SEATTLE – Vanessa Fraser likely became the first Stanford athlete to earn a qualifying mark for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and teammate Fiona O'Keeffe could advance as well after their performances in the women's 5,000 meters at the UW Invitational on Friday night.
Fraser was edged by Cal's Bethan Knights for the victory, but ran 15:46.02 to become the third fastest in Stanford indoor history for any-sized track. O'Keeffe, a redshirt freshman, was fifth overall and the third collegian while running 15:53.41, placing her No. 7 on the school indoor list.
The top 16 marks in each individual event over the course of the season earn passage to nationals, March 9-10, at Texas A&M. Over the past eight years, everyone with a 15:53.64 or faster has gotten in. In that context, Fraser, who jumps to No. 7 on the season national list, seems a shoo-in. O'Keeffe has history behind her, but at No. 12, her spot seems a bit more precarious with four more weekends of qualifying ahead.
Stanford ensured this would be a fast race by inserting two rabbits to set the pace. Freshman Julia Heymach led for 1,200 meters and Cardinal teammate Maddy Berkson took over through 2,000 before ceding the lead.
The lead changed hands five times after that, with five runners sailing over the 307-meter track dueling for the victory. Fraser and O'Keeffe each had a turn in front in their first track race against each other.
With two laps to go, Knights slipped past pro Rachel Cliff and into the lead, with Fraser in tow. On the backstretch of the final lap, Knights lengthened the gap, but as they came off the final turn, Knights was clearly laboring while Fraser held form.
Still, it wasn't enough and Knights crossed the line in 15:45.95, with Fraser 0.07 behind. The finish was reminiscent of their duel in the 2016 Big Meet, when Fraser edged Knights in a thriller to win the 3,000 in Berkeley.
Fraser, a graduate student in management science and engineering, set a personal indoor best by 10 seconds from her 15:56.89 from this race last year.
In the 20-pound weight throw, Stanford's Valarie Allman won with a season-best throw of 67-2 (20.47m) in a good competition against runner-up Camryn Rogers of Cal. Allman took the lead on her first throw, Rogers went in front on her second and Allman regained the lead on her fourth. Allman's longest throw came in the sixth and final round.
Allman is unbeaten in two competitions this season, but probably will need around 21 meters (68-10 ½) to reach her first NCAA Indoor meet.
In the men's distance medley relay, Stanford placed second to Western Oregon. The Cardinal team of Hari Sathyamurthy, Christian White, Brian Smith, and Patrick Perrier ran 9:51.26. Sathyamurthy moved up from sixth to second on the opening 1,200 leg and Smith moved Stanford in front just before the final exchange. Perrier ran strong on the anchor in his first indoor track race in two years.
The two-day meet continues Saturday.
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UW Invitational
At Dempsey Indoor
307-meter track
Winners and Stanford results
Men
Distance medley relay – 1, Western Oregon 9:47.56; 2, Stanford (Hari Sathyamurthy, Christian White, Brian Smith, Patrick Perrier) 9:51.26.
Women
200 – Iman Brown (Washington) 23.85; 25, Hannah Labrie-Smith (Stanford) 25.57; 27, Michaela Crunkleton Wilson 25.61; 95, Amber Lewis (Stanford) 27.63.
5,000 – 1, Bethan Knights (Cal) 15:45.94; 2, Vanessa Fraser (Stanford) 15:46.02; 5, Fiona O'Keeffe (Stanford) 15:53.40.
Weight throw – 1, Valarie Allman (Stanford) 67-2 (20.47m).
