STANFORD, Calif. – The Payton Jordan Invitational, in its 21st year, has become the destination for fast distance-running, particularly in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. This year, with Olympic standards at stake, it should be no different.
Twice, the U.S. 10,000 record has been broken at the Payton Jordan, first by Meb Keflezighi (27:13.98) in 2001 and then by Chris Solinsky (26:59.60) in 2010. Numerous other national records have fallen as well.
Here is a rundown of what this year’s edition has to offer, with a summary of the top distance races, by race time. Keep in mind that sections are subject to change. Qualifying standards, yearly leaders, and pertinent records are listed with the main events.
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5:11 p.m., Women’s steeplechase
Olympic qualifying: 9:45.00
Olympic Trials qualifying: 9:53.00
World leader: 9:34.44, Madeline Hills (Australia)
U.S. leader: 9:47.17, Elinor Purrier (New Hampshire)
Collegiate 9:47.17, Elinor Purrier (New Hampshire)
Stadium record: 9:28.26, Emma Coburn (Colorado), 2013
Meet record: 9:28.26, Emma Coburn (Colorado), 2013
Stanford record: 10:01.53, Lindsay Allen, 2008
Last year, Missouri-Kansas City’s Courtney Frerichs earned a big victory over Florida State’s Colleen Quigley – running the Nos. 3-4 fastest times in collegiate history -- to help stamp herself as one of the top steeplechasers in the country, a precursor to her runner-up NCAA finish. Frerichs is back, now with New Mexico, and the collegiate lead appears there for the taking. Four of the top six finishers at last year’s NCAA Championships are running – Frerichs (second), Marisa Howard (Boise State, third), Erin Teschuk (North Dakota State, fifth), and Rachel Johnson (Baylor, sixth). Frerichs and Teschuk are the NCAA’s top returning runners.
Among the top competitors:
Muriel Coneo Paredes: The Colombian raced to a dominant victory at Mt. SAC on April 15, with the No. 4 time in the world this year of 9:43.16, missing the national record by 0.45. Coneo was a 1,500 gold medalist at the 2015 Pan Am Games and the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games. A former heptathlete, Coneo is the reigning South American steeple champ and holds the Colombian 1,500 record of 4:08.31 from last year’s World Championships.
Courtney Frerichs: Ran 9:32.12 to win a dual with Colleen Quigley last year. Frerichs would earn a No. 6 U.S. ranking from Track & Field News. Her best is 9:31.36 and she is the top returning collegiate runner.
Jessica Furlan: Former Nebraska star broke the Canadian record by nearly 12 seconds in 2014 … her 9:33.45 remains the national standard.
Marisa Howard: The former Boise State star was the NCAA outdoor runner-up in 2014 and fourth in 2015. She ran 9:37.84 last year.
Rachel Johnson: Fifth in the NCAA’s last year for Baylor, Johnson earned a No. 9 U.S. ranking by TF&N. Johnson was the 2015 NCAA indoor 5,000 runner-up.
Shalaya Kipp: The 2012 Olympian and two-time Payton Jordan winner ran her best of 9:35.73 in placing third at the Olympic trials and is at peak fitness. Kipp was the 2015 Pan Am silver medalist and most recently was third in the 3,000 at the U.S. Indoor Championships in March.
Sarah Pease: Ranked No. 10 in the U.S. by T&FN in 2015 and 2013. The former Indiana star ran her best of 9:46.66 last year. She was fourth at the 2010 U.S. Championships.
Other sections: Ana Cristina Narvaez set the Mexican record of 9:48.33 at Occidental last year. Tatiana Raquel Da Silva is the reigning Brazilian champion.
Past 10 winners:
2015: Courtney Frerichs (UMKC), 9:32.12
2014: Shalaya Kipp (Colorado), 9:39.12
2013: Emma Coburn (Colorado), 9:28.26
2012: Shalaya Kipp (Colorado), 9:43.09
2011: Emma Coburn (Colorado), 9:40.51
2010: Lindsay Allen (Adidas), 10:02.66
2009: Lindsey Anderson (Nike), 9:35.30
2008: Anna Willard (Nike), 9:37.73
2007: Lindsey Anderson (Weber State), 9:39.95
2006: Lisa Galaviz (Nike), 9:46.87
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5:39 p.m., Men’s steeplechase
Olympic qualifying: 8:30.00
Olympic Trials qualifying: 8:32.00
World leader: 8:30.70, Hillary Bor (U.S.)
U.S. leader: 8:30.70, Hillary Bor (U.S.)
