STANFORD, Calif. – The Payton Jordan Invitational, in its 23rd year, has become the destination for fast distance running, and more magic on the track is expected Thursday night at Cobb Track and Angell Field.
Last year's meet included two national records, and four world-leading, five U.S.-leading, and three collegiate-leading marks. And 26 runners achieved qualifying standards for the IAAF World Championships in London, including 13 in the women's 10,000.
Among the most anticipated races is the top section of the men's 1,500, which features 2016 Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz, 2016 Olympic 5,000 silver medalist Paul Chelimo, two-time NCAA indoor champion Eric Jenkins, and Stanford's reigning NCAA outdoor 5,000 and Pac-12 1,500 champ Grant Fisher and school mile record-holder Sean McGorty.
To comprehend the quality and depth of these races, consider that 27 men broke 14 minutes in the 5,000 last year and 29 women broke 16 minutes. In addition, 26 women broke 33 minutes in the 10,000 and 24 men broke 29.
Twice, the U.S. 10,000 record has been broken at the Payton Jordan, first by Meb Keflezighi (27:13.98) in 2001 and then by Chris Solinsky (26:59.60) in 2010.
Many of the nation's top collegiate runners are competing, led by 2017 NCAA cross country champ Justyn Knight of Syracuse in the men's 5,000, 2017 NCAA steeplechase champ Allie Ostrander of Boise State in the women's 5,000, and Stanford's Vanessa Fraser in the same race.
Here is a glance at the meet with links on how to follow:
Payton Jordan Invitational
Where: Stanford, Calif.
Venue: Cobb Track and Angell Field
Events Begin: Field, 4 p.m.; Running, 6 p.m.
Final Meet Schedule: Click here (PDF).
Follow the meet:
Entries/Live Results: Click here.
Flotrack Premium Webcast (5:20 p.m. PT): Click here.
Meet Twitter: @StanfordMeets
Stanford Twitter: @stanfordXCTF
Stanford Instagram: StanfordXCTF
Tickets:
For adults, tickets are $10 each day. For youths, seniors, and staff, tickets are $5 each day. The ticket booth outside the entrance to the track stadium opens at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Ask about discounts for Payton Jordan ticket holders to the Pac-12 Championships May 12-13 at Stanford.
More ticket information: Click here.
Parking:
Parking is free everywhere on campus after 4 p.m. on weekdays. The best options are at Varsity Lot (next to Sunken Diamond) and Lot 2 (on the El Camino Real side of Stanford Stadium). Access to both is from Nelson Road/Sam McDonald Road off Galvez Street.
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Here are previews of the fast sections of each distance race, in order of the time schedule:
7:31 p.m., Women's steeplechase
U.S. Championships qualifying: 9:50.00
World leader: 9:21.00, Aisha Praught (Jamaica)
U.S. leader: 9:38.57, Allie Ostrander (Boise State)
Collegiate: 9:38.57, Allie Ostrander (Boise State)
Stadium record: 9:28.26, Emma Coburn (Colorado), 2013
Meet record: 9:28.26, Emma Coburn (Colorado), 2013
Stanford record: 10:01.53, Lindsay Allen, 2008
Notes: Erin Teschuk is a 2016 Canadian Olympian … San Francisco's Marie Bouchard won the Cardinal Classic 5,000 on April 20 … former Penn State runner Tori Gerlach was third in the NCAA Championships last year.
Recent winners:
2017: Rosie Clarke (Great Britain) 9:36.75
2016: Courtney Frerichs (New Mexico), 9:29.31
2015: Courtney Frerichs (UMKC), 9:32.12
2014: Shalaya Kipp (Colorado), 9:39.12
2013: Emma Coburn (Colorado), 9:28.26
2012: Shalaya Kipp (Colorado), 9:43.09
2011: Emma Coburn (Colorado), 9:40.51
2010: Lindsay Allen (Adidas), 10:02.66
2009: Lindsey Anderson (Nike), 9:35.30
2008: Anna Willard (Nike), 9:37.73
2007: Lindsey Anderson (Weber State), 9:39.95
2006: Lisa Galaviz (Nike), 9:46.87
2005: Lisa Galaviz (unat.), 9:50.93
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7:56 p.m., Men's steeplechase
U.S. Championships qualifying: 8:40.00
World leader: 8:10.08, Conseslus Kipruto (Kenya)
U.S. leader: 8:38.64, Travis Mahoney
Collegiate leader: 8:38.32, Yusuke Uchikoshi (Boise State)
Stadium record: 8:11.76, Ramond Yator (Kenya), 2001
Meet record: 8:21.34, Matt Hughes (unattached), 2013
Stanford record: 8:32.09, Ian Dobson, 2004
Notes: Venezuela's Jose Pena has a best of 8:20.87, a national record, and is a two-time Olympian … Aaron Nelson was the Pac-12 champion at Washington in 2014 … Denmark's 2016 Olympian Ole Hesseljberg, formerly of Eastern Kentucky, has a best of 8:27.86 … Jeroen D'Hoedt is a 2016 Olympian from Belgium … Italy's Johanes Chiappinelli, 20, has a best of 8:27.34 and has won European Junior and Under-23 steeplechase titles, the latter in 2017. He was the 2018 Italian national cross country champion and raced in the 2017 World Track and Field Championships.
