World & Olympic champ Katie Moon among headliners of USATF LA Grand Prix...

The USATF LA Grand Prix begins Friday night at UCLA's Drake Stadium as big time pro track and field returns to Los Angeles, filling the void left by the Nike Prefontaine Classic's move for this season to September as the Pre Classic hosts the Wanda Diamond League finals.

A number of athletes with Washington ties will compete in the two day meet that starts Friday evening.

Former Pullman resident and reigning world and Olympic champion Katie Moon goes in the women's pole vault at 705 pm, as she faces training partner and world indoor champ Sandi Morris.

Shortly after the start of the pole vault, the B sections of the men's and women's 800s feature a trio from the Brooks Beasts led by Isaiah Harris, Devin Dixon and Laurie Barton.

In the women's steeplechase at 7:30, Washington alum Katie Rainsberger, and Pasco native Marisa Howard are among the entries in the field.

Just past 8 pm, the 1500 meter runners take the Drake Stadium track. The women's B section has Marta Pen Freitas of the Brooks Beasts, Seattle resident Rebecca Mehra, and Washington alum Katie Follett in the field.

At 8:30 pm, Washington State alum Paul Ryan, Henry Wynne of the Brooks Beasts, recent UW grad Kieran Lumb, and Tacoma native Jack Yearian are entered in the B section of the men's 1500. It should be noted that Ryan is also entered in Saturday's nationally televised top section of the 1500, which could mean either he's possibly scratching from Friday's race, or is pacing Saturday after racing Friday night.

To end Friday night's session, Allie Buchalski of the Brooks Beasts is entered in the women's 5000, while former Husky Jack Rowe, who is training in Flagstaff for a few weeks, is running the men's 5000.

On Saturday's nationally televised schedule, Washington State alum CJ Allen, who is currently ranked number 7 in the world in the 400 hurdles, goes in his specialty, where he goes against fellow Americans Khallifah Rosser and Trevor Bassitt, the world's number 2 and 5 hurdlers at 1:32 pm.

At 2:27 pm, UW volunteer coach Sam Prakel and Johnny Gregorek, who trains with Prakel under the tutelage of UW men's head coach Andy Powell, are entered in the top section of the men's 1500, along with Paul Ryan, who possibly is in the field to pace.

Before the NBC television window at 1:30 pm, Isaiah Harris is also entered in the top section of the men's 800. at 1:22 pm.

NBC (KING 5 in Seattle) will televise the USATF LA Grand Prix meet starting at 1:30 pm Saturday, while USATF.tv will stream Friday's program starting at 5:00 pm, and the meet's first hour on Saturday at 12:30 before switching to NBC.

The link to live results is available here.

NOTE: USA Track & Field 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.