Gonzaga and Washington open 23-24 indoor season in Boston Saturday...
With many of the country's top collegiate distance runners having just finished competing at the NCAA cross country championships on November 18th, many of those who are still in peak condition are going to Boston University's hyper-fast track to get an early qualifying mark before the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Gonzaga's All-American Rosina Machu (Paul Merca photo), who was 16th at the NCAA championships two weeks ago, is entered in the 5000.
Gonzaga is also sending Kristen Garcia in the mile, along with Alicia Anderson, and Jessica Frydenlumb in the 3000, while Sadie Tuckwood joins Machu in the 5000.
On the men's side, Bryce Cerkowniak and Drew Kolodge are entered in the 5000.
Washington's group includes Eric Gibson and Samantha Friborg (she'll compete unattached) in the mile; Julia David-Smith, and Ronan McMahon-Staggs in the 3000; and Perri Bockrath, Haley Herberg and India Weir in the 5000.
Other notable entries with Washington ties include All-Americans Olivia Markezich of Notre Dame and Kaylee Mitchell of Oregon State in the 3000; and All-Americans Andrea Markezich of Notre Dame and Taylor Roe of Oklahoma State in the 5000.
Pros with Washington ties entered include Washington alum Kieran Lumb (3000), fresh off winning the Canadian cross country championships last week; fellow alum Sam Ellis (mile) and Washington State alum Paul Ryan (3000).
The men's mile heats start at 8:07 a.m. Pacific time. Women's 3,000-meters start at 10:55 a.m. followed by the men's 3Ks at 12:05 p.m. and then the women's 5,000-meter heats start at 1:25 p.m. The men's 5000s start at 3:25 pm, Pacific.
Most of the other Washington schools will open the season next weekend at the Spokane Invitational at The Podium on December 9th.
Flotrack ($) will stream the meet starting at 7 am Pacific time. The link to live results is available here, while the time schedule is available here.
THOMAS & TRIPPAS ENTERED IN 3000 AT ZATOPEK 10 IN MELBOURNE...
Current Husky Carley Thomas along with Washington alum Ed Trippas are entered in the women's and men's 3000 at the On Track Nights Zatopek:10 in Melbourne, Australia Saturday night (early Saturday in Seattle).
Thomas is coming off a performance last month in Sydney, where she ran 9:07.59 for 3000, which is the third fastest mark in Washington school history, behind Sophie O'Sullivan and Regina Joyce.
Trippas, an Australian Olympian in the steeplechase, will make his 2024 season opener, as he looks to return to the form that earned him a spot on Australia's Olympic and world championship teams in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Meet sponsor On Running is providing a live stream of the meet through its YouTube channel, beginning at 9:45 pm Pacific time Friday night.
BATT-DOYLE ENTERED IN VALENCIA MARATHON...
Washington alum Izzi Batt-Doyle is entered in Sunday's Valencia Marathon in Spain, as she aims for the Olympic standard of 2:26:50.
Batt-Doyle, who has spent the last several months away from Australia, training primarily in Switzerland and Great Britain, is currently the number four marathoner in Australia.
Heading into this weekend, the 2019 UW grad, who has a personal best of 2:27:54 from the Nagoya Marathon in March, will need to shave 64 seconds off her best to duck under the Olympic standard.
Currently, only Sinead Diver and Lisa Weightman are the two Australians owning the standard.
Flotrack ($) will stream the Valencia Marathon beginning at 11:15 pm, Saturday night.
WALCHAK-SLOAN HEADED TO EASTERN WASHINGTON...
According to a post on Eastern Washington's social media accounts, Saint Martin's NCAA cross country All-American Cassidy Walchak-Sloan will attend Eastern Washington as a graduate transfer.
Walchak-Sloan had a breakout season this fall, finishing as Saint Martin's top runner in every race this season. She finished inside the top ten in four races this fall, and was 27th at the NCAA Division II cross country championships in Joplin, Missouri two weeks ago, where she ran 20:35 over the 6k course.
She'll have one season of eligibility for Eastern Washington.
NOTE: The sports information offices of Gonzaga, Washington, Eastern Washington, Saint Martin's, and Boston University, along with Athletics Australia, and the Valencia Marathon contributed to this report.
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