With the Kenyan World Champs Trials this weekend, the mid-d/distance fields aren't quite as strong, but that opens the door for a slew of Americans. In the 1,500, Ayanleh Souleiman and Matthew Centrowitz will battle as Robby Andrews makes a rare DL appearance. Brenda Martinez, Molly Ludlow and Chanelle Price are all in the 800 and is there any way Andy Bayer can win the steeple?

Ben True faces Olympic silver medalist Dejen Gebremeskel as he goes for the IAAF 5000 “A” standard. Chris Derrick and Eric Jenkins also racing. Lauren Johnson, Rachel Schneider go for the standard in the 1500 as they face Mary Cain andNicole Tully. Abbey D’Agostino and Emily Sisson in the 5000, Olympic bronze medalist Timothy Kitum, NCAA champ Edward Kemboi and Charles Jock in the 800.
*MB: Start list for Heusden KBC Nacht – True going for standard vs. Derrick, Jenkins, Gebremeskel

American distance runners competing include Mary Cain, Shelby Houlihan, Katie Mackey, Cory McGee, Heather Kampf and Ashley Higginson in the 1500, Alexa Efraimson in the 800. *Meet Website

We feel very confident in predicting one thing about the 800s. Ajee Wilson and Boris Berian are going to Worlds. After that, it's going to be a lot of fun seeing what happens.

After some recent struggles, can Nick Symmonds return to form? What about Galen Rupp, Cam Levins and the NOP? Are former NCAA stars Andrew Wheating and Robby Andrews back? The highlight is an incredibly deep 1,500 which contains former NCAA champs Wheating, Andrews, Leo Manzano, Mac Fleet, Nate Brannen and a slew of others.

Cas Loxsom got his first national title in grand style, breaking the American record, and coming within shouting distance of the WR.

Sunday was the best and worst of times for many top runners. Reaction from the likes of Usain Bolt, Shalane Flanagan, Andrew Wheating, Kyle Merber, Trevor Dunbar, Riley Masters, LaShawn Merritt, Heather Kampf, Nick Symmonds, Tom Farrell, Brianna Rollins and more.

The US is led by the best guy in the field on paper, 1:42.72 man Duane Solomon. Kenya is led by a 17-year old who has never raced on the pro circuit and only broken 1:48 twice in his life. Big USA advantage, right? Think again. *MB: Can the US win gold? *MB: Is this the most entertaining 800 ever run?

Deep 800 with Elijah Greer, Charles Jock, Cas Loxsom, Mark Wieczorek, Tyler Mulder, Pat Casey, Harun Abda.

The 800 Olympic Trials finalist says there is "so much to be answered for" and hopes this doesn't end up being remembered simply "as a happy, good feeling memory where an athlete did a good thing."

Saturday's 2014 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix features a spectacular men's set of mid-d and distance events. Seriously, it's hard to imagine a better set of men's fields this early in the year. Galen Rupp will take on the true milers in a fantastic men's mile that features three Olympic silver medalists, Ryan Hill and Sam Chelanga will battle with three 5,000 medalists in a stacked men's 3,000, and there is a world record attempt in the 4 x 800.

Nick Symmonds ran 1:48.64 beating a field that included Brooks Beast TC teammates Marck Wiezorek (3rd) and Cas Loxsom (4th) as Heather Kampf ran 2:04.28 to beat Phoebe Wright by .01 and Maggie Vessey was 5th. Sarah Vaugn won the mile in 4:35.07.

Tons of US elite mid-d runners will compete including Symmonds, Cas Loxsom, Miles Batty, Mark Wieczorek, Paul Chelimo, Maggie Vessey and Brie Felnagle.

It was a Washington State sweep at the tenth edition of Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore., as Alexa Efraimson and Kai Wilmot prevailed in 16:50.1 and 15:00, respectively. While Efraimson came from behind with a fierce kick in the girls race, Wilmot ran away from the field in the final mile of the boys contest.

Taylor Wilmot of North Spokane won the individual title in 15:00 as 5 others finished in a close battle for 2nd, as Wilmot's teammate Tanner Anderson was third. Wilmot's a big talent who ran 8:57 2 years ago as a soph, but has been battling injures since. He was 4th at his state meet this year and picked the perfect time to put it all together. In the team competition, Gig Harbor, coached by 1:45:36 800m man Mark Wieczorek and 800m pacer Matt Scherer, got the win over CBA NJ.