Washington's Nathan Green runs fourth fastest 1500m in NCAA history at Bryan Clay...


AZUSA, California--
Washington's Nathan Green (Paul Merca photo) may have a battle on his hands as he looks to defend his NCAA 1500 meter title in June.

On a cool and wet evening at the Bryan Clay Invitational on the campus of Azusa Pacific University, Green finished second to Northern Arizona's Colin Sahlman, as Sahlman ran 3:33.96 to win the top section of the men's 1500 meters.

With Washington alum and Canadian world championships competitor Kieran Lumb assisting in the early pacesetting, the field started to string out quickly.

On the final lap, Green and Sahlman ran side by side, with the Northern Arizona standout pulling away on the homestretch.


Sahlman's time is the sixth fastest time in the world so far this season and the second fastest time in NCAA history, while Green's time of 3:34.79 puts him fourth in NCAA history and inside the top 20 on the world list this season.

Green remains number two on the all-time UW list in the 1500, behind Joe Waskom's mark of 3:34.64 set last July.

In the same top section of the 1500, Seattle resident Sam Prakel was fifth in 3:36.16, while Luke Houser (3:42.12) and Joe Waskom (3:43.48) were ninth and tenth.

Notable marks from the invitational sections of the men's 1500 included Washington State alum Paul Ryan's 3:40.16 to finish ninth in the second section; Western Washington alum Mac Franks of Club Northwest's 3:42.01 to finish third in section 6; Washington's Leo Daschbach, who was second in section 7 in 3:42.84; and Western Washington's Kevin McDermott, who was fifth in section 12 in 3:47.62, the fastest time in the GNAC this season. 

Washington's Chloe Foerster broke her personal best by five seconds and became the second in school history to break 4:10 in the 1500, going 4:07.96 (4:07.955) to finish third in her heat and fourth overall.

Colorado alum Dani Jones was the overall winner, running 4:07.19 in heat 12 of the invitational section, followed by BYU alum Anna Camp-Bennett's 4:07.33, the winner of heat 11, the heat that Foerster ran.

Foerster lost out in a photo finish to Georgetown's Melissa Riggins, 4:07.951 to 4:07.955. 

Nonetheless, she is currently ranked second in NCAA D1 behind Riggins, and is closing in on the US Olympic Trials qualifying standard of 4:06.00.

Significant marks from the twelve heats of the women's invitational 1500 included Washington's Samantha Friborg winning heat 5 (33rd overall) in 4:15.75; Marta Pen Freitas of the Brooks Beasts, who was 14th in heat 11 in 4:18.99; and Willow Collins of Gonzaga, who was third in Friborg's heat in 4:20.32.

Highlights from the afternoon session of the Bryan Clay Invitational:

One day after winning the 200 at the Beach Invitational in Long Beach, Washington State freshman Grant Buckmiller won the men's 400 in 46.09.

Micaela De Mello finished second in the 100 hurdles in a tine of 13.35. Jasneet Nijjar was third in the women's 400 in 52.79.

In the men's pole vault, Lucas Tallin of the Cougs cleared 16-0.75 (4.90m) to finish fourth.


In Long Beach, two days after winning the triple jump on the same pit at the Pacific Coast Invitational, Egypt Simmons of Eastern Washington came within one centimeter of tying her school record of 41-10.75 (12.77m) by jumping 41-10.75 (12.76m) on the final day of the Beach Invitational, hosted by Long Beach State.

Simmons finished second behind Missouri's Euphenie Andre, who bounded 42-5.5 (12.94m).

Eastern Washington alum Keshun McGee finished fifth in the men's triple jump with a best of 50-9.25 (15.47m).


In Los Angeles, Washington State's throwers competed at the UCLA Legends Invitational at Drake Stadium on the campus of UCLA.

Ronald Grueso Mosquera threw 59-10.25 (18.24m) to win the men's shot put. In the women's shot put, Nana Gyedu threw a best 51-5.75 (15.69m) to finish second.

In the men's javelin, Cody White threw a best of 195-11 (59.72m) to take second, while teammate Blake Sturgis was third at 192-8 (58.73m).

Caden Hoffman threw a best of 153-9 (46.87m) to take second in the men's discus.


NOTE: The sports information offices of Azusa Pacific, Long Beach State, UCLA, University of Washington, Washington State University, and Eastern Washington University contributed to this report.

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