May 27, 2005
Eugene, Or - Michael Robertson became Stanford's first winner at the NCAA West Track & Field Regionals with a decisive victory in the discus on Friday at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field. Later in the day, Cardinal senior Sara Bei won the 5,000 meters.
Robertson defeated 30 other opponents with a final toss of 201-0 (61.26m). Robertson took the lead in the competition on his second throw of the day, a toss of 194-4 (59.24m). Niklas Arrhenius of Brigham Young finished second with a toss of 190-2 (57.96m). Robertson, a junior, joined the Cardinal track & field program after SMU dropped its men's program.
"Stanford seemed like the best choice at the time, and right now it's proven to be," said Robertson, who earlier this year broke the school record with a toss of 202-5 (61.70m).
The victory earns Robertson a berth to the NCAA Track & Field Championships (June 8-11) at Sacramento State.
The women's 5,000 meters saw Sara Bei and Teresa McWalters finish 1-2 to earn berths to the NCAA Championships. Bei dominated the competition and led by as many 80 meters late in the race.
"I'm really getting better and better each week," said Bei, who won the NCAA West Regional title for a third straight year. "I feel like I'm just getting going now. Usually at this point I feel like I need a break."
Sarah Hopping easily broke her school record in the hammer with a toss of 204-2 (62.23m). Hopping, who finished second, earlier this year set the school record with a throw of 196-4 (59.84m) at The Big Meet (4.23/05).
In addition to Robertson, Bei, McWalters and Hopping, two other Stanford athletes earned a trip to the NCAA Championship with Top-5 finishes. Ryan Hall and Ian Dobson finished second and third in the 5,000 meters with respective times of 13:48.92 and 13:57.41. With 200 meters left in the race, Hall and Arizona's Robert Cheseret ran a dead sprint but Cheseret nipped Hall at the tape with a time of 13:48.76.
To qualify for the NCAA Track & Field Championship (June 8-11) at Sacramento State, collegiate athletes must compete at the NCAA Regionals which are taking place throughout the United States this weekend. Automatic NCAA Championship berths will be granted to the Top-5 finishers in each individual event at the regional, and to the Top-3 relay teams. The NCAA will then supplement the championship field with the highest ranking competitors (roughly 6-7 per individual event and 3-4 per relay) from the national performance lists, provided the athlete competed at a regional competition and was not among the Top-5 finishers to earn an automatic berth. The lone exceptions are the 10,000 meters and multi-events, in which athletes qualify directly for the NCAA Championship by meeting provisional and automatic standards.
After the first day of competition, the Stanford women lead the team competition with 26.5 points with UCLA, Washington and Arizona State all tied for second place with 21 points. The Cardinal men are in second place with 27 points, two points behind first place California. The NCAA West Regional continues on Saturday.
For complete results, go to www.goducks.com
Cardinal Catalogue
Janice Davis' time of 11.47 in the 100 meter prelims is second-best in school history ... Anna McFarlane vaulted 12-11 3/4 (3.96m) in the pole vault which is fourth-best in school history ... The 400 meter relay team of Undine Becker, Ashley Purnell, Nashonme Johnson and Jakki Bailey ran a time of 45.06 in the prelims on Friday which is fifth-best in the Stanford record book.
Men's Team Results (First Day - 20 teams scored)
1. California 29; 2. Stanford 27
Men's Individual Results
5,000 Meters (final) - 1. Robert Cheseret (Arizona) 13:48.76; 2. Ryan Hall (Stanford) 13:48.92; 3. Ian Dobson (Stanford) 13:57.41; 6. Chris Emme (Stanford) 14:02.34; 10. Neftalem Araia (Stanford) 14:24.73; 16. Forrest Tahdooahnippah (Stanford) 14:36.76
Discus (final) - 1. Michael Robertson (S) 201-0 (61.26m); 14. Daniel Schaerer (S) 172-0 (52.42m)
Shot Put (final) - 1. Rhuben Williams (Cal) 63-4 3/4 (19.32m); 12. Michael Macellari (Stanford) 54-9 1/2 (16.70m)
100 Meters (prelims) - 1. James McSwain (WSU) 10.28q; 8. Wopamo Osaisai (Stanford) 10.58q
400 Meters (prelims) - 1. Matt Scherer (Oregon) 45.75q; 8. Nick Sebes (Stanford) 47.20q
1,500 Meters (prelims) - 1. Jon Rankin (UCLA) 3:43.88q; 4. Donald Sage (Stanford) 3:44.35q; 9. Russell Brown (Stanford) 3:49.67q; 13. Lauren Jespersen (Stanford) 3:49.52nq; 19. Joaquin Chapa (Stanford) 3:50.24nq; 22. Evan Fox (Stanford) 3:52.01nq; 24. Justin Romaniuk (Stanford) 3:53.38nq
Women's Team Results (First Day - 16 teams scored)
1. Stanford 26.5
Women's Individual Results
5,000 Meters (final) - 1. Sara Bei (Stanford) 16:22.41; 2. Teresa McWalters (Stanford) 16:38.73; 9. Lindsay Flacks (Stanford) 17:15.30; 11. Katie Harrington (Stanford) 17:18.58
Hammer (final) - 1. Jessica Cosby (UCLA) 213-11 (65.20m); 2. Sarah Hopping (Stanford) 204-2 (62.23m); 14. Katy Elsbury (Stanford) 179-4 (54.66m)
Pole Vault (final) - 1. Kate Soma (Washington) 13-7 3/4 (4.16m); 8. Anna McFarlane (Stanford) 12-11 3/4 (3.96m); 20. Samantha Shepard (Stanford) 12-0 (3.66m)
100 Meters (prelims) - 1. Halima DeCree (UNLV) 11.42q; 4. Janice Davis (Stanford) 11.47q
200 Meters (prelims) - 1. Monique Henderson (UCLA) 23.23q; 3. Ashley Purnell (S) 23.53q
400 Meters (prelims) - 1. Monique Henderson (UCLA) 52.92q; 2. Nashonme Johnson (Stanford) 53.96q; 7. Christine Moschella (Stanford) 55.81q
800 Meters (prelims) - 1. Aneta Lemiesz (BYU) 2:05.66q; 2. Ashley Freeman (Stanford) 2:07.55q; 5. Chinny Offor (Stanford) 2:08.09q
1,500 Meters (prelims) - 1. Iryna Vashchuk (USC) 4:25.34q; 2. Arianna Lambie (Stanford) 4:26.38q
400 Meter Relay (prelims) - 1. USC 44.37q; 4. Stanford (Undine Becker, Ashley Purnell, Nashonme Johnson, Jakki Bailey) 45.06q
400 Meter Hurdles (prelims) - 1. Christine Spence (UNLV) 59.33q; 2. Undine Becker (Stanford) 59.86q
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