Paul Merca - August 28, 2021
YAKIMA -- It was a Seattle 1-2 finish in Saturday night's Downtown Yakima Mile road race, as University of Washington volunteer coach Sam Prakel (Paul Merca photo) of adidas held off Seattle resident Tripp Hurt to take the elite men's mile.
A group of four that included Prakel and Hurt led through the half mile split on the downhill portion of the course, as they went through in 1:57, significantly slower than the 1:51 or so that was requested before the race.
Prakel made a push over the last quarter mile to win in 3:54 to hold off Hurt, who was one second back.
Vince Ciattei of the Nike Oregon TC was third in 3:55.
Washington State alum Paul Ryan was seventh in 3:56, while 2016 Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz was tenth at 3:57, just ahead of Bellingham native David Elliott's 3:58.
The women's elite race saw 2019 world championship team member Nikki Hiltz (Paul Merca photo) lead from the start to win in 4:21, after going through the half in 2:12.
Hiltz, who earned a $5000 bonus for running the fastest road mile time in Washington state history in addition to the $5000 first place prize, finished one second ahead of Washington alum Eleanor Fulton.
Behind Fulton was Pasco native Marisa Howard, who was clocked in 4:24, the same time as Washington alum and British Olympian Amy-Eloise Markovc in fourth.
Camas native Alexa Efraimson was eighth in 4:41, while southwest Washington resident Ashley Mason was tenth in 4:55.
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