DAVIS, Calif. – Steven Grolle, a senior walk-on making his Stanford debut, was the top collegian and second overall at the Doc Adams Open cross-country meet on Saturday.
Grolle covered the 8-kilometer (4.97-mile) Putah Creek Reserve course in 24:15.3 to lead a Stanford shutout. The Cardinal men scored a perfect 15 points by capturing the top six collegiate places. Trad Berti, a Chico State redshirt competing unattached, won in 24:04.4. Stanford freshman Michael Vernau, competing in his hometown, was third in 24:20.6.
Steven is the son of Fred Grolle, a former Stanford long and triple jumper, and the former Margaret Grove, who played volleyball for the Cardinal. A human biology major, Steven starred at Sonora High School in the Sierra foothills where he won nine Valley Oak League titles in track and cross country and seven Sac-Joaquin Section division crowns. He walked on at Stanford as a junior last year following his 15th-place finish while running unattached at the Stanford Invitational cross country meet.
Grolle nearly made his Stanford debut at the Cal Opener to begin the track season, but was a late scratch because of an injury. However, Grolle remained patient and finally was able to wear the Stanford singlet in competition and came through with his sterling debut performance on Saturday.
Stanford next competes at the NCAA West Regional on Friday in Seattle, with the NCAA Championships to follow on Nov. 18 in Louisville. The Cardinal men were the NCAA runner-up last year.
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Doc Adams Open
At Putah Creek Reserve
8K (4.97 miles)
Men
Team: 1, Stanford 15.
Individual: 1, Trad Berti (unattached) 24:04.4; 2, Steven Grolle (Stanford) 24:15.3; 3, Michael Vernau (Stanford) 24:20.6; 4, Will Lauer (Stanford) 24:22.3; 5, Patrick Perrier (Stanford) 24:26.8; 7, Connor Lane (Stanford) 24:39.1; 8, Tom Coyle (Stanford) 24:50.6.
