STANFORD, Calif. – As Elise Cranny made a remarkable comeback effort in the NCAA 1,500 meters and Sean McGorty stared down one of the greats in the 5,000, the future seemed even sweeter than the present.
Both, as well as Olivia Baker in the 800, are among the best in the collegiate game. But the nature the Stanford coaching approach is that growth and development takes precedence over short-term goals. If that’s the case, it’s hard to imagine how good the Cardinal can get.
Seven of Stanford’s eight scorers at the NCAA Outdoor Championships will return and five were underclassmen in eligibility. As good as the present is for Stanford track and field, the coming years promise to be even better.
Stanford’s combined men’s and women’s score of 44 points was its highest total in five years. Afterward, Stanford was rated among the top five men’s and women’s cross country/track and field programs in the country.
“This whole year was another big step for us,” said Chris Miltenberg, who just completed his fourth year as Stanford’s Franklin P. Johnson Director of Track and Field. “We’re thinking like a team that belongs at the national meet and is competing for national championships.”
Consider that Stanford returns four women and two men who have finished among the top four at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Add freshman Grant Fisher, who was sixth in the men’s 5,000, and Stanford returns athletes who totaled 44 points with their best finish in either of the past two outdoor championship meets – 22 points apiece for the men and women.
The success included a Big Meet sweep of Cal, 10 school records broken (indoors and outdoors), and three NCAA Outdoor runner-up finishes. That doesn’t include Stanford’s first conference title in the men’s 4x400/mile relay in 62 years.
The perfect culmination to the season came on the final day of the NCAA Championships, with the women’s finals. In four events, Stanford placed second, second, third, and fourth, and finished with two who took the lead midway through the 5,000 and competed hard.
“That was just rock n roll that entire afternoon,” Miltenberg said. “Every single person we had competed assertively and confidently. They knew they belonged.
Cranny, a sophomore, was 0.004 from a title. Baker, a sophomore, earned another runner-up finish. Valarie Allman, a junior, set three personal records at NCAA’s to break the 200 feet for the first time, placing third in the discus. And Claudia Saunders, second the past two years in the 800, was fourth this year to complete her collegiate career.
“Claudia Saunders put a capstone on her career competing the way she always has at that meet. If you look at her body of work over the past three years – second, second, fourth – that’s historic in any program in America. Though she was a little disappointed with fourth in the moment, that may have been her best race yet. That was a loaded field. That was a phenomenal end for her.”
Saunders arrived at Stanford as a state high school champion in cross country and the 100 hurdles. Though she never trained for the 800 before, Saunders felt that event was ideal for her and came to Stanford with that in mind. She would become the best half-miler in school history, setting a school-record and annually peaking at the biggest meet of the year.
“Claudia is a true example for our whole team, to allow yourself to develop over time and trust the process,” Miltenberg said. “She came here very much under the radar, trusted the process and believed that she could be really good, and steadily developed over her entire career. That is probably the No. 1 thing we talk about every day, to allow yourself to continue to develop and believe in yourself.”
Stanford also loses eight-time All-America Aisling Cuffe to graduation. Cuffe was an NCAA indoor and outdoor 5,000 runner-up and a two-time Pac-12 cross country champion.
Cuffe, he said, was an example of “perseverance and resilience. She never felt sorry for herself. She always fought to get back.”
For both Saunders and Cuffe, “Their leadership is how the rest of our team bought in. I will be forever grateful to them, and we’re going to see the impact of their leadership for many years to come,” Miltenberg said.
Cranny’s NCAA performance – a school-record 4:09.54 – signified a growth in her that may have been hastened by an injury. A back issue forced her out of cross country and she returned to competition late in the indoor season.
“Last year, she put so much pressure on herself and so much weight on her shoulders,” Miltenberg said. “Having the setback she had with the injury really might have been the best thing that ever happened to her. It really opened the door for great conversations and allowed her to develop and not worry about what anybody else expects or thinks -- getting back to having fun, and just love competing.
