SATURDAY'S BEST: Kerr opens season with his fastest 800 in three years...

As the professional season truly gets underway, and the collegiate season reaches the midway point of the campaign, here's a quick recap of what happened this weekend:

OREGON RELAYS

In Eugene, Josh Kerr (Paul Merca photo) of Seattle's Brooks Beasts ran away with the win in the 800 meters in his outdoor season debut at the Oregon Relays Saturday night.

Dropping down in distance, Kerr followed pacer Travis Thompson through a 52.51 first 400 before Beasts teammate Brandon Miller took over for the next 200.

Just before the 600 mark, Kerr moved to the front and wasn't challenged, winning in a time of 1:45.94, off of his personal best of 1:45.35 set five years ago.

Miller hung on for third in 1:47.83, followed by Kyle Langford of the Beasts in 1:48.02.

Washington alum Sam Ellis was sixth in 1:48.42, and Seattle resident Sam Prakel was seventh in 1:50.28.

In the women's pro 1500, Allie Buchalski of the Beasts was eighth in 4:11.85, and teammate Kayley DeLay was ninth in 4:12.68, and former Seattle Pacific All-American Kaylee Mitchell, now competing for the Bowerman TC was tenth in 4:13.63. Karissa Schweizer of Bowerman won in 4:08.66.

Washington alum Kieran Lumb was second in a tactical mile race, as the Canadian champ at 1500m finished in 4:00.71 to Bowerman TC's Kieran Tuntivate in 4:00.26.

Dillon Maggard of the Brooks Beasts was fourth in 4:00.98, and teammate Brannon Kidder was sixth in 4:01.62, just ahead of Western Washington alum Mac Franks of Club Northwest in 4:01.89.

Complete results of the Oregon Relays are available here.

XIAMEN DIAMOND LEAGUE

Washington alum Brian Fay of Ireland, who already owns the Olympic standard in the 5000 meters, made his outdoor season debut at the Xiamen Diamond League season opener at Egret Stadium Saturday night.

Fay finished twelfth in a time of 13:14.97 as Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia won in a time of 12:58.96, the fastest outdoor time so far this season.

The highlight of the first of fifteen meets this season on the Wanda Diamond League circuit was Mondo Duplantis of Sweden picking up where he left off, clearing a world record 20-5.5 (6.24m) beating his own mark set at last year's Nike Prefontaine Classic.

Results of the Xiamen Diamond League meet are available here.

MT. SAC RELAYS

In Walnut, California, Washington freshman Hana Moll broke the meet record in the women's pole vault Saturday on the final day of the Mt. SAC Relays Saturday.

After a shaky start where she needed two attempts to clear the first two bars, Moll made 14-9 (4.50m) to win the competition, and cleared 15-1 (4.60m), both on her first attempt.

She then took three unsuccessful attempts at the Olympic standard of 15-6.25 (4.73m), which also would have been a new world U20 record.

Nonetheless, Moll is the only vaulter in NCAA D1 to clear 15 feet so far this season.

Nastassja Campbell of the Huskies was third with a season outdoor best of 14-1.25 (4.30m) which puts her in a tie for number 12 on the NCAA descending order list.

In the men's hammer, Ridgefield HS alum Trey Knight of Cal State Northridge finished second with a best of 252-7 (76.99m), behind Cal's Rowan Hamilton, who threw 253-1 (77.16m).

Complete results of the Mt. SAC Relays are available here.

COUGAR CLASSIC

In Pullman, Maribel Caicedo (photo courtesy WSU Athletics) again lowered her own school record and Ecuadorian national record in the 100 hurdles to highlight competition at the Cougar Classic at Mooberry Track on the Washington State University campus.

Competing in the school's first home outdoor meet in two seasons, Caicedo ran 12.85 against a small headwind of -0.8 meters per second for the win. 

Teammate Micaela De Mello was second in 13.13 to put her in the top 25 on the NCAA descending order list.

As part of an impressive 23 wins on the day for the Cougars, freshman Eva Lowder won the women's pole vault with a best of 13-11.75 (4.26m), which is a new outdoor school record.

Eastern Washington got three wins on the day from Dyvhine Fonoti in the women's hammer (169-1/51.55m), Lucas Couron in the men's pole vault (16-0.75/4.90m), and Nattie Ruzauskas in the women's 1500 (4:40.28).

Complete results of the Cougar Classic are available here.

NOTE: RunnerSpace.com, the Wanda Diamond League, the Mt. SAC Relays and the sports information offices of the University of Washington, Washington State University, contributed to this report.

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