Loaded Fields From 600 to 3,000 Meters Include Return To Track For Matthew Centrowitz, 2023 Openers for NCAA Champions Joe Waskom, Charles Hicks, Jorinde Van Klinken

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photo courtesy World Athletics

Heralded Stanford freshmen Roisin Willis and Juliette Whittaker are due to make their collegiate track and field debuts Saturday at the Washington Indoor Preview at Dempsey Indoor in Seattle. 

Willis and Whittaker, members of the 2022 U.S. U20 national team who both medaled in the 800-meter final in Cali, Colombia last summer, were high school stars throughout the past four years. 

They both participated in one cross country meet in the fall, but Saturday's meet will be the first time they have competed on the track for the Cardinal. 

WASHINGTON INDOOR PREVIEW LIVE ON RUNNERSPACE

Willis, from Stevens Point WI, the World U20 gold medalist in the 800, is entered in the 400 meters. 

Whittaker, from Mt. de Sales MD, the World U20 bronze medalist in the 800, will compete in that event Saturday. 

The UW Preview is the first of four hiome meets for Washington at the Dempsey. 

Matthew Centrowitz will choose between the 1,000 meters and mile. The 2016 Olympic 1,500-meter champion will be making his first appearance on the track since August of 2021 after returning from knee surgery. 

The men's 1,000 also includes reignng NCAA 1,500 champion Joe Waskom of Washington, along with teammates Nathan Green and Luke Houser, and Oregon's Elliott Cook. 

Johnny Gregorek of ASICS is entered in both the 1,000 and 3,000 meters. 

The women's 600 meters includes adidas professional Kaela Edwards taking on Washington's Carley Thomas, Marlena Preigh and freshman Chloe Foerster. 

Whittaker will contend with pros Alli Cash (ASICS) and Laurie Barton (Brooks). 

Michaela Meyer and McKenna Keegan, both of the Union Athletics Club, are entered in the 1,000 meters. 

Nia Akins of Brooks is in the women's mile, along with Kayley DeLay, Washington's Anna Gibson and Madison Heisterman, New Mexico's Elise Thorner and Oregon's Mia Moerck. Cash, Keegan and Edwards are also listed on the entries and may opt for the mile. (Some of these entries are likely pacing duties).

The lineup for the women's 3,000 meters includes Stanford's Zofia Dudek and freshman Riley Stewart, Oregon's Klaudia Kazimierska and Izzy Thornton-Bott, Portland's Laura Pellicoro, and Jennifer Randall from Cascadia Elite. Rebecca Mehra of Oiselle/Little Wing, Sara Vaughn of Puma and Alycia Butterworth are also in the event. 

Oregon transfer Jorinde Van Klinken, recently named to the Bowerman Award preseason watchlist, will compete in the shot put, along with teammates Jaida Ross and Mine De Klerk. 

The men's 800 field includes Derek Holdsworth and unattached high schooler Carter Cutting from Wilsonville OR. 

The headliner in the men's 600 meters is Devin Dixon of the Brooks Beasts. He's in th fast section with Cass Elliott of Washington, Matthew Erickson of Oregon and Travis Thompson. 

The men's mile list includes Stanford's Ky Robinson and Cole Sprout and freshman Zane Bergen. Isaiah Harris of the Brooks Beasts is also entered. 

Sam Prakel of adidas and Henry Wynne of Brooks Beasts are both in the 3,000 meters, along with Washington pair Kieran Lumb and Aidan Ryan. 

Three members of the Crater High cross country team that placed third at Nike Cross Nationals are set to compete unattached. Tyrone Gorze is entered in the 3,000, along with Shaun Garnica. Caleb Doddington is in the 600.