Photo of Tristen Newman from 2016 Stanford Invitational by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In his collegiate debut and his first meet in three years, Trevor Danielson unleashed one of the top javelin throws in Stanford history, at the Hornet Invitational at Sacramento State on Saturday.
Danielson threw 214-6 (65.38 meters) to break his personal best by more than eight feet and jumped into Stanford's all-time performers' list at No. 6. A junior computer science major, Danielson hadn't competed since high school in Newberg, Oregon, and his previous best was from 2013. He was on the Stanford roster during the fall quarter of 2014, but left the program and only this season decided to resume his javelin career.
"Allowing Trevor back on the team and into our group Is one of the best decisions I've made so far as the throws coach at Stanford," said Zeb Sion, in his first year on The Farm. "He works incredibly hard and has a great attitude. Beyond that, he has added a fun, positive energy to the group that makes the daily operation even more enjoyable. I'm really proud of Trevor."
That was among several highlights involving the 14 Stanford athletes competing, including 12 making their season outdoor debut, and five making their first Stanford appearance.
Stanford senior Valarie Allman, a two-time Pac-12 discus champion, is redshirting this season, to give herself a fifth season in 2018 and an extra year under new throws coach Zeb Sion. She competed unattached and uncorked a throw of 202-3 (61.65m), breaking her personal best of 201-6 (61.42m) from her third-place effort at last year's NCAA Championships.
That is the No. 1 throw by an American this year and places her No. 8 in the world. She also achieved the World Championships standard of 61.20 meters.
"Based on training, I knew Val was ready to open up big, but doing it when they're actually going to pull the tape is a different story," Sion said. "We really wanted her to open up well for a few reasons. Anytime there is a coaching change, there is a chance for things to take a step back. I think it says a lot about the changes we've been able to make in a short amount of time."
Stanford winners were Lena Giger in the women's shot put (52-0 ½, 15.86m), Mackenzie Little in the women's javelin (179-4, 54.67m), and, on Friday, men's hammer thrower Michael Painter in his Stanford debut.
Little's throw moves her to No. 2 in NCAA Division I this season. Painter is No. 5 in NCAA.
Painter is an Englishman who competed at University of Cambridge before coming to Stanford as a graduate student in computer science. His winning throw of 214-5 (65.35m) was one foot off his personal best and places him at No. 8 on Stanford's all-time list. He was followed in second by Tristen Newman, who had PB of 197-2 (60.09m).
Among the three freshmen making their collegiate debuts was Erika Malaspina in another all-time top-10 effort. Malaspina was fourth in the women's pole vault at 12-11 ½ (3.95m), placing her at No. 9 outdoors at Stanford, and sophomore teammate Nicole Summersett was fifth at 12-7 ½ (3.85m), her collegiate best.
Freshman Landon Ellingson was fourth in the men's discus (165-7, 50.46m) and Jaimi Salone was 14th in the women's discus at 130-9 (39.85m), though she was hurt by fouling the first two of her three throws.
The full Cardinal team will compete at the Stanford Invitational on March 31-April 1 at Cobb Track and Angell Field.
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Hornet Invitational
At Hornet Stadium
Friday
Men
Hammer – 1, Michael Painter (Stanford) 214-5 (65.35m), No. 8 Stanford all-time; 2, Tristen Newman (Stanford) 197-2 (60.09m), PB.
Women
Hammer – 1, Ilse Kaaja (Cal) 198-9 (60.59m); 2, Valarie Allman (unattached) 195-11 (59.73m); 9, Lena Giger (Stanford) 171-11 (52.40m).
Saturday
Men
800 – 1, Alex Grigorev (UC Davis) 1:49.31; 12, Nathaniel Kucera (Stanford) 1:55.33.
1,500 – 1, Ryan Driscoll (USF) 3:48.73; 10, Ryan Silva (Stanford) 3:53.87.
Shot put – 1, Peter Simon (Cal) 59-6 ¾ (17.78m); 2, Tristen Newman (Stanford) 58-4 (17.78m).
Discus – Brenden Song (Cal) 171-8 (52.32m); 4, Landon Ellingson (Stanford) 165-7 (50.46m).
Javelin – 1, Nicholas Howe (unattached) 228-8 (69.69m); 2, Trevor Danielson (Stanford) 214-6 (65.38m), PB, No. 6 Stanford all-time; 4, Charles Kerr (Stanford) 204-7 (62.36m).
Women
Long jump – 1, Brooke Whitburn (Chico State) 19-2 (5.84m); 10, Daryth Gayles (Stanford) 17-11 (5.46m).
Pole vault – 1, Lauren Martinez (Cal) 13-5 ¼ (4.10m); 4, Erika Malaspina (Stanford) 12-11 ½ (3.95m), No. 9 Stanford all-time; 5, Nicole Summersett (Stanford) 12-7 ½ (3.85m).
Shot put – 1, Lena Giger (Stanford) 52-0 ½ (15.86m).
Discus – 1, Valarie Allman (unattached) 202-3 (61.65m), PB; 2, Summer Pierson (unattached) 184-9 (56.31m); 14, Jaimi Salone (Stanford) 130-9 (39.85m).
Javelin – 1, Mackenzie Little (Stanford) 179-4 (54.67m); 4, Victoria Smith (Stanford) 141-8 (43.19m).
