CLOVIS, Calif. – Incoming freshman Fiona O'Keeffe won the 5,000 meters at the U.S. junior national track and field championships in meet record time on Friday at Clovis West High School.
O'Keeffe, a recent graduate of Davis Senior High, ran 15:56.84 to shatter the record of 16:10.60, set by Caitlin Chock in 2004.
O'Keeffe was patient, allowing Notre Dame's Anna Rohrer to take the lead until the bell lap. With 150 to go and Rohrer running out of steam, O'Keeffe made her move, pulling away down the stretch. Rohrer was second in 15:57.92.
"I was able to have a stronger finish in the race last night for a couple of reasons," O'Keeffe told the Davis Enterprise. "Our plan was to not take the lead early in the race, which allowed me to have a bit more energy at the end. I was also able to stay focused and in the moment the last lap."
The time places her No. 6 on the all-time high school performers and performances lists, and blew away her previous best of 16:28.35, which she ran at the Stanford Twilight meet on April 22.
By finishing among the top two , O'Keeffe and her future Stanford classmate Christina Aragon earned spots on the U.S. team for the IAAF World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, July 19-24. Aragon, of Billings, Montana, was second to Alexa Efraimson in the 1,500, 4:16.75 to 4:18.07. It was a two-runner race, with the rest of the field at least seven seconds behind.
Another future Cardinal, Erika Malaspina from Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz, was third in the pole vault at 13-7 ¼.
Among the current Stanford athletes in the meet for those 19 and under, freshman Alex Ostberg was fourth in a tactical men's 5,000 final. Ostberg ran in the lead pack, but was unable to respond to a late move, running 15:30.37.
Below are the results of Stanford athletes (as noted) and those who have signed letters of intent to compete for the Cardinal next season:
Men
800 prelims – 9, Brian Smith (Stanford), 1:51.35.
5,000 final – 4, Alex Ostberg (Stanford), 15:30.37.
110 hurdles prelims – 14, Julian Body, 14.13w.
400 hurdles final – 6, Julian Body, 52.93. Prelims – 7, Julian Body, 52.87.
Women
400 prelims – 24, Missy Mongiovi (Stanford), 56.12.
800 prelims – 14, Sarah Walker, 2:10.36.
1,500 final – 2, Christina Aragon, 4:18.07. Prelims – Christina Aragon, 4:29.80.
5,000 final – 1, Fiona O'Keeffe, 15:56.84 (meet record).
Pole vault final – 3, Erika Malaspina, 13-7 ¼ (4.15m).
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Stanford athletes race in Oregon
GRESHAM, Ore. – Stanford junior Jack Keelan ran 13:40.72 to break his personal record by five seconds in finishing 11th in a strong 5,000 field at the Stumptown Twilight meet at Mt. Hood Community College on Thursday. Stanford teammate Jim Rosa was 15th in 13:56.32.
Recent Stanford graduate Aisling Cuffe, an eight-time All-America, ran a season best 15:35.12 to finish fifth in the women's 5,000. Pac-12 1,500 runner-up Rebecca Mehra was second in the second section of her specialty, running 4:17.04. Card freshman Grant Fisher also competed, placing 10th in the 1,500 in 3:43.86.
At the Brooks PR Invitational in Renton, Washington, on June 18, recent Stanford graduate Claudia Saunders placed sixth in the women's 800 in 2:04.80.
Stumptown Twilight
Gresham, Ore. (Mt. Hood Community College)
(June 23)
Men
1,500 (Sec. 1) – 10, Grant Fisher, 3:43.86.
5,000 – 11, Jack Keelan, 13:40.72; 15, Jim Rosa, 13:56.32.
Women
1,500 (Sec. 2) – 2, Rebecca Mehra, 4:17.04.
5,000 – 5, Aisling Cuffe, 15:35.12.
Brooks PR Invitational
Renton, Wash.
June 18
Women
800 – 6, Claudia Saunders, 2:04.80.