STANFORD, Calif. – Sydney Barta became the first Paralympian to compete for the Stanford track and field team when she raced in the 200 meters on Friday at the Payton Jordan Invitational.
Racing in the second of two heats, Barta finished in 27.75 in the rain at Cobb Track and Angell Field. Moments after crossing the finish line, Barta was greeted by hugs and bouquet of flowers.
Afterward, Barta posted this message on her Instagram account: "ALL I EVER WANTED"
This moment seemed remote just a few months ago for the Stanford junior bioengineering major. No amputee had ever competed for the Stanford track and field team, though others had joined Stanford teams in women’s lightweight rowing and women’s swimming.
In July, while training for the Paris Paralympics, Barta fractured the navicular bone in her right foot as she finished her last race before Paralympic qualifying. While recovering, she discovered in the fall that she was accepted onto Stanford’s team.
On Friday, fully recovered, Barta made her collegiate debut. She is the American record-holder at 200 for Paralympians in the T64 classification at 26.87.
The 29th Payton Jordan meet typically is geared toward distance running, but many Stanford highlights came in non-distance events. For one, junior Roisin Willis, the 2023 NCAA indoor 800 champion, ran her collegiate best in the 400 while winning the race in 52.89. The time enabled Willis to vault to No. 7 on Stanford’s all-time outdoor list.
In the men’s 5,000, Robert DiDonato placed second in the fast section in 13:34.32 – a five-second personal best. Teammate Lex Young was fifth in 13:35.52, and freshman James Dargan was sixth in 13:35.57 – strengthening Dargan’s hold on the No. 3 spot on Stanford’s all-time freshmen list. Only Chris Derrick (13:29.98, 2009) and Grant Fisher (13:30.13, 2016) are ahead.
Overall, Stanford athletes combined for 10 personal records, including winning marks in the men’s 100 by Olufemi Cole (10.57), and the 400 hurdles by Joseph Bailey (53.16).
Stanford next competes in the Big Meet dual against Cal on Saturday, May 3, in Berkeley to close out the regular season.
Payton Jordan Invitational
At Cobb Track and Angell Field
Men
100 – 1, Olufemi Cole (Stanford) 10.57 (PB); 2, John Kroeger (Stanford) 10.66 (PB); 3, Gabriel Ajaegbu (Stanford) 10.97.
200 – 1, Michael Ohioze (City Speed SF) 20.92 (meet record); 3, Gabriel Ajaegbu (Stanford) 21.90; 4, Xavier Drumgoole (Stanford) 22.09.
400 – 1, Zachary Ryan (Stanford) 48.10.
800 – 1, Zane Bergen (Stanford) 1:51.82.
1,500 – 1, Harvey Cramb (Montana State) 3:40.94; 2, Thomas Boyden (Stanford) 3:43.54 (PB).
5,000 – Sec. 1: 1, Ernest Cheruiyot (Texas Tech) 13:33.28; 2, Robert DiDonato (Stanford) 13:34.32 (PB); 5, Lex Young (Stanford) 13:35.52; 6, James Dargan (Stanford) 13:35.57 (PB; No. 3 Stanford frosh); 18, Cole Sprout (Stanford) 14:01.79. Sec. 2: Peter Walsdorf (unat.) 13:49.59; 5, Nolan Topper (Stanford) 13:59.78; 11, Caleb Boutelle (Stanford) 14:18.27; Zane Bergen (Stanford) DNF.
10,000 – 1, Denis Kipngetich (Oklahoma State) 28:05.22.
110 hurdles – 1, Malik Vega-Tatum (unat.) 15.59.
400 hurdles – 1, Joseph Bailey (Stanford) 53.16 (PB); 2, Ryce Reynolds (Stanford) 53.78.
3,000 steeplechase – 1, James Corrigan (BYU) 8:30.63.
High jump – 1, Justin Lewis (unat.) 6-7 (2.01).
Long jump – 1, John Kroeger (Stanford) 23-2 ¾ (7.08); 2, Xavier Drumgoole (Stanford) 22-5 ¾ (6.85).
Shot put – 1, Sam Liokumovich (Stanford) 57-5 ½ (17.51); 2, Garin Gross (Stanford) 50-9 ½ (15.48).
Discus – 1, Sam Liokumovich (Stanford) 158-2; 3, Mason McKhann (Stanford) 119-7 (36.46).
Javelin – 1, Brenden Park (unat.) 139-10 (42.63).
Hammer – 1, Hugo Sorby (Upsala IF) 223-8 (68.17); 2, Mason McKhann (Stanford) 191-3 (58.29).
Women
100 – 1, Teagan Zwaanstra (Stanford) 11.42; 2, Alyssa Jones (Stanford) 11.64; 3, Alaysia Oakes (Stanford) 12.04; 4, Arianna Guerrero (Stanford) 12.18.
200 – 1, Tess Stapleton (unat.) 23.97; 6, Sydney Barta (Stanford) 27.75.
400 – 1, Roisin Willis (Stanford) 52.89 (No. 7 Stanford AT); 2, Sage Hinton (Stanford) 55.65; 3, Cate Peters (Stanford) 56.04; 4, Camille Peisner (Stanford) 57.50.
800 – Sec. 1: 1, Georgia Scott (TCU) 2:04.84; 2, Hillary Studdert (Stanford) 2:07.30 (PB); Juliette Whittaker (Stanford) DNF. Sec. 2: 1, Amelia Everett (Stanford) 2:07.60; Roisin Willis (Stanford) DNF.
1,500 – Sec. 1: 1, Riley Chamberlain (BYU) 4:11.49; Juliette Whittaker (Stanford) DNF. Sec. 2: 2, Julia Flynn (Stanford) 4:24.14. Sec. 3: 1, Riley Stewart (unat.) 4:26.12; 6, Ava Parekh (Stanford) 4:36.21; Imogen Gardiner (Stanford) DNF.
5,000 – Sec. 1: Paityn Noe (Arkansas) 15:28.04; 4, Audrey DaDamio (Stanford) 16:00.65 (PB); 11, Audrey Suarez (Stanford) 16:43.45. Sec. 2: Ava Parekh (Stanford) DNF.
100 hurdles – 1, Sarah Marske (unat.) 13.91; 3, Sara Rivas (Stanford) 14.98.
400 hurdles – 1, Jaden DeSouza (Saint Mary’s) 59.23; 2, Sevilla Duran (Stanford) 1:00.81; 3, Madison Romain (Stanford) 1:05.66.
3,000 steeplechase – 1, Lexy Halladay-Lowry (BYU) 9:18.05 (meet record).
High jump – 1, Alyssa Jones (Stanford) 5-10 (1.78).
Pole vault – 1, Sky Schuller (Stanford) 12-7 ½ (3.85); 2, Lianne Kistler (Stanford) 12-7 ½ (3.85).
Long jump – 1, Arianna Guerrero (Stanford) 19-4 ¼ (5.90) (PB); 2, Teagan Zwaanstra (Stanford) 19-3 ¼ (5.87); 3, Alaysia Oakes (Stanford) 18-9 ¼ (5.72).
Shot put – 1, Kaiah Fisher (Stanford) 46-10 ¾ (14.29).
Discus – 1, Brandy Atuatasi (unat.) 167-6 (51.06); 2, Kaiah Fisher (Stanford) 163-0 (49.70).
Javelin – 1, Audrey Ginn (unat.) 109-9 (33.45).
Hammer – 1, Emma Holmgren Loef (Upsala IF) 208-4 (63.50).