July 17, 2004
Sacramento, Ca - During his four year career at Stanford University, Jonathon Riley was the school's most decorated male runner with 14 All-American honors.
Riley helped Stanford win the 2000 NCAA team title, and captured first place NCAA honors in the 5,000 meters in 2001, and as part of the indoor distance medley relay teams in 2000 and 2001.
Riley now has reached another distinguished level with his second place finish in the finals of the 5000 meters on Friday night to gain a berth on the United States Olympic team at the Olympic Trials at Hornet Stadium on the campus of Sacramento State University. Riley, the two-time U.S. indoor champion, was timed in 13:30.85. Tim Broe successfully defended his 2003 U.S. title, using his strength in the final stages of the race to pull ahead for the win in 13:27.36. Bolota Asmerom placed third (13:32.77). Louis Luchini and Seth Hejny, both June graduates of Stanford, finished 12th and 13th, respectively, at 13:50.64 and 13:51.11.
Now comes a complicated issue. Riley is the only man in the field to have achieved the Olympic "A" standard. The top three finishers at the U.S. Olympic Trials who have already met the Olympic "A" qualifying standard in their event will be named to the Team USA roster for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Luchini and seventh-place finisher Jorge Torres were the only finishers who have the Olympic "B" standard, and they will be allowed to chase the "A" standard before August 9. Broe lacks the Olympic "B" standard of 13:25.40 and will be listed as the alternate on the team roster that is submitted to the USOC on Sunday. Broe also will be allowed to chase the "A" and "B" standards. If Broe achieves the "A" standard of 13:21.50, then both he and Riley (and either Torres or Luchini, if they make the "A" standard) will compete in Athens, Greece. If Broe achieves the "B" standard and neither Luchini nor Torres makes the "A" standard, then Broe and NOT Riley will compete in Athens.
Jill Camarena, a 2004 Stanford graduate, finished third in the shot put with a throw of 58-2 (17.73m). Laura Gerraughty and Kristin Heaston finished 1-2, respectively, with throws of 60-8 1/2 (18.50m) and 59-4 3/4 (18.10m). Camarena, a seven-time All-Amercan, is hoping to become only the third woman in the shot put in Stanford history to become a member of the United States Olympc team. Camarena has until Aug. 9 to reach the Olympic "A" standard of 60-10 1/2 (18.55m). Camarena's best effort is a school record 59-6 3/4 (18.15m).
2000 U.S. Olympian Michael Stember, a 2001 Stanford graduate, had the best time in two heats of the men's 1,500 meter semfinals in 3:39.74, leading Alan Webb across the finish line (3:39.92). Jason Lunn, a 1998 Stanford graduate, moved to Sunday's final (4:30 p.m. pt) with a time 3:43.89 along with Donald Sage, a senior-to-be, who ran 3:44.23. Grant Robison, a 2004 Stanford graduate, did not advance to the finals with a time of 3:43.08. Even though Robison had a better time than Lunn and Sage, the first six runners in each heat advanced to the finals regardless of times. Lunn finished third and Sage placed fifth in the first heat while Robison placed eighth in the second heat. If the finalists been based on times, Robison would have been eighth.
Alicia Craig, the two-time NCAA 10,000 meter champion, gained valuable experience with a fifth place finish. Craig, a senior-to-be, was timed in 32:47.86. American record holder Deena Kastor won her fourth U.S. title and second Olympic Trials crown in the 10,000 meters. Kastor, who already qualified for the Olympic team with her second place finish in the marathon Olympic Trials, ran utterly alone, finishing in 31:09.65 to break own Olympic Trials (31:51.05 in 2000) and U.S. Championships records (31:28.07 in 2003). 2000 Olympian Elva Dryer was second (31:58.14) with Katie O'Neill in third (32:07.25).
In the semfinals of the women's 1,500 meters, Sally Hauser, a 2001 Stanford graduate, advanced to the Sunday's final (5:00 p.m., pt) with a time of 4:10.99. Marla Runyan had the day's best time (4:09.63).
No current or former Stanford athletes will be competing on day seven (Saturday, 7/17/04) of the U.S. Olympic Trials.
For complete results at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials, go to www.usatf.org