“The Elise Cranny we’ve had the last six months has pretty much been a blast to be around. To see her grow and get back just really having fun competing and believing in herself.Is something anybody who’s ever been great has had to go through. As much as injury and some of the pressure she was feeling last year were hard, she’s emerged 1,000 times stronger and better prepared for the future because of it.”
With his second runner-up finish to Oregon’s 15-time NCAA champ Edward Cheserek in NCAA competition (the indoor 3,000 and outdoor 5,000), Sean McGorty continued to establish himself as one of the premier distance runners in collegiate track. The 5,000 will continue to be his forte, Miltenberg said, though McGorty also will be able to run a fast 1,500 and mile because of his training range.
Fisher, one of the great milers in high school history, found the 5,000 to be his calling, at least during his inaugural collegiate outdoor season. The future, however, could be different.
“With Grant, and actually with all of our guys, you have to make sure you’re thinking about their long-term growth and development. If you get caught up in a run of just thinking, ‘What can we do this season? What’s best to get ready to do this season?’ Then, I think you forget about doing all the things that are going to set them up for long-term success.
“I told Grant early on, ‘I have no doubt I can get you ready to run 3:38, 3:39 this season, but if we do that, we might be compromising the work that’s going to get you ready to run 3:33 in five years from now.’ With a freshman, when you’re emphasizing their strength and development, one of the things they lose a little bit in short term is maybe some of their explosive pop at 1,500 pace.”
But that will come.
“Grant is going to run a wicked 1,500 meters,” Miltenberg said. “I think he can right now. But with the way we’ve trained this year, setting him up for the future the most. Running a great 5,000 confirms to me that we’re doing all the right things in practice to get him ready to be one of the best runners in America over the next 10 years.”
Another young athlete with a great future is sophomore decathlete Harrison Williams, who broke the school decathlon record two more times this year – that’s four times in all – and broke the 8,000-point barrier while finishing fifth at NCAA’s with the meet’s highest score ever for that place.
Williams arrived at Stanford with the understanding – as described to him by Miltenberg and multis coach Michael Eskind – that he too is training for a long career, perhaps even sacrificing a measure of immediate gratification.
“With every person you coach, whether they’re at the Harrison Williams-level yet or not, you make every decision about their growth and development. If you do that, you’re going to have great teams because you’re preparing them for the future and because you’re going to have a culture where your athletes know you care about them.
“When you’re committed to their growth and not just how many points they can score, they’re going to fight the hardest for you, for this thing that we’ve built together.”
* * *
Honors earned in 2016 by the Stanford track and field team and individuals:
Team
- No. 3 ranked combined men’s and women’s track and field/cross country program in the nation (unofficial)
- Highest combined NCAA outdoor point total (44) since 2011
- First twin top-13 outdoor finishes since 2011
- First time every Stanford team (XC, indoor and outdoor track) finished in top 16 since 2011
- 21st consecutive year with at least one top-20 team outdoor finish
- 26th consecutive year with at least one top-5 individual finish
- Big Meet sweep
Men
- Ranked No. 3 overall track and field/cross country program in the nation by the USTFCCCA.
Women
- Ranked No. 5 overall track and field/cross country program in the nation by the USTFCCCA.
