SEATTLE – Freshman Mackenzie Little continued the streak that Brianna Bain put into place by giving Stanford its’ fifth consecutive women’s javelin title at the Pac-12 Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Husky Track.
Little threw 176 feet, 2 inches on the fourth of her six throws to win by 30 feet.
She was the only Stanford champion on the first of two days of competition, though Dylan Duvio overcame the elements in a men’s pole vault competition delayed two hours by rain, and finished second at a season-best 17-4 1/2. The Stanford men are sixth with 22 points after eight events, and the Cardinal women are eighth with 20 after seven.
Among Stanford’s top performances were fourth- and fifth-places finishes by Jack Keelan (29:13.92) and Garrett Sweatt (29:15.67) in the men’s 10,000 meters. Vanessa Fraser was fourth in the women’s 10,000 in 33:55.99, a lifetime best that places her No. 10 in Stanford history. In the steeplechase, Danielle Katz (10:11.11) and Steven Fahy (8:46.69) each was sixth in a personal-record time, with Katz jumping to No. 4 at Stanford all-time and Fahy, a sophomore, moving into the men’s top-10 list at No. 9.
Little extended a Stanford streak of years with at least one individual victory to 20, the longest such streak in the conference.
“It’s really lovely,” said Little, the 2013 World Youth champion from Sydney, Australia. “I didn’t throw my best, but I was able to get the points for Stanford, so that’s fabulous.”
Rain fell during warmups and during half the competition, but the Little wasn’t bothered. She didn’t need to change her approach run. The only difference was the need to dry off the grips before each throw. She came in as the top seed by a large margin and she could have stopped after her first throw (166-3) and won handily.
“I don’t really thrive under too much pressure usually, but this is something I just had to do,” Little said. “I was expected to come out on top and I managed to do that, so I’m happy.”
Little follows in the footsteps of Stanford’s Brianna Bain, who won the past four conference titles. Their paths crossed during Little’s recruiting trip and she was very much aware of her predecessor. Little, who is No. 2 on Stanford’s all-time performers’ list behind Bain, is keeping the tradition alive. She has won four of her five collegiate meets.
“It’s great for the throws program and shows how much work we’ve been putting in,” Little said.
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Duvio overcomes the elements
LIKE A BULLPEN CATCHER, Dylan Duvio and the rest of the pole vaulters began warmups several times before the competition was repeatedly pushed back. Pole vault is regarded as the most dangerous event to attempt in the rain because of the possibility of slipping off the pole or the pole slipping in the plant box.
When Duvio finally took his first jump , at 16-2 ¾, both calves cramped up. Athletic trainer Justin Police came onto the infield and massaged Duvio’s calves for the remainder of the competition.
“I probably wouldn’t have jumped as well as I did if it wasn’t for Justin,” Duvio said.
Duvio tried to take as few attempts as possible – passing twice after cramping up at 16-2 ¾ and passing at 17-2 ¾ and 17-6 ½. He took his final jumps at 17-10 ½ because that was the only way he could beat Washington’s Jax Thoirs, who was perfect through the winning height of 17-8 ½.
“I’m exhausted right now. Totally exhausted,” said Duvio, after more than 4 ½ hours of warming up and competing. But his ability to do well in adverse conditions strengthened his confidence going into the NCAA Prelims in two weeks and nationals after that, especially after the All-America cleared 17-0 only once in five previous outdoor meets this year.
“I’m just really stoked,” Duvio said. “I’m really ready to go out and compete like I did today. I feel that will carry me on to nationals. Nationals will be the place to be.”
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Toughness comes with a blond ponytail
VANESSA FRASER continues to prove herself in a category that’s not easily defined – mental toughness.
Racing in the 10,000, Fraser wanted to run a controlled pace, but found herself with a large gap to make up midway through the race. Pushing ahead of the chase pack, Fraser moved up steadily on her own to bridge the space between herself and leaders Katie Knight of Washington and Oregon’s Molly Grabill.
Fraser, who is No. 4 among collegians in the 5,000, said she tried to increase her pace while also staying relaxed, tasks seemingly at opposite ends of the running spectrum. Eventually, she couldn’t hold that effort and finished fourth.
