COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Nine Stanford athletes and two relay teams will compete in a total of nine events at the two-day NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, which begin Friday at Texas A&M's Gilliam Indoor Stadium.
This is the most individual entrants for Stanford since the Cardinal sent 10 to Nampa, Idaho, in 2012. The breakdown is seven women and two men in individual events. In all, 24 Stanford athletes have made the trip, including relay members and alternates.
The Stanford women are coming off four consecutive top-20 finishes. Stanford figures to have national championship contenders in several events. Its most recent NCAA indoor champion was the men's distance medley relay team in 2014. The Cardinal women are searching for its first since Erica McLain won the second of her back-to-back triple jump championships in 2008.
The centerpieces of Stanford's schedule are the distance medley relays -- Stanford's men have qualified for the ninth consecutive year, and the women are on a seven-year streak. The Stanford women's DMR team comes in at No. 3, tying for the highest seeding of any Stanford competitor this year. The men's DMR is seeded No. 5.
Stanford's three other No. 3 seeds are Grant Fisher in the men's 3,000, Elise Cranny in the women's mile, and Lena Giger in the women's shot put.
Fisher, a redshirt sophomore in indoor eligibility, is the reigning NCAA outdoor 5,000-meter champion. Olivia Baker and Cranny have been NCAA runners-up either indoors or outdoors in individual events – Baker in the women's outdoor 800 (2016) and Cranny in the outdoor 1,500 (2016) and indoor 3,000 (2015). Fisher will run the 3,000, Baker the 800, and Cranny the mile.
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Meet Information
NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
Where: College Station, Texas
Site: Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium
Track: 200-meter banked
Full schedule: Click here
Follow the Action:
Live results and start lists: Click here.
Meet Central: Click here.
TV/Webstream:
Friday - ESPN3.com (live, 3:30 p.m. PT).
Saturday - ESPN3.com (live, 2 p.m. PT)
Sunday – ESPN2 (tape-delayed, 4 p.m. PT).
Twitter: @stanfordXCTF
Stanford in USTFCCCA rankings:
Men - No. 24
Women - No. 9
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Stanford's NCAA qualifiers:
Women
Valarie Allman, weight throw (70-3 ½, 21.42m)
Christina Aragon, 3,000 (No. 11, 9:01.86)
Olivia Baker, 800 (No. 11, 2:04.00)
Elise Cranny, mile (No. 3, 4:31.29)
Vanessa Fraser, 3,000 (No. 6, 8:59.23)
Lena Giger, Shot put (No. 3, 58-4, 17.78m)
Fiona O'Keeffe, 3,000 (No. 13, 9:04.77)
Distance medley relay (No. 5, 10:58.93)
Men
Steven Fahy, 5,000 (No. 14, 13:44.82)
Grant Fisher, 3,000 (No. 3, 7:48.56)
Distance medley relay (No. 3, 9:26.91)
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Stanford's' NCAA Indoor Championships Schedule:
Friday
3:15 p.m. PT (5:15 p.m. CT): Women's shot put trials and final (Lena Giger).
3:50 p.m. PT (5:50 p.m. CT): Women's mile semifinal (Elise Cranny).
5:25 p.m. PT (7:25 p.m. CT): Women's 800 semifinal (Olivia Baker).
6:05 p.m. PT (8:05 p.m. CT): Men's 5,000 final (Steven Fahy).
6:45 p.m. PT (8:45 p.m. CT): Men's distance medley relay final.
7 p.m. PT (9 p.m. CT): Women's distance medley relay final.
Saturday
2:20 p.m. PT (4:20 p.m. CT): Women's mile final.
2:30 p.m. PT (4:30 p.m. CT): Women's weight throw trials and final (Valarie Allman).
3:40 p.m. PT (5:40 p.m. CT): Women's 800 final.
4:10 p.m. PT (6:10 p.m. CT): Men's 3,000 final (Grant Fisher).
4:25 p.m. PT (6:25 p.m. CT): Women's 3,000 final (Christina Aragon, Vanessa Fraser, Fiona O'Keeffe).
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Here's a closer look at each event for Stanford, in chronological order:
Women's shot put (Friday)
Stanford record: 58-4 (17.78m), Lena Giger (2018).
Best Stanford mark at NCAA Indoors: 57-2 ¾ (17.44m), Jillian Camarena (2003)
Highest Stanford place: 1st, Pam Dukes (1987).
Lena Giger, RS Jr., Highland, Ill. (Highland HS)
Seed: No. 3 (58-4, 17.78m).
Lena Giger broke school record held by Olympian Jillian Camarena. Giger said she targeted Camarena's 57-2 ¾ (17.44m) while goal-setting 17.45 before the season. Giger threw 58-4 (17.78m) at the Husky Classic in Seattle to break the record … competing in her first NCAA indoor meet … she earned her first All-America honor outdoors last year, placing 17th … undefeated against collegiate competition in four of her five indoor meets. The exception was when she placed second at the MPSF Championships to Arizona State's Maggie Ewen … high school competitor of Louisville's Emmonnie Henderson, whom Giger beat at Michigan's Power Five Invite.
