Walnut, Wa - Lauren Fleshman ran the fastest 5,000 meter time by a collegiate runner in 2002, bettered her career-best time by more than 14 seconds and easily qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships to highlight Stanford's participation at the 44th annual Mt. SAC Relays on Saturday.
Fleshman, the 2001 NCAA 5,000 meter champion, ran the distance in 15:35.59, easily bettering her previous career best of 15:49.84 set last year at the Mt. SAC Relays. Fleshman's time is second-best all-time at Stanford, and just six seconds short of the long-time school record of 15:29.0 by PattiSue Plumer in 1984. Fleshman's time is also seventh-best for an American runner in 2002.
Kathleen Donoghue won the pole vault competition with a leap of 12-11 1/2.
Jonathon Riley qualified provisionally for the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a time of 3:42.57 in the 1,500 meters. Grant Robison (3:42.73) and Donald Sage (3:44.05) also qualified provisionally.
Gabriel Jennings and Mark Hassell each qualified for the Pac-10 Championships later this year with their efforts in the 800 meters. Jennings ran a 1:50.14, while Hassell ran a 1:51.10, both bettering the conference qualifying time of 1:51.44.
Jessica Pluth increased her season-best in the hammer with a throw of 186-0 on Saturday. Pluth's effort is an NCAA provisional mark.
Freshman Christine Moschella qualified for the Pac-10 Championships with a season-best 55.18 in the 400 meters. Colleen Flaherty (4:27.01) and Malindi Elmore (4:27.05) also qualified for the conference championships in the 1,500 meters.
Cardinal Chatter: Grant Robison's 5,000 meter time of 13:40.30 on Friday is fifth-best by a collegiate and American runner in 2002.
Men's Results - Mt. SAC Relays
400 Meters: 1. Steve Fitch, Arizona State, 47.07, 6. Evan Kelty 49.11
800 Meters - Section B: 1. Eleodoro Navarro, Mexico, 1:49.74, 13. Che Banjoko 1:55.50
800 Meters - Section E: 1. Andy Beasley, Arkansas, 1:49.01, 7. Gabriel Jennings 1:50.14, 10. Mark Hassell 1:51.10
1,500 Meters - Section D: 1. Nelson Laux, Unattached, 3:46.56, 16. Philip West, 3:55.07
1,500 Meters - Section E: 1. Adrian Blincoe, Villanova, 3:41.85, 4. Jonathon Riley 3:42.57, 5. Grant Robison 3:42.73, 7. Donald Sage 3:44.05
High Jump: 1. Jeff Midgett, UC Riverside, 6-11 3/4 (2.13m), Ray Bergstrom, 6-6 (1.98m)
Women's Results - Mt. SAC Relays
400 Meters: 1. Candida Coulson, Arizona State, 54.35, 4. Christine Moschella 55.18
1,500 Meters - Section C: 1. Megan Johnson, Notre Dame, 4:27.21, 10. Jeane Goff 4:34.16
1,500 Meters - Section D: 1. Erin Braud, Rice 4:23.60, 6. Colleen Flaherty 4:27.01
1,500 Meters - Section E: 1. Courtney Inman, Washington, 4:20.58, 8. Maurica Carlucci 4:24.72, 12. Malindi Elmore 4:27.05
5,000 Meters: 1. Courtney Babcock, Mountain West, 15:10.66, 7. Lauren Fleshman, 15:35.59
Discus: 1. Stephanie Brown, CPSLO, 174-9 (52.27m), 3. Molly Meyer, 166-9 (50.82m), 5. Jill Camarena, 164-9 (50.22m)
Hammer: 1. Cari Song, UCLA, 202-7 (61.76m), 2. Jessica Pluth, 186-0 (56.10m)
Pole Vault: 1. Kathleen Donoghue 12-11 1/2 (3.95m), 4. Leila Ben-Youssef 11-11 3/4 (3.65m)