THE WEEKEND AHEAD: Pros on East Coast, while collegians head to various meets around the country...
As the clock strikes closer to conference and national championship time, Washington's collegiate and professional athletes are spread all over the country this weekend in hot pursuit of marks to get them closer to the finish line.
THE PROS...
Eight Washington pros head to New York to compete in the second US stop of the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meet, the Millrose Games at the Nike Track & Field Center at The Armory.
Reigning world and Olympic pole vault champion and former Pullman resident Katie Moon (Paul Merca photo) faces off against former Olympic champ and Stanford alum Katerina Stefanidi of Greece, along with Bridget Williams, the winner of last week's New Balance Indoor GP meet in Boston.
Also in the field are incoming University of Washington freshmen Hana & Amanda Moll from Capital HS/Olympia, as Hana, the reigning world U20 champ, looks to join her twin sister Amanda as members of the exclusive high school 15-foot club.
Kyle Langford and Isaiah Harris of the Brooks Beasts are entered in the men's 800, while Washington alum Eleanor Fulton and Olympic 1500m bronze medalist Josh Kerr of the Beasts are in the women's and men's 3000.
Former Husky Sam Tanner, Washington volunteer coach Sam Prakel, and Johnny Gregorek, who were second, third, and fifth last week in Boston, look to improve their placing in the mile.
Katie Burnett is entered in the women's one mile race walk.
NBC and Peacock will offer coverage of the Millrose Games from 1-3pm Pacific time.
In Boston, current Brooks Beast Henry Wynne, former Beast David Ribich, and Washington alum Mick Stanovsek are entered in the mile at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University Saturday.
Additionally, Western Washington's Drew Weber and Will Henry are entered in the mile as well, as they aim to move up in the NCAA D2 descending order list. They'll see several athletes from conference rival Simon Fraser in Boston.
Washington alum Gianna Woodruff makes a rare indoor appearance, as she's entered in the 300 meters at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Also entered in the pole vault is Mountlake Terrace native Chinne Okoronkwo. Both compete on Friday, the first day of the two-day meet.
THE COLLEGES...
Close to home, the University of Washington hosts the Husky Classic Friday and Saturday at Dempsey Indoor.
Friday's session starts at 2:30 pm, while Saturday's session begins at 9:30 am.
Based on entries, it appears the women's and men's 3000, the men's and women's miles, and the women's pole vault could be the most intriguing events on the docket.
Besides the host Huskies, Western Washington, Seattle Pacific, Seattle University, Saint Martins, Gonzaga, and Washington State will have entries in the field. For all the GNAC schools, this is the final weekend to attain marks for the conference championships in Spokane on February 20-21.
In Spokane, Whitworth University hosts the two-day Whitworth Invitational Friday and Saturday at The Podium.
Gonzaga, Eastern Washington, and Central Washington will have a presence at The Podium, while Washington State and Western Washington will have a small number of entries in the meet.
The multi-events get the meet started Friday at 1:45 pm. The women's weight throw is the first field event at 1:30 pm, while the women's distance medley relay is the first event on the track at 5 pm.
Saturday's schedule gets underway on both the track and field at 9 am.
Finally, Washington State is sending the majority of its sprints, jumps, and throws crew to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the two day Don Kirby Invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center hosted by the University of New Mexico.
In addition, Eastern Washington is sending their pole vaulters, and a limited number of other athletes to New Mexico.
Washington State alum Emmanuel Wells is entered in the 60, while West Seattle HS alum Chloe Cunliffe is entered in the women's pole vault. Laurie Barton & Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts, who are conducting their annual altitude camp in New Mexico, are entered in the 600.
The accepted entries for the Don Kirby Invitational are available here, while the time schedule is available here.
NOTE: The Millrose Games, Spokane Sports Commission, and the sports information offices of the University of Washington, Boston University, and the University of New Mexico contributed to this report.
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