Relay Caps Strong Day at NCAA Prelims

May 25, 2013

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AUSTIN, Texas - Kori Carter anchored Stanford's 4x400-meter relay to the third-fastest time in school history and a berth in the NCAA track and field championships.

Stanford had six new individual qualifiers on Saturday on the third and final day of the NCAA West Prelims and will bring 12 athletes - nine women, three men -- to Eugene for nationals June 5-8.

Pac-12 champion Brianna Bain served up the singular highlight for Stanford with the day's top throw in the women's javelin. Bain, a sophomore and 2012 NCAA runner-up, had a top throw of 175-10 to lead the competition.

The top 12 in each event at the nation's two prelims - in Austin and Greensboro, N.C. - determine the NCAA field. All-America status is conferred if the athlete gets a legal mark or finishes a race at nationals.

Stanford's strong day concluded in an appropriate manner when Carter blazed to a 50.9 anchor split to lead the Cardinal team that began with Carissa Levingston (54.3), Justine Fedronic (54.0), and Amy Weissenbach (53.2). By finishing third in its heat (the top three automatically advanced), Stanford advanced eighth overall with a time of 3:32.65.It's the fastest by a Stanford women's 4x400 since 2005.

Carter will be Stanford's busiest athlete at the NCAA's, competing in three events. After her No. 1 time in the 400 hurdles on Friday, she secured two spots in two more events Saturday with the relay and the seventh-best time in the 100 hurdles, at 13.16, while finishing third in her heat.

The feel-good story for Stanford was the qualification of shot putter Alyssa Wisdom, who arrived at Stanford as a sprinter, but was forced to drop running after her freshman year because of a heart condition and other health concerns. She switched to shot and qualified for her first NCAA outdoor nationals by securing the 12th and final qualifying spot with a put of 53-1.

If the senior Wisdom's best throw was 1½ inches shorter, she would not have advanced. However, if she can register a legal throw - which she was unable to do at the NCAA indoor championships - in Eugene, she will earn her first All-America honor.

Erik Olson also grabbed a final qualifying spot, finishing 12th overall and seventh in his heat of the 5,000. Olson ran 13:53.68 to earn his first berth to the NCAA track Championships.

In the women's 5,000, Aisling Cuffe and Jessica Tonn both qualified. Cuffe ran a personal-record 16:15.21 to place third in the first of two heats and sixth overall, and Jessica Tonn earned her first trip to nationals by finishing just behind Cuffe, in 16:21.21.

In his heat of the men's 1,500, Tyler Stutzman got off to an early lead, got boxed in at the rail, and patiently waited for daylight to run 3:49.80 to finish fourth in his heat and eighth overall. However, Michael Atchoo, a 2013 first-team indoor All-America and the school indoor record holder in the mile, was unable to respond to a surge in his 1,500 heat and finished 12th in his heat (3:50.38) and failed to advance.

Two seniors competed collegiately for the final time: Jordan Merback (40-6) was 31st in the women's triple jump and Emilie Amaro (16:48.84) was 11th in her 5,000 section and 26th overall and was unable to advance.

Stanford competitors Saturday:

NCAA West Prelims
Top 12 advance to NCAA Championships, June 5-8, Eugene, Ore.

MEN
1,500 - 8, Tyler Stutzman 3:49.80 (4, H1), Q; 19, Michael Atchoo 3:50.38 (12, H2), DNQ.
5,000 - 12,>Erik Olson 13:53.68 (7, H2), Q.
Pole vault - 37, Dalton Duvio 16-6 ¾ (5.05), DNQ.
Hammer - 31, Lucas Rowley 188-10 (57.55), DNQ.
Javelin - 27, Aaron Konigsberg 204-11 (62.45), DNQ.

WOMEN
200 - 14, Carissa Levingston 23.71 (5, H1), DNQ.
5,000 - 6, Aisling Cuffe 16:15.53 (3, H1), Q; 8, Jessica Tonn 16:21.21 (4, H1), Q; 26, Emilie Amaro 16:48.84 (11, H1), DNQ.
100 hurdles - 7, Kori Carter 13.16 (3, H3), Q.
4x400 relay - 8, Stanford Carissa Levingston, Justine Fedronic, Amy Weissenbach, Kori Carter) 3:32.65 (3, H1), Q.
Triple jump - 31, Jordan Merback 40-6 (12.34), DNQ.
Shot put - 12, Alyssa Wisdom 53-1 (16.19), Q.
Javelin - 1, Brianna Bain 175-10 (53.60), Q.

Stanford Qualifiers for the NCAA Championships: