OTC Elite Newcomers, Tyler Mulder and Jemma Simpson, to Debut in Seattle

EUGENE, Ore. — Four of Oregon Track Club Elite’s newest members will join two Elite veterans in their first action of the indoor season at the University of Washington Invitational on Saturday.
 
First to step foot onto the track at Washington’s Dempsey Center will be OTC veteran 800-meter star Tyler Mulder, who will compete in the mile for the first time since his collegiate days at Northern Iowa.
 
In the women’s mile, training partners Aisha Praught and Lauren Johnson will be putting on the OTC Elite singlet for the first time. Praught’s best in the mile came last summer in Dublin when she ran a 4:35.96. Johnson’s fastest mile is 4:33.64. Jemma Simpson, in her fourth season with the Elite, will step up to the mile from her best event—the 800 meters.
 
After the middle distances have wrapped up, the 3,000 meters will take center stage. In 2012, the OTC Elite saw three men run under eight minutes at this meet. This year, Hassan Mead, who has a best of 7:56.60 in the indoor 3k, will take on that barrier again.
 
Erik van Ingen will make his first OTC appearance in a middle distance event that is yet to be determined. Last year at the Millrose Games in New York, van Ingen finished the famous Wannamaker Mile in a personal best 3:56.37. Following this time, van Ingen went on to rewrite both his 800 and 1500-meter times, 1:49.17 and 3:38.06 respectively.
 
For all OTC Elite results, race photos, athlete bios, Twitter and Instagram posts during the event, check out: www.OTCElite.com.