Collegiate leader:8:33.09, Zak Seddon (Florida State)
Stadium record: 8:11.76, Ramond Yator (Kenya), 2001
Meet record: 8:21.34, Matt Hughes (unattached), 2013
Stanford record: 8:32.09, Ian Dobson, 2004
Florida State’s Zak Seddon and Michigan’s Mason Ferlic are the only NCAA runners in the top section, though last year’s top two finishers, Anthony Rotich and Stanley Kebenei , are in the field as well.
Among the top competitors:
Andy Bayer: The former wrestler earned a No. 4 U.S. ranking from T&FN for 2015. Placed fourth at the U.S. Championships and fourth in Stockholm in Diamond League competition. His 8:18.08 in London made him the 16th fastest steeplechaser in the world last year. Won the 2012 NCAA 1,500 title while at Indiana.
Hillary Bor: The 2009 NCAA steeple runner-up from Iowa State is the world leader at 8:30.70, which he ran at the Stanford Invitational on April 1. Bor is a native of Kenya, turned American citizen, and now runs for the U.S. Army.
Craig Forys: The 2012 NCAA steeple runner-up out of Michigan earned a No. 10 U.S. ranking from T&FN last year. Sixth at the 2014 U.S. Championships. Ran 8:34.40 last year.
Matt Hughes: Set the Payton Jordan steeplechase record of 8:21.34 in 2014. Placed sixth in the Payton Jordan 5,000 last year (13.19.56). Hughes was a two-time NCAA steeple champion while at Louisvill is e.
Stanley Kebenei: The former Arkansas star placed second behind Anthony Rotich at NCAA’s last year, giving him two consecutive NCAA runner-up finishes. A two-time Southeastern Conference steeple champ. Won the 2016 U.S. 15K title in 44:37.
Jose Pena: Holds the Venezuelan national record of 8:20.87, set in 2013. Broke his own national record of 8:24.06 from the 2012 Olympic Games. Won gold at the 2013 South American championships and the 2011 Pan American Games.
Anthony Rotich: Won NCAA steeple titles in 2013 and 2015, and the NCAA indoor mile championship in 2014 while running for Texas-El Paso.
Zak Seddon: The Florida State senior has the fastest collegiate time this year -- 8:33.09, from the Stanford Invitational, while finishing second to Bor.
Tabor Stevens: Third at the 2016 U.S. Cross Country Championships. Won three NCAA Division II steeplechase titles at Adams State. Also won the 2014 NCAA Div. II cross country crown. A two-time Stanford Invitational steeple champ.
Other sections: Ole Hesselbjerg is a former Eastern Kentucky standout who finished third at NCAA’s the past two years … Aric Van Halen was the 2013 Pac-12 champ at Colorado.
Past 10 winners:
2015: Stanley Kebenei (Arkansas) 8:23.93
2014: Billy Nelson (Free Leonard), 8:28.49
2013: Matt Hughes (unat.), 8:21.34
2012: Kyle Alcorn (Nike), 8:26.66
2011: Billy Nelson (unat.), 8:22.44
2010: Kyle Alcorn (Nike), 8:27.95
2009: Ben Bruce (OTC Elite), 8:26.08
2008: Luke Gunn (Florida State), 8:31.17
2007: Mircea Bogdan (UTEP) 8:23.12
2006: Mircea Bogdan (UTEP), 8:31.72
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5:56 p.m.: Women’s 800
Olympic qualifying: 2:01.50
Olympic Trials qualifying: 2:03.00
World leader: 1:58.45, Caster Semenya (South Africa)
U.S. leader: 2:00.72, Laura Roesler (Nike)
Collegiate leader:2:01.97, Kaela Edwards (Oklahoma State)
Stadium record: 1:58.83, Nicole Teter (Nike), 2002
Meet record: 1:58.83, Nicole Teter (Nike), 2002
Stanford record: 2:00.63, Claudia Saunders, 2015
The second- through fourth-place finishers at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships are all in the top section. That doesn’t include U.S. national team veteran Maggie Vessey or 2015 U.S. 1,500 runner-up Katie Mackey.
Among the top competitors:
Olivia Baker: The Stanford sophomore was third at NCAA Indoors in the 800 and DMR. She’s looking to improve upon her 2:04.10 lifetime best.
Justine Fedronic: The former Stanford record-holder at 2:00.97, local product out of Carlmont High in Belmont and current French international, races back on The Farm for the first time since 2014.
Hanna Green: The Virginia Tech junior was second at NCAA Indoors in March and third at NCAA Outdoors last spring in 2:01.17. She is a two-time ACC indoor champ.
