NCAA announces field for D1 first round; pros off to Los Angeles for USATF LA Grand Prix...

INDIANAPOLIS--The NCAA announced the field for both the West and East Division I first round which will be contested starting May 22-25th in Fayetteville, Arkansas (West) and Lexington, Kentucky (East).

The University of Washington leads the way among the five Washington Division I schools with 39 entries (20 men/19 women) into next week's West Regionals, while Washington State has 27 athletes (13 men/14 women), a women's 4 x 100 relay, and a men's 4 x 400 relay.

Eastern Washington has six entries (4 women/2 men), while Gonzaga has eleven entries heading to Fayetteville (6 women/5 men).

For the ninth consecutive season, Seattle University failed to place an entry into the NCAA first round.

The top-48 athletes from the western half of the country, in every individual event, will compete over one or two rounds in Fayetteville to try and finish in the top-12. Those that place in the top-12 continue on to the NCAA Outdoor final site in Eugene, Oregon from June 5-8.

Washington State 100 meter hurdler Maribel Caicedo (Paul Merca photo), pole vaulter Hana Moll, and 1500 meter runner Chloe Foerster of Washington go into the West Regionals as the top seeds in their events on the women's side, while no men with Washington ties have number one seeds.

Decathletes Jami Schlueter of the Huskies, and Lee Walburn of the Cougars are assured of a spot in the national finals in Eugene, as the top 24 multi event specialists based on the regular season marks, advance to Eugene.

Notable athletes with Washington ties in the West Regionals include Ridgefield native Trey Knight of Cal State Northridge in the hammer; Rainier HS grad Jeremiah Nubbe of Texas in the hammer and discus; Garret Bernt of Stevenson HS and Northern Arizona in the hammer; former Washingotn State sprinter Louie Hinchliffe, now competing for Houston; Eastside Catholic's Kate Jendrezak of UCLA in the 800; Eastlake HS's Brooke Manson of Utah in the 800; former Husky Sarah Carter of Colorado State in the 5000 & 10000; Lake Stevens HS grad Taylor Roe of Oklahoma State in both the 5000 and 10000.

In the East Regional, twins Olivia and Andrea Markezich from Woodinville and Notre Dame are entered in the steeple and 10000, respectively. Olivia goes into the NCAAs as the defending national champion in the event.

The NCAA release is available here.

PROS OFF TO LOS ANGELES FOR USATF LA GRAND PRIX...

The US pro circuit makes a stop for the two day USATF LA Grand Prix at UCLA's Drake Stadium starting Friday night with the distance carnival, consisting of men's and women's sections in the 800, 1500, 5000 and steeple.

A number of athletes from the Seattle based Brooks Beasts are entered in the meet, as the Beasts are back in Albuquerque for another altitude training block of several weeks.

Also entered Friday night are UW alums Sam Ellis (800, 1500), Kieran Lumb, Mick Stanovsek, Aiden Ryan (m1500), Anna Gibson and Eleanor Fulton (w1500), & Aaron Ahl and Julius Diehr (steeple).

Other notable entries include reigning US national champ and Walla Walla native Kenneth Rooks, as well as Pasco HS alum Marisa Howard, both of whom are in the men's and women's steeple.

The accepted entries for Friday's distance carnival is here, while the link to Saturday's portion of the meet is available here.

NOTE: The NCAA and USA Track & Field contributed to this report.

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