March 28, 2009
Complete ResultsInterview with Laurynne Chetelat
Interview with Garrett and Elliott Heath
Stanford, Calif.- It was another successful day at Cobb Track and Angell Field as Stanford hosted the Stanford Invitational. A long day of racing and field events saw national caliber performances on both the high school and collegiate levels.
The evening distance carnival highlighted an outstanding day with highly competitive racing that led to dozens of regional qualifying marks, including several for Stanford athletes.
Stanford was led by Laurynne Chetelat in the 5,000 meters as she ran the second-fastest time ever by an American junior. Only Molly Huddle of Notre Dame who ran 15:36.95 in 2003 has run faster for someone who will not turn 19 in that calendar year. Chetelat's time of 15:43.31 also placed her fourth in an elite field, including second amongst collegiate runners. The time was the sixth-fastest all-time at Stanford and the second-fastest all-time for a freshman. It was also easily a regional standard for Chetelat.
Three other Cardinal runners established the regional standard in the 5,000 meters as well. Georgia Griffin led the trio running in the second heat with a time of 16:30.81. In addition, Emilie Amaro and Stephanie Marcy finished in a near dead heat with times of 16:36.40 and 16:36.43, respectively.
Earning a regional qualifier in the sprints was Griffin Matthew in the 100 meters. Matthew ran a time of 11.96 in the prelims of the 100 to advance to the final where she finished second by running a regional standard time of 11.72.
The throwers were led by Michaela Wallerstedt who captured the regional standard in the shot put with a mark of 50-6 ¼. The NCAA qualifier in the event last season took the first step to repeating that feat this season.
In the 1,500 meters Madeline Duhon captured the regional standard by running a time of 4:26.92. She finished just ahead of teammate Kaylin Pennington who just missed the standard with a time of 4:29.58.
Other top performers included Idara Otu in the 400 meters (55.57) and Josephine Kvist in the 400-meter hurdles (1:03.92).
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The men were led by an entertaining race by the Heath brothers. The brothers were paced early by rabbit Jacob Evans before younger brother Elliott Heath passed his older brother and began to push the pace over the final few laps. Despite Elliott's lead, Garrett Heath used a strong final kick to edge his brother at the line. Garrett's time of 13:42.27 was personal best for the eight-time All-American. Elliot also set a personal best with a time of 13:42.59 just two weeks after earning his first All-America honor by placing third in the 3,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The times also place the Heath brothers eighth and ninth on the Stanford all-time list.
Also with a big race in the distances was Jacob Riley in the 10,000 meters. Riley finished with a huge personal best to achieve the provisional standard with a time of 29.15.53.
In the sprints, Myles Bradley ran an opening round and personal best time of 10.91 to qualify for the final of the 100 meters. In the final, Bradley finished seventh with a time of 10.98.
Also qualifying for a final was J.J. Jackson in the 110-meter hurdles. Jackson's time of 14.32 makes him the third seed heading into tomorrow's final.
Kyle Davis-Hammerquist led the throwers by placing second in the discus with a toss of 159-10.
The Cardinal will be back on the track tomorrow for the conclusion of the Stanford Invitational. Both the track and field events begin at 9:00 am from Cobb Track and Angell Field. Several more Stanford athletes will go after regional standards as the Cardinal play host to one of the top annual meets of the season.