June 10, 2010
Eugene, Ore. - The NCAA Outdoor Championships continued from Hayward Field on Thursday as Jake Riley came up with a huge performance in the 10,000 meters. Riley placed third to earn an All-America honor. Jaynie Goodbody led the Cardinal women also earning All-America status.
Riley earned All-America status for the second consecutive season in the 10K. He was also the top American finisher in the race. Riley was among the leaders of the chase pack as the group let collegiate record holder, Samuel Chelanga of Liberty break early in the race. Only Luke Puskedra of Oregon attempted to follow Chelanga, but he fell back after around 5,000 meters and finished near the back of the pack.
Riley continued to run at the front of the chase pack and battled John Kosgei of Oklahoma State and Mohammed Ahmed of Wisconsin. Riley never wavered and finished with a strong kick to place third in a time of 28:57.41. It was the top national finish of Riley's career and demonstrates the strength of the Stanford distance team as he was the No. 4 runner in cross country for most of the fall season. Riley earned Stanford six points in the very early going of the national meet to sit in 10th place at the conclusion of the race.
Also faring well for the Stanford men was Dylan Ferris in the semifinals of the 1,500 meters. Ferris ran a time of 3:41.92 to finish fourth in his heat and automatically advance to the Saturday's final. Ferris closed with a final 800 meters of 1:55.09 to break away from a pack that had stayed together after a comfortable starting pace.
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Jaynie<!> Goodbody |
Goodbody was the only Stanford female to compete and will earn All-America status for the first time after placing ninth. Goodbody tossed 192-3 in the hammer throw. She will be named All-American despite finishing out of the top eight because individual champion Nikola Lomnicka of Georgia represents Slovenia. It was a breakthrough performance for Goodbody who qualified for her third-straight national meet, but earned her first All-America honor in her final meet as a collegiate.
Madeleine O'Meara was scheduled to compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, but was forced to withdraw with an injury.
The Cardinal will be back in action for day three of the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Friday as the meet turns to exclusively finals. Two of Stanford's top hopes, Amaechi Morton for the men in the 400 hurdles and Katerina Stefanidi for the women in the pole vault will be in action. In addition, JT Sullivan will compete in the steeplechase, while freshman Kathy Kroeger will compete in the women's 5,000 meters.