THE WEEKEND AHEAD: Holloway Pro Classic, London Athletics Meet, and Sound Running Sunset Tour on tap...
Washington alum Gianna Woodruff (Paul Merca photo) gets the weekend started Friday at the Holloway Pro Classic in Gainesville on the campus of the University of Florida, as she runs in the 400 hurdles at the final stop of the Puma American Track League series.
The two-time Olympian, who was a finalist in Tokyo, will run against a field that includes training partner and former Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad, along with Cassandra Tate, who was a finalist at the recent US Olympic Trials.
Former Washington State standout Charisma Taylor is entered in both the 100 hurdles and the triple jump, as she sharpens up before Paris.
Her qualifying heat in the 100 hurdles includes current world record holder and former world champion Tobi Amusan of Nigeria.
In the triple jump, Taylor faces off against the top two finishers in the US Olympic Trials, Jasmine Moore, and Keturah Orji.
Washington alum Cass Elliott, who advanced to the semifinals at the Trials in the men's 800 in his first full season as an 800 meter runner, goes in his specialty.
The meet will be streamed on the American Track League's YouTube page starting at 2 pm Pacific time.
Saturday, the final meet of the Wanda Diamond League series before the Olympic break takes place in London, with Olympic Stadium the venue for the London Athletics Meet.
Local fans will have eyes fixed on former Washington State standout Louie Hinchliffe, who has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the 2024 season after winning the NCAA 100 meter title in Eugene, then backed it up by winning the British national title to clinch his spot on their Olympic team.
Hinchliffe will face US Olympic Trials champ and defending world champion Noah Lyles, as well as a who's who of sprinting including Yohan Blake of Jamaica, Akani Simbine of South Africa, Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, and countryman Zharnel Hughes.
Former Pullman resident Katie Moon, who finished fifth at the Diamond League stop in Monaco, looks to get back on the winning track in the women's pole vault, as the defending world and Olympic champion goes against co-world champion Nina Kennedy of Australia and hometown favorite Molly Caudery, who, other than two losses in the last month at the European Championships, and last week in Monaco, has won six competitions since winning the world indoor title in March.
Washington State alum CJ Allen, who is second in the Wanda Diamond League 400 hurdles point standings with 25 points entering this weekend, will run against a field that includes Diamond League event leader Alison dos Santos of Brazil, Wilfried Happio of France, and Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands.
Washington alums Brian Fay of Ireland and Jack Rowe of Great Britain are entered in the men's 3000 in a field headed by US Olympic Trials 5000 & 10000 champ Grant Fisher.
The start list for the London Athletics Meet is available here.
Finally, a group from the Brooks Beasts will be in Los Angeles' Jack Kemp Stadium on the campus of Occidental College for the Sound Running Sunset Tour.
Isaiah Harris and Brannon Kidder are in the men's 800, while Valery Tobias is in the second section of the women's 800.
Henry Wynne and Waleed Suliman highlight the men's 1500, with Washington State alum Paul Ryan of adidas in the field.
New Beast Teagan Schein-Becker is in the B section of the women's 1500.
Allie Buchalski and Kayley DeLay, fresh off winning the Yakima Mile last weekend are entered for the Beasts in the women's 5000.
Others with Washington ties entered include Seattle resident Tom Anderson, and Washington alum Julius Diehr in the men's 5000; former Husky Evan Mafilas in the men's 400; and Washington alum Aaron Ahl in the men's steeple.
Media partner RunnerSpace ($) will stream the meet.
COLLEGE NOTES...
The University of Washington announced on X that 800 meter runner Cole Lindhorst from the University of Texas has signed a letter of intent to attend the school as a graduate transfer.
Lindhorst was an NCAA qualifier at 800 meters this past indoor and outdoor seasons for the Longhorns...
Eastern Washington University announced that Daniel Gaik, who spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the University of Washington, is transferring back to Eastern, where he started his collegiate career.
Gaik, who was listed as a senior on Washington's web site, appears to have at least one season of outdoor eligibility remaining, as he competed once this outdoor season for the UW.
During his first stint at Eastern, he was fifth in the 400 at the Big Sky in the 400, and was a conference scorer outdoors.
At Washington, he earned All-America honors as part of the Huskies' distance medley relay in the 2023 championships...
Saint Martin's University announced on its Instagram page that Gabriel Trimbur, who was an assistant distance coach at Seattle University last season, is now the new head cross country coach and track distance coach...
NOTE: The American Track League, Wanda Diamond League, Sound Running, along with the sports information offices of the University of Washington, Eastern Washington, and Saint Martin's, contributed to this report.
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