.

Saturday in Gillingham, England, Washington alum Eleanor Fulton came close to breaking 2 minutes in the 800 for the first time in her career at the British Milers Club regional race.

Fulton crossed the finish in 2:00.45, as Great Britain's Ellie Baker won in 1:59.52.

Complete results of the British Milers Club's Gillingham stop is available here.

The organizers of the Weltklasse Zürich meet, which is the final meet of the 13-meet Wanda Diamond League series, announced the start list for the finals on Wednesday and Thursday.

Washington alum Amy-Eloise Markovc is entered in the women's 5000, which will be contested Wednesday.

Josh Kerr of the Brooks Beasts is entered in the men's 1500 Thursday, while Vancouver native Kara Winger will go in the final meet of her pro career in the javelin.

Washington alum and world championships finalist Gianna Woodruff gets a spot in the women's 400 hurdles, as does Washington State alum CJ Allen in the men's 400 hurdles, despite losing a personal best of 47.96 in the Brussels Diamond League meet due to a trail leg violation.

The winner of each Diamond League final gets an automatic bye into next year's world championships in Budapest, assuming the winner's federation doesn't have an athlete in that event (defending world champion) with a bye.

Entering the Diamond League finals, Kerr is in eighth place in the 1500 with 9 points, and Allen stands seventh with 13 points in the 400 hurdles.

Winger is in second in the javelin with 18 points. Markovc is in a 4-way tie for tenth in the 5000 with 7 points, and Woodruff is in sixth place in the 400 hurdles with 14 points.

The qualifiers for the Weltklasse Zürich meet are available here, while the Wanda Diamond League standings by event are available here.

FALCON WOMEN WIN SEASON OPENER WITH A PERFECT 15 SATURDAY...

In Steilacoom Saturday, Libby Michael led Seattle Pacific to a perfect 15 score in winning the Puget Sound Invitational at Fort Steilacoom Park.

Michael completed the 5k course in 18:57 for her first career win.

She was followed by Matise Mulch in 19:09. then Katelyn Folio in 19:26. Nicki Yorges was fourth in 19:38, then sprinter Vanessa Aniteye, who is competing in cross country for the first time, was fifth in 19:41.

Pacific Lutheran was second with 52 points, followed by host Puget Sound with 81 points.

In the men's 5k race, the Falcons placed two runners in the top ten, led by Drew Thompson in third at 15:47, then Brennan LeBlanc in fourth in 15:52.

Ben Kerr of Puget Sound won the race in 15:29. Pacific Lutheran won the men's team title with 32 points, while Seattle Pacific was second with 45, followed by Green River CC with 73 points.

Seattle Pacific's recap is available here, while complete results of the Puget Sound Invitational are available here.

NOTE: The Wanda Diamond League, the XXXV Meeting Citta' di Padua, the British Milers Club, and the sports information office of Seattle Pacific contributed to this report.

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