April 25, 2003
Des Moines, Ia - The Cardinal 4 x 1 mile relay team of Ryan Hall, Steve Loughlin, Louis Luchini and Grant Robison waltzed to victory on Friday at the Drake Relays in a time of 16:31.19, the fastest outdoor time in the world this year.
Stanford easily defeated runnerup Indiana (16:44.74) and third place Notre Dame (16:48.57). Stanford's time shattered nearly 22 seconds off the meet record. Navy had the previous best of 17:02.13.
A little more than an hour later, the Stanford women's distance medley relay team not only captured top honors on Friday at the Drake Relays but also broke the meet and school record, and ran the second fastest time in the world this year in the process.
The Cardinal team of Malindi Elmore, Chinny Offor, Katie Hotchkiss and Lauren Fleshman raced to victory in a time of 11:03.59. Kansas State was a distant second at 11:29.01. Colorado State finished third at 11:33.79. The time of 11:03.59 easily broke the school record of 11:06.23 set in 2000 at the Drake Relays.
"It definitely gets you fired up when you can build off other people's success," said Hotchkiss to an Associated Press reporter. Hotchkiss also ran on Stanford's winning four-mile relay team on Thursday.
Fleshman, the two-time NCAA champion in the 5,000 meters, ran the final 1,600 meters for Stanford. "Basically, I was overwhelmed by the noise and the cheering," said Fleshman. "I couldn't even hear the announcer because I was completely absorbed in the sound of the crowd. It was deafening the last 100 meters."
Milton Little, the 2002 Pac-10 champion in the long jump, won that event with a leap of 25-9 1/2 (7.86m).
Lindsey Johnson advanced to Saturday's finals in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 13.63. That time was fourth-best in the prelims. Perdita Felicien of Illinois had the day's best time at 13.11.
The Cardinal women's 400 meter relay team qualified to the finals on Saturday with a time of 45.80. Their time was fifth-best in the prelims. Arizona State had the best time in the prelims at 45.18.
The Cardinal women's 1,600 meter relay team qualified for Saturday's final in the 1,600 meter relay with a time of 3:38.92. That was the second best time of the day behind Arizona State's 3:38.90.
Closer to home, two Stanford athletes competed in the UC San Diego Triton Invitational on Friday. Nick Welihozkiy threw the hammer a career-best 218-9 (66.67m) to win the competition. In the women's hammer, Donielle Colich finished ninth (172-4, 52.54m) while Katy Elsbury placed 13th (164-4, 50.09m).
Drake Relays
Friday, April 25, 2003, Drake Stadium
Men's Results
4 x 1 Mile Relay - 1. Stanford (Ryan Hall, Steve Loughlin, Louis Luchini, Grant Robison) 16:31.19; 2. Indiana 16:44.74; 3. Notre Dame 16:48.57
1,600 Meter Relay (Heat 2) - 2. Stanford (Little, Goehring, Romaniuk, Sebes) 3:21.28 NQ
4 x 800 Meter Relay - 1. Baylor 7:23.23; 2. Minnesota 7:26.87; 3. Illinois 7:28.92; 5. Stanford (Justin Romaniuk, Ryan Hall, Seth Hejny, Evan Fox) 7:32.99
Long Jump - 1. Milton Little (Stanford) 25-9 1/2 (7.86m); 2. Aarik Wilson (Indiana) 25-8 (7.82m); 3. Victor Castillo (Northern Arizona) 25-2 3/4 (7.69m); 19. Solomon Welch (Stanford) 22-4 1/2 (6.82m)
Women's Results
Distance Medley Relay - 1. Stanford (Malindi Elmore, Chinny Offor, Katie Hotchkiss, Lauren Fleshman) 11:03.59 - meet record; 2. Kansas State 11:29.01; 3. Colorado State 11:33.79
100 Meters (4th Heat) - 6. Chauntae Bayne, 11.99, NQ
100 Meter Hurdles (3rd Heat) - 4. Lindsey Johnson, 13.63, Q; 7. Undine Becker, 16.07wa, NQ400 Meter Relay (Fifth Heat) - 2. Stanford (Undine Becker, Chauntae Bayne, Christine Moschella, Nashonme Johnson) 45.80
1,600 Meter Relay (5th Heat) - 1. Stanford (Chinny Offor, Christine Moschella, Chauntae Bayne, Nashonme Johnson) 3:38.92
For complete results, go to www.drakerelays.org and www.athletics.ucsd.edu