LINCOLN, Neb. – Stanford's Kaitlyn Merritt won the women's pole vault at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational indoor track and field meet on Saturday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Merritt cleared 13-11 (4.24 meters) to break her personal indoor record and strengthen her position as the No. 2 performer in Stanford indoor history, trailing only reigning Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi.
Merritt, a redshirt junior, got off to a rough start, needing three tries to clear her opening height of 12-9 (3.89m), and needed three more at 13-7 (4.14m). With only Merritt and Georgia's Kayla Smith still alive at 13-11, Merritt cleared it on her second try and Smith failed. Merritt had three attempts at a lifetime best of 14-2 (4.32m) before her night ended.
Fifteen around the country had higher marks going into the weekend and only 16 advance to the NCAA Championships, which means Merritt will likely need an even higher clearance to advance to nationals.
Erika Malaspina was third at 13-3 (4.04m), her indoor best. It strengthened her hold at No. 4 on Stanford's all-time indoor list.
Harrison Williams is on pace to break his Stanford heptathlon record, scoring 3,197 points after the first day of the two-day, seven-event competition. His best heptathlon first day was 3,168 on his way to sixth at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships, and a Stanford record 5,970. Williams stands second to Nebraska's Jared Seay, who has 3,244 points, but his best events are ahead of him – the 60 hurdles and pole vault.
Two of Williams' marks were his best-ever in a heptathlon: his 6.95 in the 60 (a lifetime best overall) and 23-5 ¼ (7.14m).
Two Stanford women completed their first collegiate pentathlon's, the five-event single-day indoor competition. Freshman Allie Jones scored 3,585 and sophomore Giana Gayles 3,525, making them Nos. 4 and 7 on Stanford's all-time indoor performers' list.
Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational
Men
Heptathlon (first of two days) – 2, Harrison Williams (Stanford) 3,197.
Harrison Williams (event, place, mark, points): 60 – 1, 6.95, 900; LJ – 3, 23-5 ¼ (7.14m), 847; SP – 1, 44-5- ½ (13.55m), 701; HJ – 3, 6-4 ¼ (1.94m), 749. Total – 3,197.
Women
Pole vault – 1, Kaitlyn Merritt (Stanford) 13-11 (4.24m) (No. 2 Stanford AT); 3, Erika Malaspina (Stanford) 13-3 (4.04m) (No. 4 Stanford AT).
Pentathlon – (places unavailable). Stanford competitors:
Allie Jones (event, place, mark, points): 60 H – 6, 8.71, 971; HJ – 9, 5-1 ¾ (1.57m), 701; SP – 6, 36-0 ¼ (10.98m), 594; LJ – 10, 17-5 ¼ (5.31m), 645; 800 -- 8, 2:31.51, 674. Total -- 3,585 (No. 4 Stanford AT, No. 5 Stanford frosh AT).
Giana Gayles (event, place, mark, points): 60H – 9, 9.28, 852; HJ – 8, 5-3 (1.60m), 736; SP – 1, 40-7 ¾ (12.39m), 687; LJ – 8, 17-5 ½ (5.32m), 648; 800 – 11, 2:37.47, 602. Total – 3,525 (No. 7 Stanford AT).
Stanford's Saturday Schedule (All times Pacific)
7:30 a.m.: Men's heptathlon 60 hurdles (Harrison Williams)
8:15 a.m.: Men's heptathlon pole vault (Harrison Williams)
11:10 a.m.: Men's heptathlon 1,000 (Harrison Williams)
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Giger second at Mountain T's Invite
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Lena Giger put the shot a season best 56-9 ½ (17.30m) to place second at the Mountain T's Invitational at Northern Arizona University's Walkup Skydome. Giger briefly took the lead from Samantha Noennig in the third round, only for the Arizona State thrower to take it back in the fourth with the winning put of 57-5 ½ (17.51m).
Mountain T's Invitational
Women
Shot put – 1, Samantha Noennig (Arizona State) 57-5 ½ (17.51m); 2, Lena Giger (Stanford) 56-9 ¼ (17.30m); 9, Jaimi Salone (Stanford) 41-9 ¾ (12.74m).
Stanford's Saturday Schedule
9 a.m. PT: Men's weight throw (Landon Ellingson, Jake Koffman)
(after men's weight throw): Women's weight throw (Jordan Fong)
