EUGENE, Ore. – Stanford's Elise Cranny and incoming freshman Christina Aragon were unable to reach the final in the women's 1,500 meters, but alum Kori Carter did so in the 400 hurdles on Friday at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials.
Cranny was seventh in her semifinal heat, running 4:14.20 at Hayward Field, but was two spots away from advancing to Sunday's final. Aragon was ninth in a faster heat, running 4:12.71, but was closer to advancing on time, only 0.79 from the final qualifying spot.
Cranny, the NCAA runner-up as a sophomore this year, ran in the manner that has been successful of late, by bolting to an inside position just behind the leader. However, when Cranny seemed ready to pass leader Erin Donahue with 250 to go, the pack was tightly bunched. Cranny simultaneously tried to find daylight while Brenda Martinez shot from the outside with a big kick. Cranny was left behind, and then didn't have the legs to close the gap.
Aragon, the recent Billings (Mont.) Senior High School graduate, took the opposite tact, settling behind the pack and waiting to push later in the race. Though Aragon moved up slightly with 500 to go, the pack never came back to her.
For Carter, her 55.86 was enough for third place in the first semifinal heat and among the four automatic qualifying spots in that race. Carter had the eighth fastest time overall.
The final is Sunday and Carter is familiar with big races. She was the 2013 NCAA champion on the same track and won the 2014 U.S. title before finishing third last year.
On Saturday, Sean McGorty competes in the 5,000 final. He is the last of seven current Stanford athletes to compete at the Trials. The race is at 5:20 p.m. Besides Carter, Stanford alums still in search of Olympic berths are Garrett Heath in the men's 5,000, and Sara Hall in Sunday's women's 5,000.
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U.S. Olympic Trials
At Hayward Field Eugene
Friday's results
Competitions involving Stanford-affiliated athletes
Women
1,500 semifinals – Ht. 1: 9 (14th overall), Christina Aragon '20 (unattached), 4:12.71, did not advance. Ht. 2: 7 (18th overall), Elise Cranny (Stanford), 4:14.20, did not advance.
400 hurdles semifinals – Ht. 1: 3 (8th overall), Kori Carter '14 (Brand Jordan), 55.86, advanced to final.
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Stanford Schedule
Saturday
5:20 p.m. – Men's 5,000 final (Sean McGorty, Garrett Heath '08)
Sunday
4:03 p.m. – Women's 400 hurdles final (Kori Carter '14)
4:28 p.m. – Women's 5,000 final (Sara Bei Hall '05)