SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga distance running standout James Mwaura is set to race against professional competition Friday at the Lilac Grand Prix, hosted by the Union Athletics Club at The Podium and produced by Tracklandia.

Described as "the west coast's world class indoor meet," the Lilac Grand Prix is the first of its kind to be hosted in Spokane, featuring professional races ranging from the 600m to the Distance Medley Relay. Mwaura, who ran the fastest indoor 3000m in program history two weeks ago at the Washington Invitational, is scheduled to run in the event's 3000m race on Friday. The Tacoma-born junior's 7:54.50 time in Seattle stands as the 23rd-fastest in NCAA DI indoor so far this season.

Also running in the 3000m are a number of internationally-known pro distance runners, including Ben Blankenship and Jake Heyward of the Oregon Track Club, David Ribich of Brook's Beasts, and unattached runner Felix Wammetsberger. Blankenship is a world record holder as a member of the USA Distance medley relay team, Heyward qualified for Team Britain in the delayed 2020 Olympics, and Ribich qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic trials after a career at Western Oregon that included three NCAA Division II records and two records in the NCAA DII national Championships. Wammetsberger is the only other current collegian in the mix at The Podium as a grad transfer on Washington State's track roster.

Mwaura wrapped up the 2021 fall cross country season with All-American honors at NCAA Nationals, placing 36th overall with a time of 29:29.20. Last spring, he qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials after placing 9th at the NCAA Championships in the 10k, where ten runners broke the meet record. Mwaura clocked in at 27:50.44, an Olympic Trials Qualifier and a 2nd Team All-American honor. Two days later James followed that up with a 5k personal record of 13:36.43, good enough for 17th and an All-American Honorable Mention. 

The men's 3000m race is set for 7:47 p.m. on Friday. Pay-per-view purchase options are available through Tracklandia, with in-person tickets available through TicketsWest. Follow @ZagRunning on Instagram and Twitter for live updates.

Lilac Grand Prix
Men's 3000m | Feb. 11, 7:47 p.m.

Ben Blankenship | Oregon Track Club
David Ribich | Brook's Beasts
Felix Wammetsberger | Unattached
Jake Heyward | Oregon Track Club
James Mwaura | Gonzaga