Nathan Green's pro debut with adidas results in a win at Harry Jerome...
BURNABY, British Columbia--"First day at work!", Nathan Green (Paul Merca photo) said to an observer moments before the start of the men's 1500 at the Harry Jerome Track Classic Tuesday night at Swangard Stadium, just east of Vancouver.
Tuesday night's Harry Jerome was the Washington grad's professional debut, as the NCAA 1500 meter champion swapped out his white and purple Husky kit for the red 2025 adidas pro kit of his sponsor.
While it appeared that it was indeed Green's first day at work, if you didn't know it, it was almost as if he was back home at the purple track of the University of Washington, as a large number of the field had Husky ties.
In the field were alums Joe Waskom, Sam Ellis, Leo Daschbach, and Eric Gibson, not to mention Oregon grad Sam Prakel, the original member of Washington coach Andy Powell's Seattle pro group.
Playing pacers were recent UW grad Justin O'Toole, coming back after racing the 800 an hour earlier, and former UW grad student Aaron Ahl.
O'Toole led the field, going through the first 400 in 57 seconds before dropping out past the 600 mark, at which point Ahl took the lead, with Canadian Charles Philibert-Thiboutot in hot pursuit.
Ahl took Philibert-Thiboutot to 1000 meters before stepping off the track. However, there was a gap between the leader and the rest of the field, which included Prakel, Green and Ellis.
Philibert-Thiboutot led at the bell in 2:38, with Prakel and Green giving chase, going through 1200 at 2:54, at which point Prakel and Green went to the front.
As the field came off the final turn, Green separated himself from everyone else except Canada's Max Davies (left/Paul Merca photo) , who tried to make a late run, but fell short, as Green took the win in 3:34.97 to Davies' 3:35.04.
Prakel was third in 3:36.10, while Philibert-Thiboutot was fourth in 3:37.79.
Leo Daschbach was seventh in 3:40.00, followed by Joe Waskom in 11th in 3:44.44, and Eric Gibson in 12th at 3:48.84.
Sam Ellis did not finish.
Afterwards, Green said that he was further back from the front than he planned.
"I wanted to be with Charles, because I knew he was going to be with the rabbit. I got spit out the back and was trying to make up ground. Fortunately, I was able to make up enough ground to catch him at the end."
He explained that since the NCAAs, he and others in Powell's group have been in a heavy training phase, with them running a significantly tough workout last Friday followed by a long run on Saturday.
In the men's 800, Washington's Kyle Reinheimer was sixth in 1:48.13, while Justin O'Toole was ninth in 1:49.96.
Earlier in the day, Ridgefield's Trey Knight was fourth in the men's hammer with a toss of 242-8 (73.98m).
O'SULLIVAN RUNS FIRST 1500 SINCE WINNING NCAA TITLE IN BRESCIA...
In Brescia, Italy, Washington grad Sophie O'Sullivan finished fifth Tuesday night in the women's 1500 at the Banca Valsabbina Grand Prix.
O'Sullivan ran 4:10.76, as Italy's Gaia Sabbatini won in 4:07.41.
O'Sullivan is entered in Saturday's mile at the London Diamond League meet.
NOTE: The Harry Jerome Track Classic and the Banca Valsabbina Grand Prix contributed to this report.
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