Recent winners:
2017: Anthony Rotich (Elite Athletics) 8:36.39
2016: Matt Hughes (Nike/Bowerman TC) 8:22.31
2015: Stanley Kebenei (Arkansas) 8:23.93
2014: Billy Nelson (Free Leonard), 8:28.49
2013: Matt Hughes (unat.), 8:21.34
2012: Kyle Alcorn (Nike), 8:26.66
2011: Billy Nelson (unat.), 8:22.44
2010: Kyle Alcorn (Nike), 8:27.95
2009: Ben Bruce (OTC Elite), 8:26.08
2008: Luke Gunn (Florida State), 8:31.17
2007: Mircea Bogdan (UTEP) 8:23.12
2006: Mircea Bogdan (UTEP), 8:31.72
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8:08 p.m.: Women's 800
U.S. Championships qualifying: 2:03.00
World leader: 1:56.68, Caster Semenya (South Africa)
U.S. leader: 2:01.06, Kaela Edwards
Collegiate leader: 2:01.18, Jazmine Fray (Texas A&M)
Stadium record: 1:58.83, Nicole Teter (Nike), 2002
Meet record: 1:58.83, Nicole Teter (Nike), 2002
Stanford record: 2:00.63, Claudia Saunders, 2015
Notes: Chrishuna Williams, a 2016 U.S. OIympian, has won the past three years at the Payton Jordan, beginning in her final year at Arkansas, and has a best of 1:59.59, set at the Olympic Trials … former Florida star Cory McGee was a 2013 World Championships competitor in the 1,500 … Jenna Westaway represented Canada at two World Indoor championships … Lauren Johnson competed for the U.S. at the 2015 World Championships and has a best of 2:01.59.
Recent winners:
2017: Chrishuna Williams (Nike) 2:02.58
2016: Chrishuna Williams (unattached) 2:00.58
2015: Chrishuna Williams (Arkansas) 2:01.61
2014: Karine Belleau-Beliveau (Les Vainqueu), 2:01.46
2013: Amy Weissenbach (Stanford), 2:04.24
2012: Morgan Uceny (Adidas), 2:02.46
2011: Christin Wurth-Thomas (unat.), 2:00.72
2010: Helen Crofts (Simon Fraser), 2:05.15
2009: Katie Waits (Reebok), 2:01.78
2008: Maggie Vessey (unat.), 2:03.56
2007: Madeleine Pape (Australia), 2:01.17
2006: Qing Liu (Chinese AA), 2:01.90
2005: Sherren Rhetta (South Bay TC), 2:06.52
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8:13 p.m.: Men's 800
U.S. Championships qualifying: 1:47.50
World leader: 1:43.25, Michael Saruni (Kenya)
U.S. leader: 1:45.62, Devin Dixon
Collegiate leader: 1:43.25, Michael Saruni (UTEP)
Stadium record: 1:44.65, Nijel Amos (Botswana), 2018
Meet record: 1:45.30, Boris Berian (Big Bear TC), 2015
Stanford record: 1:46.20, Michael Stember, 2000
Notes: Ryan Martin, formerly of UCSB, has a best of 1:44.77 … Brannon Kidder has an 800 best of 1:45.58 and has excelled at Stanford before, winning the 2016 Stanford Twilight meet 1,500 in 3:40.11 while at Penn State … Brian Smith of Stanford has a best of 1:50.53.