“It was a great race in terms of mental effort,” said Fraser, who has been unafraid to push a sustained move in the middle or end of a race.
“I seem to have an automatic instinct that tells me when it’s time to kick into gear,” Fraser said. “I don’t think about it, it kind of takes over. Maybe it’s from the years of racing or getting smarter with more experience, and having confidence helps too. I feel like I can trust myself. I don’t want to put limits on myself.”
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The learning curve
ONETIME HIGH SCHOOL half-miler Danielle Katz is now among the top steeplechasers in Stanford history, and she keeps getting better. She knocked at least five seconds off her personal best for the second time this month and now is within 10 seconds of Lindsay Allen’s school record of 10:01.53 from 2007.
The steeplechase is an event that constantly taxes a runner in a different way depending on the race. But Katz has learned to adjust during a race by feel.
“It’s all about knowing where your comfort zone is and being able to push the limits of that, but making sure that you’re not stretching it out too soon,” Katz said. “It’s really important to be able to turn over in the end. If you’re feeling good at the end, that confidence and that boost, carries you.”
Despite her recent improvement, Katz, a junior, knows she hasn’t peaked.
“I feel I’m finally able to overcome the inhibitions I’ve had for so long, but putting it all together in a race situation is still coming,” she said. “The improvements that I’m making in practice aren’t quite translating yet. But it’s exciting to see where I can improve and what I can focus on next time.”
In the men’s steeplechase, Steven Fahy dropped nine seconds while staying in the mix until late in the race before finishing sixth.
“I’m really stoked with that, because I knew from training and racing over the past few months that I was capable popping off a time like that,” said Fahy of his 8:46.69.
His learning curve includes “not trying to overthink every jump during the race. You have to visualize how you’re going to attack the barriers. At the same time, you can’t let a bad jump or a stutter-step ruin your psyche. You’ve just got to get back into your pace and roll with it. Each race, I learn a little bit more. Every time you go over the water barrier you learn it a little bit better. “
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Near disaster
SEAN McGORTY qualified first out of the 1,500 prelims, but escaped near-disaster when he was clipped from behind by teammate Justin Brinkley down the homestretch and stumbled again when he said he said his legs “gave way,” just steps from the finish.
Still, McGorty will move to the final in one of the most-anticipated events of the meet, when he takes on Washington’s Izaic Yorks in a rematch of their epic mile at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation indoor championships just a javelin throw away at University of Washington’s indoor facility. Both ran under 3:54 to become the two fastest American collegiate indoor milers in history.
Brinkley, named the Pac-12’s Scholar-Athlete a day earlier, joined McGorty, Tom Coyle, and Patrick Perrier as qualifiers in Sunday’s 12-runner field. One who failed to qualify was Stanford freshman Grant Fisher, who ran 3:48.40 to finish seventh in his heat.
Fisher put on a move to get around the pack with 450 left and tried to stay on the outside on the backstretch to avoid getting boxed in. Instead, the tight pack seemed to form a wall in front of him down the homestretch and Fisher seemed to have exhausted his energy in trying to find space over the final two laps.
Oregon's Blake Haney, the NCAA indoor mile runner-up, also was a victim of that heat and failed to qualify.
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‘No fear’
THIRTEEN-TIME NCAA champion Edward Cheserek may be the most dominant collegiate distance runner of all-time. But that didn’t stop Stanford’s Garrett Sweatt from charging after the Oregon star late in the men’s 10,000 final.
Cheserek blasted his signature move with about 3,000 left and Sweatt tried to go with him before ultimately paying the price and finishing fifth. Still, he earned the respect of teammate Jack Keelan, who placed fourth.
“That’s how we want to race, to have no fear,” Keelan said. “Props to him for hanging tough to the end.”
The race may have signaled the end of the collegiate careers of Stanford twins Jim Rosa and Joe Rosa, who have a combined six All-America honors between them. Jim Rosa has two top-six NCAA cross-country finishes and Joe was the 2014 Pac-12 10,000 champ and a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor 5,000 that same season. That race also was the last time Joe Rosa had raced on the track until Saturday.
