FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Stanford's men's and women's 4x400-meter relay teams were among the fastest in school history, at the National Relay Championships at University of Arkansas on Saturday.
The Cardinal men were fifth in 3:05.76, only 0.17 off the Stanford record, and the Card women were third in 3:31.65, the third-fastest ever for Stanford.
The Stanford women's 4x400 stands at No. 8 on the NCAA season list and Stanford is the 10th-fastest school in the men's 4x400 this season and the fastest in the Pac-12, though NCAA indoor champ USC had yet to unleash its full arsenal in the outdoor season.
The men's school record of 3:05.59 still stands. That 2016 team included Frank Kurtz and Isaiah Brandt-Sims and went on to win the Pac-12 title. On Saturday at John McDonnell Field, Kurtz and Brandt-Sims were the first two legs, followed by freshman Gabriel Navarro and sophomore Julian Body.
Navarro ran a 46.13 split and Body finished at 46.84. The overall time was a season best by nearly three seconds.
The Stanford women's 4x400 also took over the Pac-12 lead, with the team of Carolyn Wilson, Gaby Gayles, Missy Mongiovi, and Olivia Baker, who closed in 51.89 – the fastest anchor leg in the field.
The school record is 3:29.39 from 2005, by the team of Christine Moschella, Janice Davis, Ashley Freeman, and Nashonme Johnson.
Remarkably, the Stanford men's 4x100, comprised of the same foursome as the 4x400, matched their No. 4 time in school history of 40.04, which it ran last week at the Cardinal Classic. Stanford was sixth on Saturday.
In the women's shot put, Stanford's Lena Giger won with a distance of 57-0 ¼ (17.38m).
And the Cardinal got an especially strong showing in the women's pole vault. Kaitlyn Merritt was fifth in the invitational section at 13-9 ¾ (4.21m) and Erika Malaspina won the next section at 13-8 ¼ (4.17m), placing No. 3 in Stanford history, behind Merritt and reigning Olympic and World Championships gold medalist Katerina Stefanidi of Greece.
Saturday's results
National Relay Championships
At John McDonnell Field
Winners and all Stanford competitors
Men
4x100 relay – 1, Arkansas 38.59; 6, Stanford (Frank Kurtz, Gabriel Navarro, Isaiah Brandt-Sims, Julian Body) 40.04, No. 4 Stanford AT.
4x400 relay – 1, Florida 3:02.68; 5, Stanford (Frank Kurtz, Isaiah Brandt-Sims, Gabriel Navarro, Julian Body) 3:05.76, No. 2 Stanford AT.
Shot put – 1, Andrew Liskowitz (Michigan) 66-6 ½ (20.28m); Tristen Newman (Stanford) NM.
Hammer – 1, Joseph Ellis (Michigan) 236-9 (72.16m); 16, Michael Painter (Stanford) 198-0 (60.36m); 18, Tristen Newman (Stanford) 197-5 (60.19m).
Women
4x100 relay – 1, Kentucky 42.84; 11, Stanford (Michaela Crunkleton Wilson, Ashlan Best, Missy Mongiovi, Gaby Gayles) 45.55.
4x400 relay – 1, Kentucky 3:27.07; 3, Stanford (Carolyn Wilson, Gaby Gayles, Missy Mongiovi, Olivia Baker) 3:31.65, No. 3 Stanford AT.
Pole vault – Invitational: 1, Alexis Jacobus (Arkansas) 14-9 ½ (4.51m); 5, Kaitlyn Merritt (Stanford) 13-9 ¾ (4.21m). Collegiate: 1, Erika Malaspina (Stanford) 13-8 ¼ (4.17m), No. 3 Stanford AT; 7, Jackie McNulty (Stanford) 12-2 ½ (3.72m); 11, Nicole Summersett (Stanford) 12-2 ½ (3.72m).
Triple jump – Invitational: 1, Yanis David (Florida) 46-4 ¼ (14.13m); 8, Marisa Kwiatkowski (Stanford) 41-7 ¾ (12.69m). Collegiate: 3, Aria Small (Stanford) 41-2 1/4w (12.55m), 39-11 ½ (12.18m).
Shot put – 1, Lena Giger (Stanford) 57-0 ¼ (17.38m).
Javelin – 1, Avione Allgood (Florida) 182-10 (55.73m); 2, Mackenzie Little (Stanford) 178-10 (54.50m); 3, Virginia Miller (Stanford) 156-5 (47.68m).
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TUCSON, Ariz. – Four Stanford men raced in a strong 800-meter field at the Desert Heat Classic at Drachman Stadium and redshirt freshman Hari Sathyamurthy clocked a personal best 1:49.93 to place fifth. Brian Smith was sixth in 1:50.68 and Christian White was seventh in a personal best 1:50.97.
Saturday's results
Desert Heat Classic
At Edwards Stadium
Winners and all Stanford competitors
Men
800 – 1, Michael Saruni (UTEP) 1:43.25; 5, Hari Sathyamurthy (Stanford) 1:49.93, PB; 6, Brian Smith (Stanford) 1:50.68; 7, Christian White (Stanford) 1:50.97, PB; 13, Scott Buttinger (Stanford) 1:53.81.
4x400 relay – 1, Arizona 3:07.37; 4, Stanford (White, Sathyamurthy, Smith, Buttinger) 3:19.38.
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BERKELEY, Calif. – A handful of Stanford athletes competed at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge at Cal, with Amber Lewis winning the women's 400 hurdles.
Saturday's results
Brutus Hamilton Challenge
At Edwards Stadium
Winners and all Stanford competitors
Men
100 – 1, Devin Glenn (Tulane) 10.64; 6, Terrence Alexander (Stanford) 11.16.
400 – 1, Raymond Kibet (Tulane) 46.81; 5, Isaac Westlund (Stanford) 49.14.
400 hurdles – 1, Seb Rodger (Bay Athletics) 50.74; 2, Colin Dolese (Stanford) 53.69; 3, Lucas Ege (Stanford) 54.26.
Discus – 1, McKay Johnson (Cal) 176-2 (53.71m); 3, Landon Ellingson (Stanford) 161-3 (49.16m).
Women
100 hurdles – 1, Erica Wilson (unattached) 13.60; 7, Amber Lewis (Stanford) 14.66.
400 hurdles – 1, Amber Lewis (Stanford) 1:03.77.
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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.
