Leo Daschbach Among New Names Expected To Join The Mix At Dempsey Indoor

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The second meet of the winter at Dempsey Indoor in Seattle begins with field events Friday afternoon and concludes on Saturday. The women's 3,000 and men's 5,000 are the only Friday track events and begin at 7 p.m. Pacific.

Much like the UW Indoor Preview two weeks ago, the Washington Invitational will be a small meet with limited numbers of people allowed in the building at any one time. 

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And once again, the entries are largely comprised of athletes from the host University of Washington, Washington State, BYU and some of the Northwest's top post-collegians and pros. 

The meet is expected to include the indoor debuts for Washington freshman Leo Daschbach, who became the 11th prep runner to run sub-four minutes for the mile last June, as well as the BYU trio of freshmen Easton Allred, Aidan Troutner and Casey Clinger. 

All four of them are on the entry list for the men's 5,000 meters. Allred and Clinger have already participated in a cross country race this month. 

That 5,000 meters also includes veteran performers Tibebu Proctor and Andrew Jordan of Washington and Conner Mantz and Brandon Garnica, and Washington State's Colton Johnsen, among others. 

Sadi Henderson from Oiselle Little Wing, who won the 800 meters Jan. 30 at the Preview (2:06.14) will return to that event and face a lineup that includes BYU's Anna Camp-Bennett, running unattached, against the Cougars' Lauren Ellsworth and Alena Ellsworth, and Washington's Marlena Preigh. 

In the women's mile, Camp-Bennett faces the challenge of a veteran field that includes Alli Cash, who won the Preview mile in 4:33.72. Also on the start list are Marta Pen Freitas of Brooks, Hannah Greene of OTC Elite, Rebecca Mehra and Angel Piccirillo (and Henderson) of Oiselle, Katie Rainsberger and Kelly Makin of Washington and Kate Hunter of BYU.

Several of those pros are also entered in the 3,000 meters, which has a start list with 30 names, including former Washington standouts Mel Lawrence (Oiselle Little Wing) and Eleanor Fulton (unattached), Washington's Allie Schadler and Haley Herberg, and BYU freshman Lexy Halladay.

Washington freshman Cruz Culpepper, who broke through the four-minute barrier in the mile two weeks ago, returns to the event again and will face a strong field that includes Mick Stanovsek (unattached), Paul Ryan (unattached), and OTC Elite's Patrick Tiernan, Vincent Ciattei and Will Paulson. 

Oregon's Jackson Mestler, who has cross country eligibility but not indoor track, is entered in the men's 3,000 meters as an unattached athlete. Tripp Hurt (Team Boss), Clayton Young (ASICS), James West (unattached) and Dillon Maggard (HOKA ONE ONE) are all entered.