Myers, Maggi Congdon, Juliette Whittaker Among Top Entries Competing At First Of Three UW Indoor Meets; Freshmen Owen Powell, Josiah Tostenson Making Collegiate Debuts

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

John Nepolitan photo

The University of Washington begins its indoor slate Friday and Saturday in Seattle with the first of three meets hosted at the Dempsey Indoor Facility this winter.

WATCH THE WASHINGTON INDOOR PREVIEW JAN.16-17 ON RUNNERSPACE+ (Subscripton Required)

Washington kicks off with the Washington Indoor Preview followed by the Washington Invitational and Mile City Jan. 30-31 and the Husky Classic Feb. 13-14.

The Washington Indoor Preview is slated to showcase talent from the professional, collegiate and high school levels, including meet headliner Cam Myers.

The 19-year-old Australian, who represents Nike, is scheduled to make his indoor season debut in the men’s mile. Myers is both the indoor and outdoor mile record holder for Australia, owning a time of 3 minutes, 47.48 seconds from last indoor season at Millrose Games.

Myers will face professionals Brannon Kidder of the Brooks Beasts and Joe Waskom and Sam Prakel of adidas, as well as collegians Reuben Reina Jr., Josiah Tostenson, Evan Jenkins, Thomas Diamond and Jamar Distel of Washington and Mark Milner and Jonas Price of Portland.

Tokyo World Championships semifinalist Maggi Congdon of Nike Swoosh TC is attempting an 800/mile double. The former Northern Arizona star owns lifetime bests of 1:58.42 in the 800 and 4:27.77 in the mile.

The 2023 British indoor 1,500 champion Ellie Baker of New Balance and 2023 NCAA indoor mile champion Olivia Howell of adidas join Congdon in the 800.

Congdon’s former NAU teammate, Alexandra Carlson, is schedule to race in the mile along with India Weir of Hoka, who is fresh off competing at the World Cross Country Championship for Great Britain, Taryn Parks of adidas, Abby Nichols of Union Athletics Club, Kristie Schoffield of Brooks Beasts. Mia Cochran and Julia David-Smith of Washington and Sophia Kennedy of Stanford are the top collegiate entries.

Paris Olympic 800 finalist Juliette Whittaker of Stanford makes her season debut in the women’s 1,000, racing Christina Aragon of Nike, Chloe Foerster and Jenica Swartz of Washington, Rosemary Longisa of Washington State and Claire Yerby.

Former Husky Sam Ellis is the top entry in the men’s 1,000. Freshmen Owen Powell of Washington and Colin Abrams of Stanford are entered to make their collegiate debuts.

Waleed Sulliman of Brooks Beasts will face collegians Leo Young of Stanford and Washington State's Evans Kurui in the men’s 3,000.

Northwestern’s quartet of Anna Hightower, Maddy Whitman, Ava Criniti and Jacqueline Holman are the top entries in the women’s 3,000. High schoolers Abigail Hennessy and Sophia Rodriguez are entered, too.

Freshmen Chloe Symon of Washington and Olivia Cieslak of Stanford headline the women’s 600. 

RayRay Wells Jr., a world indoor championships competitor for the U.S. in 2025, is entered in the men’s 60.

In field action, The Bowerman preseason watchlist athlete Alyssa Jones of Stanford, NCAA outdoor runner-up in long jump, will contest in the women’s high jump.

Jimmy Rhoads, Eli Gault-Crabb, Veronia Vacca and Sarah Borton will lead the pole vault charge for the Washington men and women.

Elena Cooper of Stanford, the New Balance Nationals Outdoor long jump champion, will make her collegiate debut with freshman teammate Samantha Ennin in the women’s long jump.