Recent winners:
2017: Chris Low (Brooks Elite) 1:46.62
2016: Eliud Rutto (Middle Tennessee State), 1:46.24
2015: Boris Berian (Big Bear TC), 1:45.30
2014: Eliud Rutto (Middle Tennessee State), 1:45.37
2013: Brandon Johnson (HIS – Nike), 1:46.47
2012: Prince Mumba (Santa Monica TC), 1:47.04
2011: Prince Mumba (Santa Monica TC), 1:46.96
2010: Casimir Loxsom (Penn State), 1:46.74
2009: Duane Solomon (Charisma Sports), 1:47.36
2008: Andrew Wheating (Oregon), 1:47.82
2007: Lachlan Renshaw (Australia), 1:48.60
2006: Tetlo Emmen (unat.), 1:48.44
2005: Achraf Tadili (Nike), 1:46.59
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8:57 p.m.: Women's 1,500
U.S. Championships qualifying: 4:11.00
World leader: 4:00.71, Caster Semenya (South Africa)
U.S. leader: 4:06.07, Shelby Houlihan
Collegiate leader: 4:10.31, Rhianwedd Price-Werner (Mississippi State)
Stadium record: 4:01.63, Regina Jacobs (U.S.), 2003
Meet record: 4:04.47, Linden Hall (Wolfpack TC), 2016
Stanford record: 4:09.54, Elise Cranny, 2016
Notes: Stanford senior Elise Cranny and sophomore Christina Aragon, each a first-team outdoor All-America in this event, are unleashed in this race. Cranny, the 2016 Pac-12 champion and NCAA runner-up, holds the school record of 4:09.54 … Stanford 800 record-holder Claudia Saunders, a two-time NCAA outdoor runner-up in that event, races here … Nicole Tully has a best of 4:05.89. The former Villanova star raced for the U.S. at the 2015 World Championships … Sara Vaughn was among the feel-good stories of the 2017 season. The mother of three and full-time realtor rallied from ninth to third on the final lap of the 1,500 at the U.S. Championships to make the World Championships team.
Recent winners:
2017: Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal (Norway) 4:10.74
2016: Linden Hall (Wolfpack TC), 4:04.47
2015: Becca Addison (unattached), 4:12.49
2014: Kate Grace (Oiselle), 4:07.35
2013: Treniere Moser (Nike), 4:06.40
2012: Anna Pierce (Nike), 4:07.00
2011: Katie Follett (Brooks), 4:08.95
2010: Jen Barringer (New Balance), 4:08.11
2009: Anna Willard (Nike), 4:06.90
2008: Shannon Rowbury (Nike), 4:07.59
2007: Lindsey Gallo (Reebok) 4:09.60
2006: Yuan Jin (Chinese AA), 4:11.66
2005: Katie Vermeulen (Nike), 4:10.25
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9:06 p.m.: Men's 1,500
U.S. Championships qualifying: 3:39.00
World leader: 3:34.78, Elijah Motonei Manangoi (Kenya)
U.S. leader: 3:36.33, Robert Domanic (Mississippi)
Collegiate leader: 3:35.01, Josh Kerr (New Mexico)
Stadium record: 3:34.74, Rachid Ramzi (Bahrain), 2005
Meet record: 3:35.19, Andy Baddeley (New Balance), 2012
Stanford record: 3:35.11, Michael Stember (2000)
Notes: Matthew Centrowitz is the reigning Olympic champion in this event. In 2016, he became the first American to win this event since 1908 … Paul Chelimo, running for the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, captured silver in the 2016 Olympics and bronze in the 2017 World Championships in the 5,000. Chelimo continues to be on top of his game, winning the U.S. indoor title this year in the 3,000 … Stanford junior Grant Fisher is the reigning Pac-12 1,500 and NCAA outdoor 5,000 champ. A sub-4 miler in high school, Fisher's best 1,500 is 3:42.85 … Teammate Sean McGorty has a best of 3:40.57 from earlier this year, and has run a 3:53.95 indoor mile … Eric Jenkins captured two NCAA indoor titles while at Oregon …. Former Ole Miss star Craig Engels has a best of 3:35.95 and raced for the U.S. at the 2018 World Indoor Championships … watch for the youngest Ingebrigtsen brother, 17-year-old Jakob, in this race.
