OTC Elite’s Green, Gourley open indoor season with victories

By Curtis Anderson | Jan 28, 2019

EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon Track Club Elite’s Hanna Green and Neil Gourley won the women’s and men’s mile races, respectively, at the UW Invitational in Seattle last Saturday (Jan. 26).

Green, a second-year pro out of Virginia Tech, used a strong finish to claim first place in the fifth and final heat of the women’s mile with an indoor personal best of 4 minutes, 35.20 seconds. Her time was the fastest among 54 finishers in five separate heats.

Green was ranked eighth in the U.S. in the 800m last year, according to Track & Field News. This was only the sixth indoor mile of her career.

“Hanna felt strong and closed nicely to win the race,” OTC Elite head coach Mark Rowland said.

Gourley, a native of Great Britain, was in control throughout the fourth and final heat of the men’s mile. He placed first overall with an indoor PR of 3:58.12. OTC Elite teammate Drew Piazza, an 800m specialist, placed sixth with an indoor lifetime best of 3:59.67. The meet marked the OTC Elite debuts for both Gourley and Piazza.

In the men’s 400m, OTC Elite’s Harun Abda, also an 800m specialist, placed ninth at 49.07.

“It’s always nice to get a race under the belt during the winter period to assess how the athletes are progressing,” Rowland said. “Each can be happy and encouraged with how they performed.”