Katie Mackey: Ranked No. 4 in the U.S. for the 1,500 by T&FN for 2015, after holding the same position in the 5,000 and No. 6 in the 1,500 in 2014. She was third in the 2013 Payton Jordan 5,000 in a PR of 15:04.74, good for No. 17 on the 2014 world list. Mackey was second in the 1,500 at the 2015 U.S. Championships and third in 2014. Her 800 best is 2:01.20.
Claudia Saunders: The Stanford senior is a two-time NCAA outdoor runner-up, setting the school record of 2:00.63 in Eugene last year. Because she has a French mother, Saunders has hopes of competing internationally for France.
Maggie Vessey: This is the third meet at Stanford this year for the Santa Cruz-area resident, including a 2:02.18 to win the Twilight meet on April 22. At 1:57.84, Vessey holds the fastest lifetime best in the field and is the No. 9 performer in U.S. history.
Chrishuna Williams: Williams was fourth at NCAA indoors and outdoors in 2015. She set an Arkansas school record in winning this meet in 2:01.61 last year.
Other sections: Jessica Smith was a 2012 Canadian Olympic semifinalist with a PR of 1:59.86 from 2012. Alexa Efraimson, 19, is the U.S. junior record-holder in the 1,500 and has an 800 best of 2:01.13. Zhao Jing of China has a best of 1:59.48 from 2014.
Past 10 winners:
2015: Chrishuna Williams (Arkansas) 2:01.61
2014: Karine Belleau-Beliveau (Les Vainqueu), 2:01.46
2013: Amy Weissenbach (Stanford), 2:04.24
2012: Morgan Uceny (Adidas), 2:02.46
2011: Christin Wurth-Thomas (unat.), 2:00.72
2010: Helen Crofts (Simon Fraser), 2:05.15
2009: Katie Waits (Reebok), 2:01.78
2008: Maggie Vessey (unat.), 2:03.56
2007: Madeleine Pape (Australia), 2:01.17
2006: Qing Liu (Chinese AA), 2:01.90
* * *
6:05 p.m.: Men’s 800:
Olympic qualifying: 1:46.00
Olympic Trials qualifying: 1:46.00
World leader: 1:44.6, Asbel Kiprop (Kenya)
U.S. leader:1:44.99, Shaquille Walker (BYU)
Collegiate leader: 1:44.99, Shaquille Walker (BYU)
Stadium record: 1:45.19, David Krummenacker (U.S.), 2005
Meet record: 1:45.30, Boris Berian (Big Bear TC), 2015
Stanford record: 1:46.20, Michael Stember, 2000
Middle Tennessee State’s Eliud Rutto returns after setting a meet record of 1:45.37 in 2014, that was broken by Boris Berian last year.
Among the top competitors:
Chris Low: The former Long Beach State star won the Stanford Invitational on April 1 in 1:48.76.
Declan Murray: The former Loyola-Chicago star and Ireland native was third at the 2013 NCAA Indoors and fifth outdoors. He has a best of 1:46.77.
Eliud Rutto: His 1:45.37 victory in 2014 set a meet record and now is No. 2 in Payton Jordan history. Placed second at NCAA Indoors in March. He ran 1:45.59 to finish second behind Duane Solomon at Mt. SAC on April 16. It is the nation’s No. 2 collegiate time this year.
Other sections: Two-time Payton Jordan winner Prince Mumba, a two-time Olympian from Zambia, races in Section Three. Luke Lefebure was sixth for Stanford at the 2014 NCAA Championships and helped the Cardinal to the 2014 NCAA indoor title in the DMR.
Past 10 winners:
2015: Boris Berian (Big Bear TC): 1:45.30
2014: Eliud Rutto (Middle Tennessee State), 1:45.37
2013: Brandon Johnson (HIS – Nike), 1:46.47
2012: Prince Mumba (Santa Monica TC), 1:47.04
2011: Prince Mumba (Santa Monica TC), 1:46.96
2010: Casimir Loxsom (Penn State), 1:46.74
2009: Duane Solomon (Charisma Sports), 1:47.36
2008: Andrew Wheating (Oregon), 1:47.82
2007: Lachlan Renshaw (Australia), 1:48.60
2006: Tetlo Emmen (unat.), 1:48.44
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7:34 p.m.: Women’s 1,500:
Olympic qualifying: 4:07.00
Olympic Trials qualifying: 4:09.50
World leader: 4:08.2, Besu Sado (Ethiopia)
U.S. leader: 4:12.81, Ashley Higginson (Saucony)
Collegiate leader: 4:11.52, Marta Freitas (Mississippi State)
Stadium record: 4:01.63, Regina Jacobs (U.S.), 2003
Meet record: 4:06.40, Treniere Moser (Nike), 2013
Stanford record: 4:10.23, Lauren Centrowitz, 2009
Morgan Uceny, the U.S. national team veteran and former world No. 1, headlines a field that includes Colombian record holder Muriel Coneo and 2014 NCAA champ Shelby Houlihan.
