BERKELEY, Calif. – Sophomore Valarie Allman leads a Stanford contingent of six throwers and one pole vaulter into the first outdoor track and field meet of the season, at the Cal Outdoor Opener at Edwards Stadium on Saturday.
Allman, the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships runner-up, returns to the site where she began her collegiate career – and set a Stanford freshman record on her first legal throw. Her season best of 188-6 placed her third on the school all-time list. Among her rookie accomplishments: a U.S. junior title, Pac-12 runner-up, and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors.
Allman opens her sophomore season in two events, the hammer at 9 a.m. and the discus at 2 p.m.
Meet Information:
What: California Outdoor Opener
Where: Berkeley, Calif.
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.
Site: Edwards Stadium
Follow the action:
Live results: Click here
Stanford Schedule:
9 a.m.: Women’s hammer (Valarie Allman, Lena Giger)
10 a.m.: Men’s hammer (Tristen Newman)
Noon: Women’s shot put (Lena Giger, Rebecca Hammar)
1:30 p.m.: Men’s pole vault (Dan Emery)
1:30 p.m.: Men’s shot put (Sina Javidan-Nejad, Tristen Newman)
2 p.m.: Women’s discus (Valarie Allman, Rebecca Hammar)
3 p.m.: Men’s discus (Nick Budincich, Sina Javidan-Nejad)
Notes: The meet will mark the collegiate debut of freshman Lena Giger, in the hammer and the shot. Unlike Allman, who uses the hammer to complement the discus, Giger is a hammer thrower first. She won the 2014 U.S. Youth Championships in that event, but also is the 2013 New Balance Outdoor Nationals and three-time Illinois 2A state champ in the shot put. She will be competing in both events. The school freshman record is 187-1 by Jessica Pluth in 2001, but Giger’s best is 185-9.
Tristen Newman, another hammer thrower/shot putter also competes in his first collegiate meet. Junior discus thrower Nick Budincich, who greatly improved over the part portion of last season, will compete in his specialty, as well.