Men
Outdoor
- 13th at NCAA Championships (15 points)
- Sixth at Pac-12 Championships (74 points)
- Unbeaten against Cal at NCAA’s for 20th consecutive year (19-0-1)
- First 4x400/mile relay conference title since 1954
- Six consecutive Big Meet 4x400 victories
Indoor
- Eighth at NCAA Championships (18 points)
- Sixth at MPSF Championships (51.5 points)
Women
Outdoor
- Seventh at NCAA Championships (29 points)
- Third at Pac-12 Championships (90 points)
- Finished ahead of Cal at NCAA’s for ninth consecutive year
- Five consecutive Pac-12 javelin titles
- 14 consecutive Big Meet javelin victories
- Six consecutive Big Meet 4x400 victories
Indoor
- 16th at NCAA Championships (12 points)
- Second at MPSF Championships (73.75 points)
Individuals
Men
Jack Bordoni
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Daniel Brady
Outdoor
Big Meet 4x400 relay winner
Isaiah Brandt-Sims
Outdoor
Pac-12 4x400 relay champion
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Big Meet 4x400 relay winner
Justin Brinkley
Pac-12 Leadership Award winner
NCAA Postgraduate scholarship winner
Outdoor
Pac-12 Men’s Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Pac-12 All-Academic first team
Big Meet 800 winner
Indoor
First-team All-America (distance medley relay)
NCAA distance medley relay fourth place
MPSF All-Academic team
School distance medley relay record (9:27.27)
No. 5 DMR time in collegiate history
Darian Brooks
Outdoor
Pac-12 triple jump champion
Second three-time triple jump champ in Pac-12 history
Big Meet long and triple jump winner
Indoor
Second-team indoor All-America (triple jump)
School absolute and indoor triple jump record, of 52-9 1/4
Nick Budincich
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Scott Buttinger
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Tom Coyle
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Indoor
First-team indoor All-America (distance medley relay)
NCAA indoor distance medley relay fourth place
MPSF All-Academic team
School indoor distance medley relay record (9:27.27)
No. 5 DMR time in collegiate history
Tai Dinger
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic first team
Colin Dolese
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Dylan Duvio
Outdoor
Second-team outdoor All-America (pole vault)
Dan Emery
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic first team
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Steven Fahy
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Grant Fisher
Outdoor
First-team outdoor All-America (5,000)
NCAA outdoor 5,000 sixth place
No. 3 on all-time U.S. junior 5,000 performers’ list (13:30.13)
Patrick Gibson
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Jack Keelan
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Big Meet 3,000 winner
Charles Kerr
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Frank Kurtz
Outdoor
Pac-12 4x400 relay champion
School 4x400 relay record, of 3:05.59
Big Meet 400 winner
Sean McGorty
Outdoor
First-team outdoor All-America (5,000)
NCAA 5,000 runner-up
Olympic Trials qualifier
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Big Meet 1,500 winner
Ran 13:24.25 in outdoor 5,000, making him No. 10 all-time among American collegians
Indoor
First-team All-America (distance medley relay)
NCAA indoor 3,000 runner-up
NCAA indoor distance medley relay fourth place
MPSF All-Academic team
School absolute mile record, of 3:53.95
No. 2 performance among American collegians indoors on any-sized indoor track
No. 4 collegiate performer indoors or outdoors
No. 4 performance in collegiate history for any-sized indoor track
No. 5 performance by an American collegian indoors or outdoors
No. 10 performer among collegians indoors or outdoors
School distance medley relay record (9:27.27)
No. 5 DMR time in collegiate history
Tristen Newman
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Patrick Perrier
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Jim Rosa
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Miguel Shaw
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Jackson Shumway
Outdoor
Pac-12 4x400 relay champion
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Pac-12 Men’s Track Athlete of the Week (April 26)
Big Meet 400 hurdles and 4x400 winner
Indoor
First-team All-America (distance medley relay)
NCAA distance medley relay fourth place
MPSF All-Academic team
School distance medley relay record (9:27.27)
No. 5 DMR time in collegiate history
Ryan Silva
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Garrett Starkey
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Garrett Sweatt
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Adam Thorne
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Jaak Uudmae
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Sam Wharton
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Christian White
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Harrison Williams
Outdoor
First-team All-America (decathlon)
NCAA decathlon fifth place
School decathlon record, 8,032 points
Highest fifth-place NCAA score in history
Pac-12 4x400 relay champion
School 4x400 relay record, of 3:05.59
Olympic Trials qualifier
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Big Meet 4x400 relay and pole vault winner
Pac-12 Men’s Field Athlete of the Week (April 6)
Texas Relays decathlon winner
Indoor
First-team All-America (heptathlon)
NCAA heptathlon fourth place
School heptathlon record of 5,937 points
MPSF All-Academic team
Dartis Willis II
Outdoor
Big Meet high jump winner
Women
Valarie Allman
Outdoor
First-team All-America (discus)
Second-team All-America (hammer)
NCAA discus third place
Pac-12 discus champion for the second consecutive year
Olympic Trials qualifier
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Pac-12 Women’s Field Athlete of the Week (May 3, April 26, April 12, March 22)
Big Meet discus and hammer winner
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
School record in 20-pound weight throw, of 62-8 1/2
Olivia Baker
Outdoor
USTFCCCA West Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
First-team All-America (800)
Honorable mention All-America (4x400)
NCAA 800 runner-up
Pac-12 400 champion
Olympic Trials qualifier
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Pac-12 Women’s Track Athlete of the Week (May 3)
Big Meet 4x400 relay winner
Indoor
First team All-America (800)
NCAA 800 third place
MPSF 800 champion
MPSF All-Academic team
School 4x400 relay record (3:33.78)
DMR time of 10:54.58 No. 8 in collegiate indoor history
Maddy Berkson
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Sophie Chase
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic first team
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Elise Cranny
Outdoor
First-team All-America (1,500)
NCAA 1,500 runner-up
Pac-12 1,500 champion
Pac-12 All-Academic first team
School 1,500 record, of 4:09.54
Indoor
First team All-America (distance medley relay)
NCAA distance medley relay third place
MPSF All-Academic team
Michaela Crunkleton Wilson
Outdoor
Honorable mention All-America (4x400)
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Big Meet 100, 200, and 4x100 relay winner
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
School 4x400 relay record (3:33.78)
Aisling Cuffe
Outdoor
First-team All-America (5,000)
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Emma Fisher
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic first team
Carla Forbes
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Vanessa Fraser
Outdoor
First-team All-America (5,000)
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Big Meet 3,000 winner
Indoor
Second-team All-America (3,000)
MPSF All-Academic team
Daryth Gayles
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic first team
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Gaby Gayles
Outdoor
Honorable mention All-America (4x400)
Pac-12 All-Academic first team
Big Meet 4x100 relay winner
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
School 4x400 relay record (3:33.78)
Lena Giger
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Big Meet shot put winner
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Taylore Jaques
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Danielle Katz
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Big Meet steeplechase winner
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Marisa Kwiatkowski
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Big Meet long jump winner
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Hannah Labrie-Smith
Outdoor
Big Meet 400 hurdles and 4x100 relay winner
Megan Lacy
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Amber Lewis
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Indoor
Big Meet 4x100 relay winner
Mackenzie Little
Outdoor
First-team All-America (javelin)
NCAA javelin seventh place
Pac-12 javelin champion
Olympic Trials qualifier
Big Meet javelin winner
Julia Maxwell
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Molly McNamara
Outdoor
Honorable mention outdoor All-America (1,500)
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Big Meet 1,500 winner
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Abbie McNulty
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Rebecca Mehra
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Indoor
First team All-America (distance medley relay)
NCAA distance medley relay third place
MPSF All-Academic team
DMR time of 10:54.58 No. 8 in collegiate indoor history
Kaitlyn Merritt
Outdoor
Big Meet pole vault winner
Missy Mongiovi
Outdoor
Big Meet 4x400 relay winner
Rachel Reichenbach
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Claudia Saunders
Outdoor
First-team outdoor All-America (800)
NCAA outdoor 800 fourth place
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Big Meet 800 and 4x400 relay winner
Indoor
Second-team indoor All-America (distance medley relay)
MPSF All-Academic team
DMR time of 10:54.58 No. 8 in collegiate indoor history
Karina Shepard
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Malika Waschmann
Indoor
First team All-America (distance medley relay)
NCAA distance medley relay third place
MPSF All-Academic team
Kaitlyn Williams
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Kristyn Williams
Outdoor
Honorable mention All-America (4x400)
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Big Meet 400 and 4x400 relay winner
Indoor
First team All-America (distance medley relay)
NCAA distance medley relay third place
School 4x400 relay record (3:33.78)
DMR time of 10:54.58 No. 8 in collegiate indoor history