LA JOLLA, Calif. – Lena Giger came within two inches of the Stanford outdoor record in the women's shot put, with a personal-best mark of 59 feet, 4 ¼ inches (18.09 meters) at the Triton Invitational track and field meet at UC San Diego on Saturday.
Giger eclipsed her best of 58-4 (17.78m), which broke the school indoor record this year, with a monster throw on her third attempt. Her sixth and final put of 57-11 (17.65m) also bettered her previous outdoor best of 57-9 ½ (17.61m) from the Stanford Invitational on March 30.
Giger placed third in the competition, behind Fanny Roos of Sweden (61-3 ½, 18.68m) and Arizona State's Maggie Ewen (60-4, 18.39m). Ewen and Giger stand 1-2 on the national collegiate season list.
Olympian Jillian Camarena continues to hold the Stanford record of 59-6 ¾ (18.15m) from 2004, but Giger strengthened her hold on the No. 2 spot on Stanford's all-time performers' list.
In the men's invitational hammer throw, Stanford's Tristen Newman set a personal best of 201-7 (61.46m) – an improvement from his previous best of 199-0 (60.65m) from last year. He also placed ninth in the invitational shot put (60-3 ¾ (18.38m).
The next Stanford competitor on the track this season is Harrison Williams, who competes in the decathlon at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific on Wednesday and Thursday. Williams, who redshirted last year, will seek to complete his first decathlon since the 2016 Thorpe Cup.
Stanford plays host to the Cardinal Classic on Friday and Saturday at Cobb Track and Angell Field. The third-year meet showcases collegiate teams.
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Saturday's results
Triton Invitational
Winners and all Stanford competitors
Men
Shot put invitational – 1, Darrell Hill (Nike) 67-8 (20.62m); 9, Tristen Newman (Stanford) 60-3 ¾ (18.38m).
Hammer invitational – 1, Morgan Shigo (Penn State) 224-7 (68.46m); 8, Tristen Newman (Stanford) 201-7 (61.46m), PB; 13, Michael Painter (Stanford) 195-6 (59.59m).
Women
Shot put invitational – 1, Fanny Roos (Sweden) 61-3 ½ (18.68m); 3, Lena Giger (Stanford) 59-4 ¼ (18.09m), PB, No. 2 Stanford AT.
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Stanford is set to host the Pac-12 Track and Field Championships on May 5-6 and May 12-13 on Cobb Track and Angell Field. The first weekend, with the multi-event athletes competing, is free to the public. Tickets ($10/adult; $5/student, youth, seniors) are required to watch May 12-13. Fans can save $5 per person by purchasing their tickets online, and in-advance. To secure your tickets for the Championships, visit gostanford.com/pac12track.
