BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Aria Small triple-jumped to one of the best marks in Stanford history, and incoming freshman Caitlin Collier was a two-time runner-up, at the U.S. Junior Track and Field Championships for those under-20 over the weekend.
Small, who just completed her freshman year, placed fourth, jumping 42-3 ½ (12.89m). She became the No. 2 freshman in school history, behind only Olympian Erica McLain. She also jumped into the Stanford all-time top-10 performers' list, landing at No. 6.
Small is a dual citizen who was born in Atlanta, raised in Barbados and went to boarding school in Massachusetts. Over the course of the season, she improved by 17 inches from her high school best. She set a personal best on her first attempt of 41-3 ¾ (12.59m) and exceeded that on her decisive third jump.
Small was fourth at the Pac-12 Championships in May and the top freshman.
Collier, a recent graduate of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, was second in the 800 on Saturday in 2:01.66 and came back Sunday to place second in the 1,500 in 4:26.03.
The top two finishers in each event qualify for the IAAF World Under-20 Championships July 10-15 in Tampere, Finland, provided they meet entry standards. Collier has met the standards in both events.
In the 800, Collier dueled Texas A&M's Sammy Watson, the NCAA outdoor champion. Watson edged Collier by 0.2. Collier led after the first lap, in 59.55, and came back to gut out a strong second lap in 1:02.11.
On June 2, Collier had run even faster. Her 2:00.85 at the Music City Distance Carnival is the best by a high school runner this year by more than four seconds and made her the No. 5 prep and No. 7 U.S. junior of all time.
Another incoming freshman, Allie Jones, also excelled at U.S. Juniors, placing third in the heptathlon. Jones, recent graduate of San Marcos High in Santa Barbara, scored 5,098 points, winning the shot put.
Jones was a finalist in two events at the California state championships earlier this month, placing fifth in the 100 hurdles (13.87) and seventh in the long jump (18-5).
U.S. Junior Championships
Friday's results
Women
800 first round – 3, Caitlin Collier (unattached) 2:08.66, (won her heat).
Saturday's results
Women
800 final – 2, Caitlin Collier (unattached) 2:01.66.
Heptathlon (after first day) – 3, Allie Jones (Santa Barbara TC) 3,211.
Sunday's results
Women
1,500 final – 2, Caitlin Collier (unattached) 4:26.03.
Triple jump final – 4, Aria Small (Stanford) 42-3 ½ (12.89m), personal best, No. 6 Stanford all-time, No. 2 Stanford frosh all-time.
Heptathlon (final) – 3, Allie Jones (unattached) 5,098.
Allie Jones, by event (event, place in event, mark, points):
First day: 100 hurdles – 3, 14.10, 964; High jump – 6, 5-3 ¼ (1.61m), 747; Shot put – 1, 38-10 ¼ (11.84m), 651; 200 – 3, 25.42, 849. First day total: 3,211.
Second day: Long jump – 2, 18-7 (5.66m), 747; Javelin – 7, 96-6 (29.42m), 466; 800 – 5, 2:31.49, 674. Total: 5,098.
* * *
The 'Wacky Walk' is a Stanford graduation tradition, with (l. to. r.) Nathaniel Kucera, Patrick Perrier, Steven Fahy, Tai Dinger, and Christian White being pursued by Blair Hurlock.
Card earn degrees
STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford's 127th Commencement took place Sunday and featured an inspiring speech by Sterling K. Brown, Stanford alumnus and award-winning actor.
Twenty-five from the 2017-18 cross country/track and field program received degrees – 19 undergraduates and six graduate students. The Cardinal men earned 10 bachelor's degrees and five master's. The women had nine bachelor's and one master's.
Among those to receive degrees were 12 All-Americans – seven men and five women. They included three master's recipients: distance runners Vanessa Fraser, Tom Coyle, and NCAA 5,000 champion Sean McGorty, all in management science and engineering. In addition, Sam Wharton completed a double major of sociology, and management science and engineering.
* * *
Two for ACE program
STANFORD – Two Stanford track and field athletes have been selected for the Rubenstein-Bing Student-Athlete Civic Engagement Program, a three-week international immersive summer service experience and a joint collaboration between the Stanford and Duke athletic departments.
Rising sophomore discus thrower Jake Koffman leaves Thursday for Vietnam and high jumper and classmate Valerie Przekop heads to India on July 21.
* * *
U.S. auto qualifiers
DES MOINES, Iowa – Ten Cardinal have met automatic qualifying standards for the U.S. Championships, Thursday-Sunday at Drake University. Several others likely will take part because they are close to the standards and the fields in certain events may need to be filled.
Women who have met the standards are: Valarie Allman (discus), Christina Aragon (1,500), Olivia Baker (800, Elise Cranny (1,500), Vanessa Fraser (1,500, 5,000), Lena Giger (shot put), Jenna Gray (javelin), and Mackenzie Little (javelin), though Gray and Little will not compete.
Men who have met the standards are Steven Fahy (3,000 steeplechase) and Harrison Williams (decathlon).