Strong middle-distance races and impressive field events are marquee competitions at two-day meet at Dempsey Indoor Facility in Seattle

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

Alongside the inaugural ‘Mile City’ event Saturday, the University of Washington Invitational will showcase talented fields in both the women’s 1,000-meter and pole vault competitions as highlights of the meet Friday and Saturday at the Dempsey Indoor Facility in Seattle.

Two-time American 1,500-meter champion Nikki Hiltz is set to face three-time Australian champion Jessica Hull in the women’s 1,000, scheduled to be held at the end of the invitational section Saturday, with PUMA Elite’s Angel Piccirillo and Dorcus Ewoi and Saucony’s Skylyn Webb also in the lineup.

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Hiltz and Hull last raced each other in Budapest, Hungary at the World Athletics Championships, where Hull placed sixth in the women’s 1,500 semifinal ahead of Hiltz, finishing 11th.

The fastest American indoor 1,000 performance is 2:34.19 by Jennifer Toomey in 2004. The all-time Australian indoor 1,000 mark is 2:39.47 achieved in 2017 by Zoe Buckman. The absolute U.S. effort in the 1,000 is 2:31.80 by Regina Jacobs in 1999, with Abbey Caldwell producing the best 1,000 race in Australian history by running 2:34.63 in August in Switzerland.  

Freshman Hana Moll is expected to make her home debut for the Huskies in one of best pole vault fields assembled in recent memory at the Dempsey. 

Moll, who opened her season at the UCS Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev., with a clearance of 14 feet, 6.50 inches (4.43m), will take on 2016 Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi of Greece and Americans Emily Grove and Chloe Cunliffe, alongside her Husky teammates Nastassja Campbell, Sara Borton, Sarah Ferguson, Avril Wilson, Delaney Ezeji-Okoye and Amanda Moll. 

San Diego State’s Kayla Tassara and Ashley Callahan, Cal Poly’s Lexi Evans, Washington State’s Eva Lowder and Eastern Washington’s Savannah Schultz are among notable names set to compete Saturday. 

Washington’s Carley Thomas will look to collect her second win of the season in the women’s 800, following her 4:30.38 effort in the mile Jan. 13 at the UW Indoor Preview. The Australian standout will be joined by Washington teammates Wilma Nielsen and Marlena Preigh, as they’ll take on Ewoi and Piccirillo of PUMA Elite, NCAA All-American Rose Pittman of UCLA and Elena Willems of Washington State.

Former Ole Miss standout Baylor Franklin and UCLA’s Angus Harrington, a transfer from the University of Cambridge, are set to race in the men’s field.

Canadian steeplechaser John Gay is expected to race Nike’s Aaron Bienenfeld, representing Germany, in the men’s 3,000, as well adidas’ Eric Avila and Henry Mcluckie, Gonzaga’s Wil Smith and Washington’s Sam Affolder.

Professional athletes Tori Gerlach and Briana Scott will race a pair of collegiate standouts Rosina Machu of Gonzaga and Tori Herman of Washington in the women’s 3,000, with Nike Cross Nationals All-American Emily Wisniewski of Crescent Valley High from Oregon slated to race.

Both Scott and Wisniewski are also set to race in the women’s 5,000, with Marisa Howard of Idaho Afoot, Katherine Hessler of Northwestern, and Sophia Rodriguez of Mercer Island, Wash., to join them in the field.

Salt Lake Community College standout JaQuavious Harris, the NJCAA Division 1 cross country champion, matches up with Utah State teammates Max Wehrli and Camren Todd in the men’s 5,000.

In the sprints and hurdles, former Washington State star Ray Ray Wells Jr. looks for a second win in the men’s 60 after winning his opener at the UW Indoor Preview, while current Cougars standout Micaela De Mello looks to take care of business in the women’s 60 hurdles.

Central Washington’s Elexis Hollis, currently No. 3 at the NCAA Division 2 level in the 60, headlines the women’s race.

Former Memphis and Arizona State pole vaulter Cole Riddle matches with Mexico’s Jorge Luna-Estes and Notre Dame alum Nate Richartz in the men’s competition.

Washington’s Mathis Bresko and Max Manson, Eastern Washington’s Zach Klobutcher and former WSU and UW athlete Jacob Englar are other headline names in the pole vault field.

Washington’s Kaia Tupu-South, Pac-12 bronze medalist in shot put, and Beatrice Asomaning, 2022 NCAA All-American in discus, will compete in their respective events, with Tupu-Smith in shot put and Asomaning in weight throw.

Fresno State’s Cierra Jackson, 2022 NCAA All-American in discus, will compete in both weight throw and shot put.

Washington’s Prestin Artis, ranked No. 7 nationally in long jump (25-10, 7.87m), is set to compete in the men’s field.

Cal State Northridge’s Trey Knight, former All-American at USC in hammer, and former Arizona Wildcat Grayson Fleming go head-to-head in the men’s weight throw.