March 26, 2011
Stanford, Calif. - After some early weather and more threatening, the Stanford Invitational settled into its usual ideal conditions for running fast times. The distance carnival on Friday night again was the site of fast times, many of which will end up being qualifiers to nationals.
Stanford had its fair share of the top marks, especially late in the evening in both the men's and women's 10,000 meters.
The top section of the 10,000 meters looked like a flashback to the cross-country season with Elliott Heath, Jake Riley and Chris Derrick running together at a blistering pace, but making it look easy. The trio began at the back of the pack, but covered every move in what looked a like a comfortable effort to a time that should easily advance them to the NCAA Preliminary Round in June. Heath showed off his kick, not quite like when he won the indoor NCAA title in the 3K, but enough to gap Riley and Derrick and finish in 28:47.69. Riley and Derrick finished together in 28:54.69 and 28:54.76. The latter will have time to fine-tune their speed over the coming months after missing time during the indoor season.
In the second heat of the 10K, Stanford also shined. Kevin Havel had one of the best races of his career to earn a big pr in the event with a time of 29:43.97. Also running well were Miles Unterreiner who finished in 29:57.96 and Benjamin Johnson who finished in 30:18.51.
Competing in the second section of the 5,000 meters, JT Sullivan and Tyler Stutzman put together a gutsy race, working together to finish first and second. Sullivan worked through the pack and closed with a 60-second 400 to win in 14:03.58. Stutzman ran on Sullivan's shoulder for most of the race, but was the one that separated the pack and pulling his teammate to the lead. Stutzman finished in a personal-best 14:04.80, barely holding off a charging competitor at the line.
Also competing in the 5,000 were Tyler Valdes and Adam Thorne who were in the third section. Valdes ran 14:43.58, while Thorne ran 14:54.86.
Stanford also had a big group in the 1,500 meters. Andrew Berberick and Michael Atchoo ran in the top sections during the evening par of the meet with Berberick finishing with a time of 3:53.51 and Atchoo running 3:54.98. Earlier in the day, Marco Bertolotti and Kenny Krotzer put on an impressive display, running 3:51.91 and 3:52.15, both early pr's for the freshman duo. Travis Edwards also debuted at the distance in 3:56.19, while Ryan Valdes ran 3:59.94.
In the sprints, Amaechi Morton paced the 100-meter runners with a time of 10.83. Colin Hepburn (10.91) and Mark Mueller (10.93) also ran under 11 seconds. Alex Lee (11.16), Ryan Brown (11.24) and Colin Hester (11.29) rounded out the Stanford competitors in the event.
Alfredo Corral paced Stanford in the 400 with a time of 48.82. Bronson Duran (50.26) and Kevin Cardey (51.05) also competed in the event.
In the field, the Cardinal was led by the throwers with Geoffrey Tabor placing third in the discus with a mark of 175-6. Carter Wells (168-4) was not far behind in fifth, while Quinn Dawson was sixth with a toss of 163-4. Trent Murphy competed for the first time since finishing the football season, throwing 143-3.
Throwing the hammer were Sean Wallace (164-9) and Jeremy Hines (159-6), while Aaron Konisberg (177-10) and Robert Hintz (176-0) threw the javelin.
In the jumps, Kevin Cardey (22-10) and Colin Hester (21-4) competed in the long jump, while Jules Sharpe place third in the high jump with a leap of 6-8.
The Stanford women were led by Brittni Dixon-Smith who made the final of the 100 meters. Dixon-Smith ran 11.77 in the prelims and then 11.79 in the final to place fifth.
Also qualifying for a final that will be run tomorrow was Kori Carter in the 100-meter hurdles. Carter will be the third seed after running 13.51. Katie Nelms also competed in the event, running 14.00.
Carter and Nelms doubled in the 100 meters, running 12.07 and 12.18, respectively. Whitney Liehr (12.33) and Karynn Dunn (12.56) also competed in the event.
Rounding out the sprints was a large contingent in the 400 meters. Carissa Levingston led the Cardinal in the fast heat with a time of 55.14, while Kellie Schueller (55.72) and Hannah Farley (55.73) ran side-by-side in the second heat. Also competing were Joy O'Hare (56.54), Shataya Hendricks (56.74), Taylor Dewberry (57.73), Sarah McCurdy (59.88) and Sophie Charlton (1:00.50).
Kate <!>Niehaus and Stephanie<!> Marcy |
In the distances, Stephanie Marcy and Kate Niehaus excelled in the 10,000 meters. Running in the fast section, the duo ran together for most of the race in the middle of the pack. Neither went with the leaders, but instead ran strong in the middle. Marcy finished just off her personal best with a time of 33:46.27, while Niehaus earned a pr with a time of 33:48.72.
Competing in the evening portion of the meet, Victoria Pennings ran a time of 4:40.10 in the 1,500 meters. Earlier in the day, Hannah Varnell ran 4:54.62 and Sophia Ginez ran 4:59.39 in the same event.
In the field, Stanford had a strong showing in the javelin. Eda Karesin placed second in the invitational section of the event with a toss of 149-9, while Liz Minoofar was fifth with a throw of 138-8. In the other section, Kara Bennett tossed 129-1.
Also throwing well was Alyssa Wisdom who placed fourth in the shot put with a mark of 47-0 ¼.
Elaine Patten competed in the high jump, leaping 5-1 ¼.
The Cardinal track teams will be right back at Cobb Track and Angell Field on Saturday for the conclusion of the Stanford Invitational.