Among the top competitors:
Muriel Coneo Paredes: Coneo is the reigning South American steeplechase champ and holds the Colombian 1,500 record of 4:08.31 from last year’s World Championships.
Elise Cranny: The Stanford sophomore ran her PR of 4:10.95 at Payton Jordan in 2014, making her the No. 3 high school performer ever. Cranny set a U.S. junior 3,000 indoor record while placing second at NCAA Indoors in 2015.
Shelby Houlihan: The former Arizona State star was the 2014 NCAA outdoor 1,500 champ, and 2015 NCAA indoor mile and outdoor 1,500 runner-up. She captured the 2014 Pac-12 cross country title as well.
Lauren Johnson: Placed fourth in the 2015 U.S. Championships and advanced to the World Championships semifinals. Earned a No. 7 U.S. ranking from T&FN.
Cory McGee: Former Florida star ran on the U.S. team at the 2013 World Championships after placing third in the U.S. final. She was the 2013 NCAA runner-up in the 1,500 and fourth in the 2014 NCAA indoor mile. Her PR is 4:06.67.
Morgan Uceny: In 2011, Uceny was ranked No. 1 in the world in the 1,500 by Track & Field News, becoming the first American to earn the top spot in 28 years, since Mary Decker in 1983. Uceny has raced in the Olympics and World Championships. She is a three-time U.S. champion and has a best of 4:00.06.
Kate Van Buskirk: The Canadian was a Commonwealth Games bronze medalist in 2014. She ran 4:05.38 in 2014 and has a mile PR of 4:28.08. She was a 2013 World Championship semifinalist.
Other sections: Section 2 is loaded, featuring Phoebe Wright, the 2011 U.S. indoor 800 champ and two-time NCAA winner, and current 800 U.S. leader Laura Roesler, the former Oregon national 800 champ who also is entered in the 400. Seven-time Stanford All-America Jessica Tonn, third in the NCAA outdoor 5,000 last year, returns to The Farm and Montana high schooler Christina Aragon, newly-signed and already at Stanford for Admit Weekend, tries to beat the 4:16.36 she ran in this meet last year.
Past 10 winners:
2015: Becca Addison (unattached) 4:12.49
2014: Kate Grace (Oiselle), 4:07.35
2013: Treniere Moser (Nike), 4:06.40
2012: Anna Pierce (Nike), 4:07.00
2011: Katie Follett (Brooks), 4:08.95
2010: Jen Barringer (New Balance), 4:08.11
2009: Anna Willard (Nike), 4:06.90
2008: Shannon Rowbury (Nike), 4:07.59
2007: Lindsey Gallo (Reebok) 4:09.60
2006: Yuan Jin (Chinese AA), 4:11.66
* * *
7:47 p.m.: Men’s 1,500
Olympic qualifying: 3:36.20
Olympic Trials qualifying: 3:38.00
World leader: 3:35.77, Ronald Kwemoi (Kenya)
U.S. leader:3:38.05, Henry Wynne (Virginia)
Collegiate leader:3:38.05, Henry Wynne (Virginia)
Stadium record: 3:34.74, Rachid Ramzi (Bahrain), 2005
Meet record: 3:35.19, Andy Baddeley (New Balance), 2012
Stanford record: 3:35.11, Michael Stember (2000)
Evan Jager, the world No. 4 in the steeplechase last year, is the highest ranked athlete in the meet and will get some good speed work against the likes of Norwegian national record holder Henrik Ingebrigtsen and 3:53 college miler Izaic Yorks.
Among the top competitors:
Dan Huling: Carries a No. 10 world steeplechase ranking from 2015 after placing fifth at the World Championships. Was third at the U.S. Championships in 8:14.11.
Henrik Ingebrigtsen: The Norwegian carries lifetime bests of 3:31.46 (1,500) and 3:50.72 (mile) – each a national record. He is the 2012 European Championships gold medalist and was fifth at the London Olympic Games.
Evan Jager: The American record-holder in the steeplechase (8:00.45), ranked No. 2 in the world in 2014, the highest ranking for an American in the steeple since 1985, and was No. 4 last year. Jager is the four-time defending U.S. steeple champ and was sixth in the 2012 Olympics and 2015 World Championships.
Blake Haney: The Oregon sophomore was the NCAA Indoor mile runner-up in March and third in the NCAA Outdoor 1,500 last spring.
Lopez Lomong: The U.S. flag bearer at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Lomong is a two-time Olympian and three-time U.S. champ at 1,500. Lomong broke the Payton Jordan 5,000 record in 2012 despite miscounting the laps and coming to a complete stop in celebration with one lap to go.
Ford Palmer: The former high school middle linebacker used to have to find training between shifts as a bartender. He was second to Ryan Hill at this meet last year and ran a 3:36.98 in Belgium last year.
Izaic Yorks: The Washington senior ran the fastest collegiate indoor mile ever by an American, regardless of track size, when he outleaned Stanford’s Sean McGorty to win the MPSF title in 3:53.89.
Other sections: Adams State sophomore Oliver Aitchison is a three-time NCAA Division II champion, winning two indoor mile crowns and the 1,500 outdoors. Michael Atchoo anchored Stanford to the NCAA indoor DMR title in 2014 and won the 1,500 at Mt. SAC last year. NorCal native German Fernandez and 2009 NCAA 1,500 champ ran a 28:06.64 in his debut 10,000 at the Stanford Invitational a month ago. Diego Estrada, the Salinas native who was unable to make the U.S. Olympic team in the marathon is entered in Section Five.
Past 10 winners:
2015: Chad Noelle (Oklahoma State), 3:38.35
2014: Riley Masters (Brooks Beast), 3:38.42
2013: Chris O’Hare (unattached), 3:38.48
2012: Andy Baddeley (New Balance), 3:35.19
2011: Ben Blankenship (unat.), 3:39.49
2010: Dylan Ferris (Stanford), 3:40.07
2009: Matthew Centrowitz (Oregon), 3:36.92
2008: Kevin Sullivan (Reebok), 3:39.75
2007: Juan Luis Barrios (Mexico), 3:38.71
2006: Aucencio Martinez (unat.), 3:40.92
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8:34 p.m.: Women’s 5,000:
Olympic qualifying: 15:24.00
Olympic Trials qualifying: 15:25.00
World leader: 15:20.44, Lauren Paquette (U.S.)
U.S. leader: 15:20.44, Lauren Paquette (U.S.)
Collegiate leader: 15:25.10, Dominique Scott (Arkansas)
Stadium record: 14:43.11, Sally Kipyego (Kenya), 2012
Meet record: 14:43.11, Sally Kipyego (Kenya), 2012
Stanford record: 15:11.13, Aisling Cuffe, 2014
Kenyan Sally Kipyego has won this race twice and returns to the distance after running a world-leading 10,000 here last year. A year ago, 37 women broke 16:00 in this race.
Among the top competitors:
Kate Avery: The British native was the 2014 NCAA cross country champion while running for Iona. She also has won two European cross country titles.
Kim Conley: The Sonoma County native is perhaps best known for her frenetic comeback at the 2012 Olympic trials to earn third place and earn the qualifying standard by 0.21 to make the U.S. Olympic team. Conley has a best of 15:08.61.
Abbey D’Agostino: The seven-time NCAA champion from Dartmouth has a PR of 15:11.35 … was fifth at the 2012 Olympic trials 5,000 as a sophomore. Four of her NCAA titles came in the 5,000, indoors or outdoors.
Brie Felnagle: The former North Carolina star was fourth at the 2015 U.S. Cross Country Championships and represented the U.S. at the World Championships in China.
Stephanie Garcia: Ranked No. 10 in the world and No. 2 in the U.S. in the steeplechase by T&FN for 2015. She was second at the U.S. Championships and ninth at worlds last year.
Sally Kipyego: The Kenyan star was the silver medalist at the 2012 Olympics and 2011 World Championships in the 10,000. She won eight individual NCAA titles while at Texas Tech. She has 5,000 PR of 14:30.42 and holds the Payton Jordan and track records from her 14:43.11 victory in 2012. She was ranked No. 5 in the world in the 10,000 and No. 10 in the 5,000 by T&FN in 2015.
Maureen Koster: The Dutch runner captured bronze at the 2015 European Indoor Championships in the 3,000. She has a 15:07.73 PR from last year. Koster competed in the 2013 World Championships in the 1,500.
Lauren Paquette: In her 5,000 debut, the former Baylor runner won the Mt. SAC Relays in a world-leading 15:20.44, eclipsing the Olympic standard in the process. In addition to racing, she trains Memphis-area college and individual athletes in mental toughness.
Jen Rhines: The three-time Olympian owns a best of 14:54.29. At Villanova, she won five NCAA titles and as a post-collegian has captured five U.S. championships, including the 2002 outdoor 5,000 title.
Emily Sisson: As a Providence senior last year, Sisson won the NCAA indoor and outdoor titles in the 5,000. She ran 15:12.22 indoors, making her the No. 4 American collegiate performer of all-time at that distance. She earned a No. 4 U.S. ranking in the 10,000 and was No. 8 in the 5,000 by T&FN.
Nicole Tully: The former Villanova standout is the reigning U.S. champion at 5,000, winning in 15:06.44 in only her second race at that distance. Her debut came at Payton Jordan last year, finishing third in 15:05.58. She went on to finish 13th at the World Championships.
Alisha Williams: Has run her lifetime bests of 15:09.73 in the 5,000 (2013 Stanford Invitational) and 31:49.99 in the 10,000 (2015 Payton Jordan) on Cobb Track. She earned a No. 6 U.S. ranking in the 10,000 from T&FN last year.
Other sections: Section Two includes 2014 U.S. indoor 3,000 champion Gabriele Grunewald and last year’s No. 2-ranked U.S. marathoner, Laura Thweatt, the Stanford Invitational 10,000 winner last month in 31:52.94.
Past 10 winners:
2015: Sally Kipyego (Nike OTC) 14:57.44
2014: Sifan Hassan (Global Sport), 14:59.23
2013: Kim Conley (New Balance), 15:22.07
2012: Sally Kipyego (OTC), 14:43.11
2011: Nicole Sifuentes (Saucony), 15:27.84
2010: Shannon Rowbury (Nike), 15:00.51
2009: Jen Barringer (Colorado), 15:07.64
2008: Emily Brown (unat.), 15:19.57
2007: Renee Metivier Baillie (Nike), 15:27.57
2006: Isabella Ochichi (Kenya), 14:59.79
* * *
8:54 p.m.: Men’s 5,000:
Olympic qualifying: 13:25.00
Olympic Trials qualifying: 13:28.00
World leader: 13:13.93, James Wangari (Kenya)
U.S. leader: 13:36.63, Paul Chelimo (U.S. Army)
Collegiate leader: 13:37.24, Patrick Corona (Air Force)
Stadium record: 13:02.74, Ben True (Saucony), 2014
Meet record: 13:02.74, Ben True (Saucony), 2014
Stanford record: 13:15.33, Ian Dobson, 2005
Last year, 50 broke 14:00 in this race, including the U.S. and collegiate leaders. What’s fascinating about this race is the variety of talent, from veterans such as Garrett Heath and Donn Cabral to young collegiate talent like Sean McGorty and Justyn Knight. This should be fast.
Among the top competitors:
Donn Cabral: A 2012 Olympian in the steeplechase, the former Princeton star remains the No. 2 American collegian in that event. Cabral was the steeple runner-up at the U.S. Championships last year and placed 10th at Worlds.
Kemoy Campbell: At Arkansas, Campbell was runner-up at NCAA Indoors in the 5,000 (2015) and 3,000 (2013) and third at NCAA Outdoors in the 5,000 (2015). He has a PR of 13:20.39 from last year’s Payton Jordan.
Chris Derrick: Worthy to be called the greatest long-distance runner in Stanford history. Derrick still holds the school 10,000 record of 27:31.38, set at the 2012 Payton Jordan. He won 14 All-America honors at Stanford and is among six men ever to place among the top 10 at NCAA Cross Country for four years. He is a three-time U.S. Cross Country champion (2013-15) and holds a 5,000 best of 13:08.04.
Trevor Dunbar: The Former Oregon star earned a No. 10 U.S. ranking by TF&N in 2014, placing third in the NCAA outdoors and sixth at the U.S. Championships in the 5,000.
Garrett Heath: A nine-time All-America and former assistant coach at Stanford (class of ’08). Heath won an NCAA DMR title in 2007. He ranked No. 6 in the U.S. in the 1,500 the past two years by TF&N and was No. 7 last year in the 5,000. Heath has excelled in short-course cross country, winning Scotland’s Great Edinburgh the past three years and beating Britain’s Mo Farah there in January. Set his 5,000 PR of 13:16.31 at last year’s Payton Jordan. He was seventh at 1,500 in the 2010 world indoor championships.
Justyn Knight: At last year’s Payton Jordan, Knight set a Canadian junior record of 13:34.86. Last fall, the sophomore placed fourth at NCAA Cross Country to lead Syracuse to the team title.
Leonard Korir: Won the Stanford Invitational 10,000 a month ago in 27:58.65. Korir ran his best 5,000 of 13:15.45 at the 2013 Payton Jordan. Korir won the 2011 NCAA 10,000 for Iona. He resumes his rivalry with Stephen Sambu. At the New York City Half Marathon, Korir overtook Sambu to win by one second, 1:01:06 to 1:01:07.
Sean McGorty: Stanford’s absolute mile record holder at 3:53.95 (indoors), McGorty is running his first 5,000 of the year. He ran 13:37.64 at Payton Jordan in 2014. McGorty was the NCAA Indoor 3,000 runner-up this year and was seventh at NCAA Cross Country.
Stephen Sambu: Set an 8K road world record of 21:01.1 in 2014 on the way to a victory at the Boston Athletic Association 10K. The Kenyan has a 5,000 best of 13:25.13.
Christian Soratos: The Salinas native was the 2015 NCAA indoor mile runner-up while at Montana State. He rarely ran 5,000 in college, but will do so here.
Patrick Tiernan: The Villanova senior from Australia was the 2015 NCAA Cross Country runner-up to Oregon’s Edward Cheserek. He is a seven-time Big East Conference champion. His 5,000 best is 13:31.25.
David Torrence: The former Cal star is a two-time U.S. road mile champion and last year captured the U.S. road 5K title. Torrence set the U.S. indoor 1,000 record in 2014(2:16.76). He was a member of the U.S. 4x1500 that finished second to Kenya at the inaugural IAAF World Relays. His 5,000 PR is 13:16.53.
Other sections: Stanford freshman Grant Fisher, who won two Foot Locker national high school cross country championships, will make his collegiate track debut at this distance. Also in Section Two is Shadrack Kipchirchir, the former Oklahoma State star who was fourth at the 2015 U.S. Championships in the 10,000 and advanced to the 2015 World Championships. California high school legend German Fernandez is in the field in Section Three.
Past 10 winners:
2015: Juan Luis Barrios (Nike) 13:15.71
2014: Ben True (Saucony), 13:02.74
2013: Ben True (Saucony), 13:14.44
2012: Lopez Lomong (Nike OTC), 13:11.63
2011: Brandon Bethke (Quiksilver), 13:25.82
2010: Tiidrek Nurme (Estonia), 13:32.74
2009: Alistair Cragg (Adidas), 13:22.36
2008: Bernard Lagat (Nike), 13:16.29
2007: Adrian Blincoe (unat.) 13:27.34
2006: Alejandro Suarez (Mexico), 13:36.76
* * *
9:12 p.m.: Women’s 10,000:
Olympic qualifying: 32:15.00
Olympic Trials qualifying: 32:25.00
World leader: 31:37.99, Juliet Chekwel (Uganda)
U.S. leader:31:52.94, Laura Thweatt (Boulder TC)
Collegiate leader: 32:08.32, Courtney Smith (Harvard)
Stadium record: 30:19.38, Werknesh Kidane (Ethiopia), 2005
Meet record: 30:34.49, Shalane Flanagan (Nike), 2008
Stanford record: 32:19.97, Alicia Craig, 2004
The top six collegiate times in history have been run at Cobb Track & Angell Field, five of which came at the Payton Jordan. Can reigning NCAA cross country champ Molly Seidel of Notre Dame or Arkansas star Dominique Scott factor into that group? FYI: The collegiate record is 31:18.07 by Iowa State’s Lisa Koll from 2010. Seidel and Scott finished 1-2 at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor 10,000.
Among the top competitors:
Erin Finn: The 2016 NCAA Indoor 3,000 and 5,000 runner-up ran 15:23.16 in the latter. She is redshirting this outdoor season from Michigan to prepare for the Olympic Trials.
Marielle Hall: The U.S. runner-up last year in the 5,000 stretches herself by moving up in distance. The former Texas star won the 2014 NCAA outdoor 5,000 , pulling away from Stanford’s Aisling Cuffe late in the race. She finished third at the 2014 U.S. Championships. She earned a No. 3 U.S. ranking in the 5,000 from T&FN in 2015.This is believed to be her 10,000 debut.
Jordan Hasay: The San Luis Obispo native and former Oregon star won two NCAA indoor titles. As a pro, she is a two-time U.S. Championships runner-up in the 10,000. Her 10,000 best is 31:39.67.
Dominique Scott: The South African from University of Arkansas just missed the Olympic qualifying standard in the 5,000 at the Stanford Invitational last month, falling short by 1.1 seconds (15:25.10). This time, she’ll give it a shot in the 10,000. She was the 2015 NCAA Indoor 3,000 winner.
