Huskies' O'Sullivan claims Irish U23 record & collegiate best at 1000 meters in Bern...
In Bern, Switzerland, Washington's Sophie O'Sullivan (Paul Merca photo) finished fourth in the women's 1000 meters at the Citius Meeting Bern Friday.
O'Sullivan ran 2:37.08, as Abbey Caldwell of Australia took the win in 2:34.63. In the process, O'Sullivan claimed the Irish U23 national record of 2:38.68 set in 1990 by her mother Sonia.
Right behind O'Sullivan was Washington teammate Carley Thomas, who finished in 2:37.42.
According to the list compiled by the USTFCCCA, those marks are the two fastest in collegiate history.
Washington volunteer coach Sam Prakel finished fifth in the men's 1500, running 3:35.21, as Elzan Bibic of Serbia won in 3:34.20.
O'SULLIVAN AND FAY FORMALLY NAMED TO IRISH SQUAD FOR WORLDS...
Earlier in the day, O'Sullivan and Husky teammate Brian Fay were formally named to Ireland's world championship team in the women's 1500, and 5000, respectively.
O'Sullivan finished inside the World Athletics quota, as she was ranked number 50 in the 1500. She finished second in the Irish national championships on Sunday, running 4:12.00.
That race gave her enough world rankings points to get inside World Athletics' entry quota of 56 athletes, with a maximum of three athletes per country, with the exception of wild card entries for the defending champion, and Wanda Diamond League winners.
Fay won the Irish championship in the men's 5000, running 13:39.20. Fay set the Irish national record in the 5000 on July 15th, when he ran 13:01.40 in Heusden, Belgium. In the process, he ducked under both the world championships (13:08.00) and Olympic (13:05.00) qualifying standards.
With Kieran Lumb named to the Canadian team earlier in the week, USA Track & Field has yet to announce their team. It's expected that USATF will make that announcement any day.
COLLEGIATE LANDSCAPE CHANGED AS WASHINGTON AND OREGON GO TO BIG 10...
Last summer, it was USC and UCLA who set the wheels in motion for the potential demise of the Pac-12 Conference, when they decided to join the Big 10 Conference.
A few weeks ago, Colorado decided to leave the Pac-12 to return to the Big 12 Conference.
Friday, the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors (COP/C) voted unanimously to admit the University of Oregon and the University of Washington to the Big Ten Conference effective August 2, 2024, with competition to begin in all sports for the 2024-25 academic year.
In a statement released from the Big 10, Washington athletic director Jennifer Cohen said, “We have tremendous respect and gratitude for the Pac-12, its treasured history and traditions. At the same time, the college athletics landscape has changed dramatically in recent years."
“The Big Ten’s history of athletic and academic success and long-term stability best positions our teams for future success, and we are energized at the opportunity to compete at the highest level against some of the best programs in the country.”
"We are excited to welcome the University of Oregon and the University of Washington to the Big Ten Conference,” said Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti. “We look forward to building long-lasting relationships with the universities, administrators and staff, student-athletes, coaches and fans,” Petitti said. “Both institutions feature a combination of academic and athletic excellence that will prove a great fit for our future."
Both Oregon and Washington, along with Colorado, USC and UCLA, will compete in the Pac-12 for the final time in the upcoming 2023-24 academic year. The Huskies will host the Pac-12 cross country championships at the end of October at Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place, as well as the Ken Shannon Invitational indoors, which has been a de facto Pac-12 meet, as the conference doesn't sponsor indoor track.
Colorado will host the 2024 Pac-12 track & field championships.
As of now, Washington State, along with Oregon State, Cal, Stanford will be left behind, as earlier in the evening, the Big 12 Conference announced the addition of Arizona, Arizona State and Utah.
BROOKS BEASTS RACE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE...
In Raleigh, North Carolina, Laurie Barton of the Brooks Beasts was fourth at the Sir Walter Miler women's pro race, as the Clemson grad ran a new personal best of 4:28.37, topping her old best of 4:35.88 set in April in Eugene.
Abby Nichols of Hoka Northern Arizona Elite took the win in 4:26.80.
En route, Barton was clocked at 4:11.14 through 1500 meters.
In Memphis, Henry Wynne of the Brooks Beasts won the mens 1500 at the Ed Murphey Classic Friday night.
Wynne ran 3:34.67 to beat out Johnny Gregorek, who is training under UW men's head coach Andy Powell. Gregorek ran 3:35.04 for second, while Dillon Maggard of the Beasts was fifth in 3:36.18.
The Beasts got another win in the women's 3000 as Washington alum Kayley DeLay won in a time of 8:48.56, a new personal best. Her old personal best was 8:58.93 set indoors at the Husky Classic.
Allie Buchalski of the Beasts was third in 8:54.37, also a personal best (old PB 8:58.35, set indoors last year) while Pasco native Marisa Howard was sixth in 9:22.73.
NOTE: The Citius Meeting Bern, Athletics Ireland, Big Ten Conference, Sir Walter Miler, and the Ed Murphey Classic contributed to this report.
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