Recent winners:
2017: Eric Jenkins (Nike Oregon Project) 3:38.30
2016: Izaic Yorks (Washington), 3:37.74
2015: Chad Noelle (Oklahoma State), 3:38.35
2014: Riley Masters (Brooks Beast), 3:38.42
2013: Chris O'Hare (unattached), 3:38.48
2012: Andy Baddeley (New Balance), 3:35.19
2011: Ben Blankenship (unat.), 3:39.49
2010: Dylan Ferris (Stanford), 3:40.07
2009: Matthew Centrowitz (Oregon), 3:36.92
2008: Kevin Sullivan (Reebok), 3:39.75
2007: Juan Luis Barrios (Mexico), 3:38.71
2006: Aucencio Martinez (unat.), 3:40.92
2005: Donald Sage (Stanford), 3:41.62
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9:14 p.m.: Women's 5,000
U.S. Championships qualifying: 15:25.00
World leader: 15:08.61, Rosemary Monica Wanjiru (Kenya)
U.S. leader: 15:23.21, Karissa Schweizer (Missouri)
Collegiate leader: 15:23.21, Karissa Schweizer (Missouri)
Stadium record: 14:43.11, Sally Kipyego (Kenya), 2012
Meet record: 14:43.11, Sally Kipyego (Kenya), 2012
Stanford record: 15:11.13, Aisling Cuffe, 2014
Notes: Sweden's Meraf Bahta was sixth in the 1,500 at the 2016 Olympic Games. She was the 2014 European champion at this distance and has a best of 14:49.95. She won the 10,000 at last year's Payton Jordan … Boise State's Allie Ostrander is the reigning NCAA steeplechase champ and is the U.S. and collegiate leader in that event … Stanford's Vanessa Fraser has run a lifetime best at her past four Payton Jordan 5,000s. She was seventh at the 2017 U.S. Championships in 15:25.48 and recently ran a 1,500 best of 4:10.63 to win the Cardinal Classic … New Mexico's Ednah Kurgat is the reigning NCAA cross country champion … The collegiate record is 15:07.64, set by Colorado's Jenny Barringer (now Jenny Simpson) at the 2009 Payton Jordan ... Katie Mackey has a best of 15:04.74, run at the 2014 Payton Jordan. She placed eighth in the 3,000 at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships … Italy's Margherita Magnani steps up from her specialty, the 1,500.
Recent winners:
2017: Sifan Hassan (Global Sport) 15:13.15
2016: Sally Kipyego (Nike OTC), 14:58.60
2015: Sally Kipyego (Nike OTC), 14:57.44
2014: Sifan Hassan (Global Sport), 14:59.23
2013: Kim Conley (New Balance), 15:22.07
2012: Sally Kipyego (OTC), 14:43.11
2011: Nicole Sifuentes (Saucony), 15:27.84
2010: Shannon Rowbury (Nike), 15:00.51
2009: Jen Barringer (Colorado), 15:07.64
2008: Emily Brown (unat.), 15:19.57
2007: Renee Metivier Baillie (Nike), 15:27.57
2006: Isabella Ochichi (Kenya), 14:59.79
2005: Marie Davenport (Reebok), 15:32.74
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9:35 p.m.: Men's 5,000
U.S. Championships qualifying: 13:35.00
World leader: 13:19.05, Morgan McDonald (Australia)
U.S. leader: 13:24.77, Evan Jager
Collegiate leader: 13:29.31, Sydney Gidabuday (Adams State)
Stadium record: 13:02.74, Ben True (Saucony), 2014
Meet record: 13:02.74, Ben True (Saucony), 2014
Stanford record: 13:15.33, Ian Dobson, 2005
Notes: Syracuse's Justyn Knight won this race in a duel with Australia's Sam McEntee last year in 13:17.51. It's not out of the question to consider the absolute collegiate record, of 13:08.24, by Arizona's Lawi Lalang indoors in 2012, as a time to beat … Lalang also is in this field … this race features two of Norway's Ingebrigtsen brothers, Henrik and Filip. Henrik, the 2012 European champion and Olympian at 1,500, has a 5,000 best of 13:27.10. Filip was the 2017 World Championships bronze medalist in the 1,500 and the 2016 European champ at that distance, with a 1,500 best of 3:32.43 … Northern Arizona's Andy Trouard won the NCAA indoor 3,000 title in March.