Molly Seidel: The Notre Dame senior is the reigning NCAA cross country champ and also holds NCAA titles in the 10,000 and indoor 3,000 and 5,000. Clearly, Seidel is on top of the collegiate distance-running world right now. Her 10,000 best of 33:18.37 seems in jeopardy.
Kim Smith: The two-time Olympian from New Zealand ran a national record of 30:25.54 at the 2008 Payton Jordan.
Kellyn Taylor: Made a bid for the U.S. Olympic team in the marathon, but finished sixth in the Trials, running 2:32:50 in the heat of Los Angeles – 3:31 out of third. Taylor next will make an Olympic bid in the 10,000. She earned a No. 9 U.S. ranking in the 5,000 by T&FN last year and was No. 5 in the marathon. She ran 32:29.88 for 10,000 at Payton Jordan last year.
Other sections: Last year, three national records were set in the women’s 10,000. Other national records are sure to fall, out of either section.
Past 10 winners:
2015: Susan Kuijken (Global Sport) 31:31.97
2014: Sally Kipyego (Nike OTC Elite), 30:42.26
2013: Betsy Saina (Iowa State), 31:37.22
2012: Betsy Saina (unat.), 31:15.97
2011: Sally Kipyego (OTC), 30:38.35
2010: Molly Huddle (Saucony), 31:48.59
2009: Rebecca Donaghue (New Balance), 33:08.97
2008: Shalane Flanagan (Nike), 30:34.49
2007: Jen Rhines (unat.), 31:17.31
2006: Dulce Rodriguez (Mexico), 32:19.58
* * *
9:50 p.m.: Men’s 10,000:
Olympic qualifying: 28:00.00
Olympic Trials qualifying: 28:15.00
World leader: 27:22.28, Paul Tanui (Kenya)
U.S. leader: 27:58.91, Shadrack Kipchirchir (U.S. Army)
Collegiate leader: 28:47.48, Shaun Thompson (Duke)
Stadium record: 26:59.60, Chris Solinsky (U.S.), 2010
Meet record: 26:59.60, Chris Solinsky (U.S.), 2010
Stanford record: 27:31.38, Chris Derrick, 2012
The ageless Bernard Lagat (actually 41) , already the American record-holder at 1,500 , 3,000, and 5,000, will now try the 10,000 for the first time on the track in a competitive race.
Among the top competitors:
Sam Chelanga: The two-time NCAA cross country champion while at Liberty, gave the Olympic Trials marathon a shot, but dropped out between 19-20 miles. He’ll push for a berth in the 10,000, where he has a best of 27:08.39 – the collegiate record, set in 2010.
Bernard Lagat: Now setting masters world records, Lagat has a storied career that includes five World Championship gold medals, including victories in the 1,500 and 5,000 at the 2007 outdoor worlds in Osaka, Japan. This is his track 10,000 debut.
Sean Quigley: Placed ninth at the Olympic Trials marathon in the heat of Los Angeles in February. In the 10,000, he ranked No. 4 in the U.S. by TF&N for 2014, and No. 7 in 2013. Quigley placed fourth at 2014 U.S. Championships and set his PR of 27:50.78 at the 2013 Payton Jordan.
Ben Bruce: A varied career includes a World Cross Country Championships berth in 2010 and a U.S. runner-up finish in the steeplechase in 2010.
Aron Rono: Finished second in the 10,000 at the 2015 Pan Am Games. Eventually, earned a second consecutive No. 7 U.S. ranking by T&FN. Lifetime best of 27:31.15 came at the 2011 Payton Jordan.
Andy Vernon: The Brit won the Payton Jordan last year in 27:42.62, leading 35 men under 29:00. At the 2014 European Championships, Vernon was second in the 10,000 and third in the 5,000.
Jason Witt: He placed third at the NCAA Championships last year in the 10,000 for BYU. Witt is a 2:17:31 marathoner, having run that at Chicago in 2014, and earned a No. 9 U.S. ranking in the 10,000 from T&FN for 2015.
Past 10 winners:
2015: Andy Vernon (Melbourne TC) 27:42.62
2014: Juan Luis Barrios (Nike), 27:34.40
2013: Ben St. Lawrence (Melbourne TC), 27:37.55
2012: Cam Levins (Southern Utah), 27:27.96
2011: Bedan Karoki (S&B), 27:13.67
2010: Chris Solinsky (Nike/Kimbia), 26:59.60
2009: Tim Nelson (Oregon TC), 27:36.99
2008: Craig Mottram (Melbourne TC), 27:34.48
2007: Galen Rupp (Oregon), 27:33.48
2006: Alan Webb (Nike), 27:34.72