Penn State's Hayley Kitching adds more depth to Brooks Beasts' women's 800m group...
In a statement on the team's Instagram page, Beasts head coach Danny Mackey said, “I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know Hayley over her last two years at Penn State and become a fan. She has progressed into one of the best runners in the country over that time. The Beasts have also had great success with three former Nittany Lions."
"Hayley has a great personality, a big work ethic, and the potential to be world class in more than one event. I’m very excited to coach Hayley and have her join the Brooks Beasts.”
During the 2026 indoor season, Kitching set the collegiate record as well as an Australian national record over 1000 meters, running 2:38.45.
She made the finals at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland in March in the 800, and won B1G Ten indoor and outdoor titles at that distance for the Nittany Lions.
Kitching capped off her collegiate career with a second place finish in the NCAA championships, running a personal best 1:57.65, finishing behind Arkansas' Sanu Jallow-Lockhart, who will be a teammate of hers on the Brooks Beasts.
Kitching, who also owns a 4:05.81 personal best over 1500 meters, joins a stacked women's 800 meter group with Jallow-Lockhart, and Paris Olympian Juliette Whittaker, along with holdover and world indoor championships competitor Valery Tobias.
The Penn State grad was a Brooks NIL athlete the last two seasons.
The team's Instagram post is below.
FOUR ATHLETES WITH WASHINGTON TIES RECEIVE USATF FOUNDATION GRANTS...
Four athletes with state of Washington ties are among 65 athletes who received grants from the USATF Foundation Thursday.
Washington alum Nathan Green (1500 meters), Brandon Miller (800 meters), and Katie Moon (pole vault) will each receive $40,000 Stephen A. Schwarzman grants, while Trey Knight (hammer) will receive a $30,000 grant.
These grants are designed to help athletes manage the financial demands of competing at the highest level while allowing them to remain focused on training, recovery, and performing.
The Stephen A. Schwarzman Grants are decided upon by the USATF Foundation Elite Grant Committee and criteria is based primarily on athlete’s potential to medal at the next major global competition. Consideration is also given to monetary need.
O'SULLIVAN CONTINUES LATE SEASON SURGE OVER 800M IN GERMANY...
In Trier, Germany Wednesday night, Washington alum Sophie O'Sullivan, who set a personal best over 800 meters Sunday when she ran 1:58.60 in Brescia, Italy, finished second in the women's 800 at the Volksbank Trier Eifel Flutlichtmeeting.
O'Sullivan ran her second fastest time, finishing in 1:59.23, as Kelly-Ann Beckford of Jamaica won in 1:59.04.
In the men's 1500, Washington alum Aidan Ryan finished eleventh in 3:35.39, just off of his personal best of 3:35.01 set last week in Pfungstadt.
Fellow Husky alum Kieran Lumb was 16th in 3:44.61, as Australia's Adam Spencer won in 3:31.83.
The men's 800 saw Washington alum Tyler Bilyard finish fifth in 1:47.30, chopping his old personal best by over two seconds.
Seattle resident Sam Prakel finished one spot behind Bilyard in 1:47.66.
Spain's Adrian Ben took the win in 1:45.67.
NOTE: Brooks Running, the Volksbank Trier Eifel Flutlichtmeeting, and the USATF Foundation contributed to this report.
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