THE WEEKEND AHEAD (pro edition): Sound Running Track Fest & Rabat Diamond League on tap...

A large contingent of pros with Washington ties are headed to Los Angeles to compete in Saturday night's Sound Running Track Fest at Jack Kemp Stadium on the campus of Occidental College, featuring a deep field in the middle and long distance events.

Saturday's program includes elite sections in the 800m, 1500m, 5000m, and steeplechase for both men and women. 

Walla Walla native and Olympic silver medalist Kenneth Rooks (Paul Merca photo) makes his 2025 outdoor steeplechase debut in the penultimate race of the main program at 9:25 pm, when he goes against a field that includes Parker Stokes of the Brooks Beasts, and Washington alum and Tokyo Olympian Ed Trippas.

The 800s feature Valery Tobias, who made her first major international team in March when she competed for Team USA at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing. Teammates Isaiah Harris, John Rivera and Brannon Kidder are entered in the men's 800.

Washington alums Joe Waskom, Sam Ellis, and world indoor 1500 meter bronze medalist Luke Houser are in the men's 1500 field, along with Seattle resident Sam Prakel.

Allie Buchalski and Dillon Maggard of the Brooks Beasts are in the women's and men's 5000. Maggard will be joined in his race by Washington alum Kieran Lumb.

Former Seattle Pacific and Oregon State All-American Kaylee Mitchell, and Woodinville native Olivia Markezich are entered in the women's steeplechase.

In the second section of the men's steeple, a trio of Washington alums are in the field, as Julius Diehr, Aaron Ahl, and Mick Stanovsek race.

Before the main program gets underway at 8 pm, Kayley DeLay and Marta Pen Freitas of the Brooks Beasts are racing in separate sections of the women's 1500. Kyle Langford of the Beasts is in a section of the men's 800, while Washington alum Eric Gibson races in a section of the men's 1500.

The early section of the Track Fest begins at 6:20 pm.

Flotrack ($) will stream the meet starting at 6:30 pm.

The link to live results is available here.

WANDA DIAMOND LEAGUE CIRCUIT RETURNS TO RABAT...

The Wanda Diamond League returns to Rabat, Morocco for Sunday's running of the Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athletisme, which is the fourth stop on the season long worldwide tour.

Former Pullman resident and reigning world pole vault champion Katie Moon (photo courtesy Wanda Diamond League), who opened up her outdoor campaign last week with a third place finish in Doha, where she cleared 15-2.25 (4.63m), will vault against a field that includes Great Britain's Molly Caudery, who beat Moon last week.

Former Husky and two-time New Zealand Olympian Sam Tanner's entered in the men's 1500, where he'll face a field that includes France's Azeddine Habz, who is currently ranked number 7 in the world. 

While the field is devoid of the big names in the 1500, Americans Abraham Alvarado, Vince Ciattei, and Jonah Koech are in the field.

One of the few Brooks Beasts not racing in Los Angeles the night before is Olympian Brandon Miller, who makes his Diamond League debut Sunday. Miller faces a field that includes Olympic champ Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya.

Washington alum Eleanor Fulton is entered in the women's 3000.

The start list for the Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athletisme is available here. Flotrack ($) will stream the meet in the USA starting at 11 am Pacific.

NOTE: Sound Running and the Wanda Diamond League contributed to this report.

paulmerca.blogspot.com may receive a commission for any purchases made from links clicked. Please support this site and our sponsors by clicking on the links. You can also support the site by clicking the yellow "Buy Me A Coffee" link below.