Major: History.
Personal record: 58-4 (17.78m).
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Women's mile (Friday and Saturday)
Stanford record: 4:31.29.
Best Stanford mark at NCAA Indoors: 4:40.50, Arianna Lambie (2006).
Highest Stanford place: 3rd, Lauren Fleshman (2001).
Elise Cranny: Sr., Niwot, Colo. (Niwot HS).
Seed: No. 3 (4:31.29).
Elise Cranny broke school record and set her personal best at the MPSF Championships, running 4:31.29 to win. It was under the Stanford record of 4:37.07, set by Lauren Centrowitz in 2009. Also bettered the school outdoor mile record of 4:36.23 by Aisling Cuffe in 2016 … Stanford's first NCAA indoor mile qualifier since Alicia Follmar in 2008 … has earned eight All-America honors coming into this meet … has four second-place NCAA finishes: outdoor 1,500 (2016), indoor 3,000 (2015), and indoor DMR (2015, 2017).
Major: Human biology.
Personal record: 4:31.29 (2018).
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Women's 800 (Friday and Saturday)
Stanford record: 2:03.25, Justine Fedronic (2014)
Best Stanford mark at NCAA Indoors: 2:04.45, Olivia Baker (2017)
Highest Stanford place: 3rd, Olivia Baker (2016).
Olivia Baker: Jr., South Orange, N.J. (Columbia HS)
Seed: No. 9 (2:03.41)
Olivia Baker is competing in her fourth NCAA indoor meet … placed third in the 800 in 2016, seventh in 2017, and was second in the DMR in 2015 … captured her third consecutive Mountain Pacific Sports Federation indoor title on Feb. 24, running 2:04.31 … also anchored Stanford to its first MPSF 4x400 victory since 2006 with a 52.6 split … eight-time All-American … the 2016 NCAA outdoor 800 runner-up … won the 2016 Pac-12 title in the 400 … tied Stanford's indoor 400 record of 53.35 at the Don Kirby Invite on Feb. 10 … has goals of going to medical school and being a neurosurgeon.
Major: Human biology.
Personal record: 2:01.02 (2016, outdoors); 2:03.41 (2017, indoors).
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Men's 5,000 (Friday)
Stanford record: 13:19.58, Chris Derrick (2012).
Best Stanford mark at NCAA Indoors: 13:26.88, Chris Derrick (2012).
Highest Stanford place: 1st, Brad Hauser (1998, 1999), Ian Dobson (2005).
Steven Fahy, RS Jr., Carlsbad, Calif. (La Costa Canyon HS).
Seed: No. 14 (13:44.82).
Steven Fahy ran his first sub-14 at the Iowa State Classic this year, earning his qualifying time of 13:44.82 … Fahy is among six current Stanford runners who have broken 14 minutes … in the midst of a career year, having placed 17th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, earning his first All-America honor.
Major: Human biology.
Personal record: 13:44.82 (2018).
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Men's distance medley relay (Friday).
Stanford record: 9:26.91 (2018; Sean McGorty, Isaiah Brandt-Sims, Hari Sathyamurthy, Grant Fisher).
Best Stanford mark at NCAA Indoors: 9:28.83 (2000; Gabe Jennings, Evan Kelty, Michael Stember, Jonathon Riley).
Highest Stanford place: 1st (2000, 2001, 2007, 2014).
Seed: No. 3 (9:26.91).
Stanford's men and women have combined for five NCAA titles in the DMR -- four for the men and one for the women -- and 22 top-five finishes (11 for the men and 11 for the women). This is the ninth consecutive year Stanford has qualified a men's DMR team and the seventh consecutive year for the women … Stanford broke its school record at the Alex Wilson Invitational at Notre Dame with a team of Sean McGorty, Isaiah Brandt-Sims, Hari Sathyamurthy, and Grant Fisher … it was the first time that fifth-year senior Sean McGorty and redshirt sophomore Fisher – who have combined for 13 All-America honors -- have been teammates on a relay … McGorty is a two-time NCAA runner-up, at the 2016 outdoor 5,000 and indoor 3,000 … Freshman Brandon McGorty, Sean's younger brother, is a candidate to run the 800 leg, along with Sathyamurthy … the McGortys have never run on the same relay … sophomore Julian Body is scheduled to run the 400 leg.
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Women's distance medley relay (Friday).
Stanford record: 10:53.66 (2015; Jessica Tonn, Olivia Baker, Claudia Saunders, Elise Cranny).
Best Stanford mark at NCAA Indoors: Same as above.
Highest Stanford place: 1st (Sally Glynn, Jayna Smith, Lindsay Hyatt, Lauren Fleshman), 2000.
Seed: No. 5 (10:58.93).