Neither had raced outdoors this year because of injuries. Jim’s previous race was the 5,000 at MPSF’s on Feb. 26, and Joe hadn’t raced since the NCAA Cross Country Championships Nov. 21. They are fifth-year seniors, so this season was their last shot.
Jim ran 29:50.30 for 14th, but not fast enough to advance to the NCAA West Prelims, and Joe never looked comfortable before dropping out. Both are entered in the 5,000 final on Sunday, though many enter both the 5,000 and 10,000, but race in only one.
* * *
Pac-12 Championships
Husky Track
Seattle, Wash.
Finals top three and Stanford competitors
Men
Team scores (after first of two days) – 1, Washington 61; 2, Oregon 57; 3, UCLA 45; 4, USC 27; 5, Arizona State 26; 6 (tie), Stanford, Colorado, 22; 8 (tie), Arizona, California, 19; 10, Washington State 14.
100 prelims – Ht.3: 6 (17) Isaiah Brandt-Sims (Stanford) 10.86.
200 prelims – Ht.2: 5 (9), Isaiah Brandt-Sims (Stanford) 21.85.
800 prelims – Ht.2: 4 (10), Brian Smith (Stanford) 1:50.53 (PB). Ht.3: 2 (6), Tai Dinger (Stanford) 1:50.58q.
1,500 prelims – Ht.1: 1 (1), Sean McGorty (Stanford) 3:43.58q; 3 (5), Justin Brinkley (Stanford) 3:43.62q; 7 (11), Patrick Perrier (Stanford) 3:44.32q (PB); 8 (12), Tom Coyle (Stanford) 3:46.49q. Ht.2: 7 (17), Grant Fisher (Stanford) 3:48.40.
3,000 steeplechase final – 1, Aaron Nelson (Washington) 8:39.58; 2, Connor Winter (Colorado) 8:40.77; 3, Adam Peterman (Colorado) 8:43.19; 6, Steven Fahy (Stanford) 8:46.69 (PB; No. 9).
10,000 final – 1, Edward Cheserek (Oregon) 28:58.57; 4, Jack Keelan (Stanford) 29:13.92 (PB); 5, Garrett Sweatt (Stanford) 29:15.67; 9, Sam Wharton (Stanford) 29:34.55; 14, Jim Rosa (Stanford) 29:50.30; Joe Rosa (Stanford) DNF.
110 hurdles prelims – Ht.2: 2 (4), Harrison Williams (Stanford) 14.23q.
400 hurdles prelims – Ht.1: 3 (7), Daniel Brady (Stanford) 52.63q. Ht.2: 3 (9), Colin Dolese (Stanford) 53.16. Ht.3: 1 (2), Jackson Shumway (Stanford) 51.82q.
Pole vault final – 1, Jax Thoirs (Washington) 17-8 ½ (5.40m); 2 (tie), Dylan Duvio (Stanford), Pau Tonnesen (Arizona), 17-4 ½ (5.30m); 8, Harrison Williams (Stanford) 16-2 ¾ (4.95m); Garrett Starkey (Stanford) NH.
Long jump final – 1, Adoree Jackson (USC) 25-3 ½ (7.71m); 2, Austin Hazel (UCLA) 24-8 ¼ (7.52m); 3, Dominic Smallwood (USC) 24-4 ½ (7.43m).
Shot put final – 1, Nicholas Scarvellis (UCLA) 67-4 ¾ (20.54m); 2, Braheme Days (UCLA) 64-8 ½ (19.72m); 3, Peter Simon (Cal) 62-8 ½ (19.11m); Tristen Newman (Stanford) foul.
Hammer final – 1, Greg Skipper (Oregon) 230-9 (70.34m); 2, Isaac Dan (Cal) 208-3 (63.47m); 3, Nathan Bultman (USC) 197-3 (60.13m); 10, Tristen Newman (Stanford) 182-3.
Javelin final – 1, Cody Danielson (Oregon) 238-5 (72.66m); 2, John Nizich (Oregon) 235-10 (71.89m); 3, Hudson Keffer (Arizona State) 235-6 (71.79m); 7, Andrew Rondema (Stanford) 216-3 (65.91m); 9, Charles Kerr (Stanford) 210-8 (64.21m) (PB, No. 7).