Recent winners:
2017: Justyn Knight (Syracuse) 13:17.51
2016: Shadrack Kipchirchir (U.S. Army WCAP), 13:18.52
2015: Juan Luis Barrios (Nike), 13:15.71
2014: Ben True (Saucony), 13:02.74
2013: Ben True (Saucony), 13:14.44
2012: Lopez Lomong (Nike OTC), 13:11.63
2011: Brandon Bethke (Quiksilver), 13:25.82
2010: Tiidrek Nurme (Estonia), 13:32.74
2009: Alistair Cragg (Adidas), 13:22.36
2008: Bernard Lagat (Nike), 13:16.29
2007: Adrian Blincoe (unat.) 13:27.34
2006: Alejandro Suarez (Mexico), 13:36.76
2005: Abdi Abdirahman (Nike), 13:28.57
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9:53 p.m.: Women's 10,000
U.S. Championships qualifying: 33:00.00
World leader: 31:38.4, Mercyline Chelangat (Uganda)
U.S. leader: 31:55.68, Gwen Jorgensen
Collegiate leader: 32:00.55, Karissa Schweizer (Missouri)
Stadium record: 30:19.38, Werknesh Kidane (Ethiopia), 2005
Meet record: 30:34.49, Shalane Flanagan (Nike), 2008
Stanford record: 32:19.97, Alicia Craig, 2004
Notes: Australia's Madeline Hills has a best of 31:41.10. She earned top-10 finishes in both the steeplechase (seventh) and 5,000 (10th) at the 2016 Olympics … Japan's Mao Ichiyama, 20, bears watching. She has a best of 31:49.01, from this meet last year … former Stanford star Jessica Tonn, an All-America at 5,000, steps up in distance. Now running for Brooks Beasts, she has a 5,000 best of 15:18.85 from the 2015 Payton Jordan.
Recent winners:
2017: Meraf Bahta (Halle IF) 31:13.06
2016: Irene Cheptai (Nike), 31:15.38
2015: Susan Kuijken (Global Sport) 31:31.97
2014: Sally Kipyego (Nike OTC Elite), 30:42.26
2013: Betsy Saina (Iowa State), 31:37.22
2012: Betsy Saina (unat.), 31:15.97
2011: Sally Kipyego (OTC), 30:38.35
2010: Molly Huddle (Saucony), 31:48.59
2009: Rebecca Donaghue (New Balance), 33:08.97
2008: Shalane Flanagan (Nike), 30:34.49
2007: Jen Rhines (unat.), 31:17.31
2006: Dulce Rodriguez (Mexico), 32:19.58
2005: Amy Rudolph (Adidas), 31:18.96
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10:31 p.m.: Men's 10,000
U.S. Championships qualifying: 28:40.00
World leader: 27:19.62, Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda)
U.S. leader: 28:21.37, Lopez Lomong
Collegiate leader: 28:19.07, Vincent Kiprop (Alabama)
Stadium record: 26:59.60, Chris Solinsky (U.S.), 2010
Meet record: 26:59.60, Chris Solinsky (U.S.), 2010
Stanford record: 27:31.38, Chris Derrick, 2012
Notes: Shadrack Kipchirchir placed ninth in this event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, running 27:07.55, which made his the third-fastest American of all-time. Kipchirchir was third in this race last year at 27:32.18 … Abbabiya Simbassa, once a refugee from Ethiopia who settled in the U.S., has a best of 27:45.78, from the 2017 Payton Jordan … Jose Mauricio Gonzalez of Colombia was untested in winning the San Francisco State Distance Carnival in 28:13.49 on March 30, but could make a huge jump … Jose Luis Ostos is a Peruvian Olympian with a best of 27:53.58 from the 2017 Payton Jordan … Northern Arizona's Matthew Baxter and Tyler Day were second and third at the 2017 NCAA cross country championships.
Recent winners:
2017: Patrick Tiernan (Melbourne TC) 27:29.81
2016: Bernard Lagat (Nike), 27:49.35
2015: Andy Vernon (Melbourne TC), 27:42.62
2014: Juan Luis Barrios (Nike), 27:34.40
2013: Ben St. Lawrence (Melbourne TC), 27:37.55
2012: Cam Levins (Southern Utah), 27:27.96
2011: Bedan Karoki (S&B), 27:13.67
2010: Chris Solinsky (Nike/Kimbia), 26:59.60
2009: Tim Nelson (Oregon TC), 27:36.99
2008: Craig Mottram (Melbourne TC), 27:34.48
2007: Galen Rupp (Oregon), 27:33.48
2006: Alan Webb (Nike), 27:34.72
2005: Takayuki Matsumiya (Konica Minolta), 27:50.20
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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.