In no other event has Stanford won more NCAA indoor titles or has as much overall success. The Stanford women were second last year and have placed among the top three in each of the past four years. Previous Stanford DMR members, among men and women, include Garrett Heath (2007), and Olympians Gabe Jennings (2000, 2001), Jonathon Riley (2000), and Michael Stember (2000). Stanford's 2000 women's title team was anchored by five-time NCAA champion Lauren Fleshman … Elise Cranny may run on this relay for the fourth consecutive year. Last year, she came from far behind on the anchor only to be nipped by Colorado by 0.02 to finish second … the lineup could include Cranny, Christina Aragon, Missy Mongiovi or Carolyn Wilson, and Vanessa Fraser or Fiona O'Keeffe. Olivia Baker, who runs an 800 first-round heat earlier on Friday, probably is out of the mix, unless she does not qualify for the 800 final.
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Women's 35-pound weight throw (Saturday).
Stanford record: 70-3 ½ (21.42m), Valarie Allman (2018).
Best Stanford mark at NCAA Indoors: none.
Highest Stanford place: none.
Valarie Allman, 5th Sr., Longmont, Colo. (Silver Creek HS).
Seed: No. 12 (70-3 ½, 21.42m).
Valarie Allman is among the best discus throwers in the country, having placed third at the U.S. Championships to advance to the IAAF World Championships for the U.S. team … this is her second year in the weight throw and has broken the Stanford record seven times, including with her 70-3 ½ (21.42m) throw this year … this is her first NCAA indoor meet ... this is the first time Stanford has a qualifier in this event.
Major: Product design.
Personal record: 70-3 ½ (21.42m).
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Men's 3,000 (Saturday)
Stanford record: 7:46.81, Chris Derrick (2012).
Best Stanford mark at NCAA indoors: 7:46.81, Chris Derrick (2012).
Highest Stanford place: 1st, Elliott Heath (2011).
Grant Fisher, RS. So., Grand Blanc, Mich. (Grand Blanc HS).
Seed: No. 3 (7:48.56).
Grant Fisher is the reigning NCAA outdoor 5,000 champion … though a junior academically, this is his first season competing indoors for Stanford … Fisher renews a friendly rivalry with Justyn Knight of Syracuse. They have raced six times, with Knight winning all their cross-country matchups (four) and Fisher winning both on the track … in his only race at this distance this year, Fisher was second to Northern Arizona's Andy Trouard at the Iowa State Classic, 7:48.21 to 7:48.56 … only Knight has run faster this year, at 7:45.86 … Fisher likely will be coming off a DMR leg on Friday … Fisher is a five-time All-America.
Major: Electrical engineering.
Personal record: 7:48.56 (2018).
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Women's 3,000 (Saturday).
Stanford record: 8:53.1, PattiSue Plumer (1983).
Best Stanford mark at NCAA indoors: 8:58.88, Elise Cranny (2015).
Highest Stanford place: 1st, Lauren Fleshman (2002); PattiSue Plumer (2-mile, 1983).
Christina Aragon, RS Fr., Billings, Mont. (Billings Senior HS).
Seed: No. 11 (9:01.86).
Christina Aragon was a first-team All-America outdoors last year, placing seventh in the 1,500 as a true freshman … this is her first collegiate indoor season … a versatile runner, she was the Pac-12 outdoor 800 runner-up last year and No. 2 in Stanford indoor history in the mile (4:34.76) … the 3,000 allows her to run the DMR on Friday and compete in an individual event.
Major: undeclared.
Personal record: 9:01.86 (2018).
Vanessa Fraser, Grad., Scotts Valley, Calif. (Scotts Valley HS).
Seed: No. 6 (8:59.23).
Vanessa Fraser placed fifth in this event last year for her best individual NCAA finish and has a goal of improving upon that place … this is Stanford's best women's indoor event, with 14 top-five finishes over the years, though Lauren Fleshman in 2002 is Stanford's only title … Fraser is a seven-time All-America who is a one-time walk-on and first began running as part of a Girls on the Run program in third grade … she already has earned her bachelor's in symbolic systems with a concentration on neuroscience … Though she redshirted in 2017, she was the second collegian, behind only Missouri's Karissa Schweizer, in the U.S. Outdoor Championships 5,000, placing seventh overall in a personal best 15:25.48 … one of three in school history to have broken 9 minutes.
Master's: Management science and engineering.
Personal record: 8:59.23 (2018).
Fiona O'Keeffe, RS Fr., Davis, Calif. (Davis Senior HS).
Seed: No. 13 (9:04.77).
Fiona O'Keeffe is a three-time All-American in her first indoor season … she was Stanford's No. 1 at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships, placing 13th … earned first-team outdoor All-America honors last year by placing fifth at the NCAA Championships … earned her qualifying time of 9:04.77 by winning the MPSF title. She had help from three of her teammates, with Christina Aragon, Elise Cranny, and Vanessa Fraser taking turns as pacemakers for O'Keeffe.
Major: undeclared.
Personal record: 9:04.77 (2018).