Women
Team scores – 1, Oregon 57; 2, UCLA 41; 3, Colorado 33; 4, USC 30; 5, Washington State 28; 6, Washington 23; 7, Arizona 22; 8, Stanford 20; 9, Arizona State 12; 10, Oregon State 20; 11, California 3.
100 prelims – Ht.4: 5 (19), Michaela Crunkleton Wilson (Stanford) 11.93.
200 prelims – Ht.4: 4 (15), Michaela Crunkleton Wilson (Stanford) 24.54.
400 prelims – Ht.1: 1 (3), Olivia Baker (Stanford) 54.15q. Ht.2: 6 (17), Missy Mongiovi (Stanford) 56.15. Ht.3: 1 (1), Kristyn Williams (Stanford) 53.70q; 2 (4), Gaby Gayles (Stanford) 54.00q; 5 (13), Kaitlyn Williams (Stanford) 55.50.
800 prelims – Ht.1: 1(1), Claudia Saunders (Stanford) 2:04.98q; 3 (6), Malika Waschmann (Stanford) 2:06.52q; 4 (8), Anna Laman (Stanford) 2:06.95q.
1,500 prelims – Ht.2: 4 (10) Molly McNamara (Stanford) 4:19.63q. Ht.3: 1 (2), Rebecca Mehra (Stanford) 4:20.64q; 2 (5), Elise Cranny (Stanford) 4:20.78q; 5 (13), Aisling Cuffe (Stanford) 4:23.69; 7 (16), Maddy Berkson (Stanford) 4:25.46.
3,000 steeplechase final – 1, Erin Clark (Colorado) 9:48.72 (meet record); 2, Frida Berge (Oregon) 9:56.79; 3, Charlotte Prouse (Washington) 10:04.71; 6, Danielle Katz (Stanford) 10:11.11 (PB; No. 4).
10,000 final – 1, Katie Knight (Washington) 33:20.02; 2, Molly Grabill (Oregon) 33:40.38; 3, Mackenzie Caldwell (Colorado) 33:52.08; 4, Vanessa Fraser (Stanford) 33:55.99 (PB; No. 10); 10, Abbie McNulty (Stanford) 35:09.38.
400 hurdles prelims – Ht.1: 4 (9), Hannah Labrie-Smith (Stanford) 1:00.89.
4x100 prelims – Ht.2: 3 (5), Stanford (Missy Mongiovi, Gaby Gayles, Hannah Labrie-Smith, Michaela Crunkleton Wilson) 46.66q.
High jump final – 1, Lisanne Hagens (Arizona) 5-8 ¾ (1.75m); 2, Kiana Davis (Washington State) 5-8 ¾ (1.75m); 3, Kendall Gustafson (UCLA) 5-8 ¾ (1.75m); 9, Rachel Reichenbach (Stanford) 5-5 ¼ (1.66m).
Long jump final – 1, Kylie Price (UCLA) 21-0 ½ (6.41m); 2, Jasmine Todd (Oregon) 20-7 (6.27m); 3, Margaux Jones (USC) 20-6 ½ (6.26); 13, Daryth Gayles (Stanford) 18-8 ½ (5.70m); 19, Marisa Kwiatkowski (Stanford) 17-10 ½ (5.45m).
Shot put final – 1, Brittany Mann (Oregon) 55-7 (16.94m); 2, Itohan Aikhionbare (Oregon) 53-5 ¾ (16.30m); 3, Torie Owers (UCLA) 53-1 ½ (16.19m); 7, Lena Giger (Stanford) 50-11 ½ (15.53m).
Javelin final – 1, Mackenzie Little (Stanford) 176-2 (53.71m); 2, Liz Brenner (Oregon) 146-2 (44.56m); 3, Zaybree Haury (UCLA) 146-1 (44.56m); 12, Victoria Smith (Stanford) 129-5 (39.45m).
PB = personal best.
No. = addition or improvement to Stanford’s top-10 performers’ list for that event.
() = overall place in prelim.
q = qualified for final.
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