STANFORD, Calif. - No. 3 Stanford returns home this weekend to host the International Collegiate Challenge, an annual showcase bringing together elite international competition with some of the country's top-ranked programs.
Saturday's highly anticipated meet features the national teams from Canada and reigning Olympic champion Japan, with representatives from four of its premier universities.
Stanford is joined by No. 7 Illinois, No. 8 Michigan and No. 13 California, rounding out the NCAA portion of the meet, scheduled for 4 p.m. in Burnham Pavilion. Admission is free.
Trailing only No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 Penn State in the latest poll, the Cardinal has finished first in four of its five meets this season and remains in contention to bring home its sixth NCAA title overall and first since 2011.
The Cardinal enters this week ranked eighth or higher on all six events. Stanford ranks third in the parallel bars (68.983) and high bar (67.883), fourth on vault (71.633), sixth on floor (69.417) and eighth on still rings (68.000) and pommel horse (66.750).
Individually, Stanford is well represented among the nation's top all-around performers, led by Robert Neff, whose 83.000 score is tied for first in the nation. Ryan Sheppard (81.267) ranks fifth while Andrew Bitner (79.833) checks in ninth.
Neff is also ranked second in the high bar at 14.367 and ninth in the pommel horse at 14.000.
Also earning a spot in the top-10 are Blake Sun (sixth in parallel bars at 14.250), Grant Breckenridge (ninth in high bar at 14.033) and Bailey Perez (ninth in vault at 14.583).
After this weekend, Stanford hosts Ohio State on Saturday, March 10, at Maples Pavilion in its final dual of the regular season. The MPSF Championships are scheduled for April 7.