Led by Huskies men’s standouts Green, Houser and Waskom, along with season debut of O'Sullivan in women’s competition joined by several elite professionals, more than 600 athletes scheduled to race mile during six-hour stretch at Dempsey facility

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

With the influence of eight men from the University of Washington breaking four minutes in same mile race last year, as well as the recent success of the Huskies in the mile and 1,500 meters at the NCAA Division 1 level over the past couple of years, this year’s University of Washington Invitational will feature the first “Mile City” showcase Saturday at the Dempsey Indoor Facility, highlighting another anticipated weekend of racing in Seattle.

The inaugural event is set to have 617 competitors compete over a six-hour stretch starting at 1 p.m., following the conclusion of the invitational portion, with races ranging from community, high school and elite.

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“We really wanted to find a way to get the community to be involved in our program and in our sport,” Washington assistant coach Chris Kwiatkowski said.

“Certainly trying to put together a really good field and get a fast mile going, but more importantly, it was just to provide a setting for the community of Seattle, around the state of Washington and around the region.”

Fans and other spectators are encouraged to attend as the evening will not have a plethora of races to watch, but will also feature food trucks parked outside the Dempsey and live music from a local DJ artist inside the facility.

“It’s almost important for someone who maybe doesn’t come from that background of that appreciation of our sport just to get into an environment that’s engaging,” Kwiatkowski said. “It’s buzzing with energy, the DJ will be playing the entire time with all the mile races going on…Just wanna try to provide an atmosphere that feels fun.”

The elite window, scheduled for the middle of the six-hour window, will feature world-class milers from the NCAA to professional levels racing in the men’s and women’s divisions.

Four of the eight men from Washington’s historic race last year return as headliners of the elite field. 

Joe Waskom, the 2022 NCAA 1,500 champion, ran the third-fastest all-time collegiate mark in the event last year, clocking 3:51.90, is among those four, as well 2023 NCAA indoor mile champion Luke Houser, 2023 NCAA 1,500 champion Nathan Green and On Running’s Sam Ellis.

Joining those four will be a slate of professionals, including Brooks Beasts’ Brannon Kidder, who won the UW Preview mile Jan. 13, adidas’ Eric Avila and Henry Mcluckie, 2016 Olympic gold medalist Matt Centrowitz of Nike, Canadian steeplechase champion John Gay and former Gonzaga All-American James Mwaura. 

Washington’s Leo Daschbach and Ronan McMahon-Staggs, Portland’s Matt Strangio, Gonzaga’s Wil Smith, Salt Lake Community College’s JaQuavious Harris, Cal Poly’s Spencer Pickren and UCLA’s Michael Mireles are among other college entries.

The high school field will include the top-ranked national competitor this season in the boys 3,000 in Josiah Tostenson of Crater High in Oregon, who ran 8:08.70 at the UW Indoor Preview, as well as his teammate Tayvon Kitchen, No. 3 in the country in the 3,000 at 8:19.97.

Washington high school standouts Jack Henzke of Seattle Prep and Vincent Recupero of Bishop Blanchet are also expected to be in the field.

On the women’s side, Washington’s Sophie O’Sullivan is scheduled to make her season debut after wrapping up a busy summer of racing that included competing for Ireland at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

O’Sullivan is set to face former Clemson standout Grace Barnett of Mammoth Track Club, On’s Alicja Konieczek, representing Poland, and Saucony athletes Skylyn Webb and Carmen Graves as the notable professionals in the field. American steeplechaser Marisa Howard is the scheduled pacer.

Kaylee Mitchell of Oregon State and Laura Pellicoro of Portland add to the talented college field assembled, along with Washington’s Chloe Forester, Ella Borsheim, Haley Herberg and Tori Herman, and Gonzaga’s Rosina Machu in the mix.

In the high school division, La Costa Canyon’s Gioana Lopizzo from California will take on Washington state high school athletes Alexa Matora of Lake Washington and Victoria Rodriguez of Mercer Island.