BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Harrison Williams gave Stanford its first NCAA indoor track and field championship in five years by capturing the heptathlon with a school-record performance Saturday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
With Grant Fisher second in the 3,000 meters, Stanford earned five top three-finishes at the two-day meet that ended Saturday.
The Stanford men placed fourth with 30 points, earning their highest finish since 2007 and most points since 2000. The Cardinal women were 12th, with 14 points and placed among the top 20 teams for the sixth consecutive year.
Their 44 combined points were the most for Stanford since 2008.
Williams shattered his own school-record by scoring 6,042 points and became the first Stanford male to win an NCAA multi-events championship. He also gave Stanford its first NCAA indoor victory since the distance medley relay in 2014 and its first individual winner since Elliott Heath won the 3,000 in 2011.
The heptathlon is comprised of seven events over two days – four on the first and three on the second. Williams was sixth going after the first day, but his best events were on the second. Williams took advantage by using his performances in the 60-meter hurdles and pole vault to spring him into first with one event to go.
Williams led by a mere 28 points over Arkansas' Gabe Moore going into the final event, the 1,000. Williams had to finish in front or close behind Moore to win. Williams did more than that, running 2:43.38 to Moore's 2:47.06 to give himself a 67-point final cushion.
His two-year-old school record of 5,970 – set at the same meet and the same venue -- went down. This marked the seventh time that Williams, a fifth-year senior, broke a Stanford multi-events record and third time in the heptathlon.
"What an awesome two days," said Michael Eskind, Stanford's associate head coach who works with Williams. "We knew there were some really talented athletes in the field and we knew it would take seven solid events to be in the mix at the end, and that's absolutely what we got.
"Things started off a little shaky with the 60 and the first two long jumps, but once he got a solid one on the board, he just got on a roll. To end Day One with an awesome high jump (tying a personal best 6-8), when that's been an event that we've battled with for a while, was awesome."
Fisher earned his second runner-up finish of the meet, with teammate Alex Ostberg placing fifth in the 3,000 for his highest NCAA track finish. On Friday, both were part of the Cardinal's DMR team that was second by 0.15. Fisher ran a fast 1,600-meter anchor leg of 3:54.24.
In the 3,000, Fisher and Ostberg were among a front pack of nine that were within a second of each other with 600 to go.
Just before the bell, Fisher inched ahead of Colorado's Joe Klecker into second, but was unable to catch Wisconsin's Morgan McDonald, who won his second race of the meet, in 7:52.85 to Fisher's 7:53.15. Ostberg passed two on the last lap and was timed in 7:55.62.
For Williams, the result was an appropriate reward for the collegiate career that he has had. This was his fifth NCAA top-six finish, with the potential for another during this outdoor season.
"Harrison did such a great job of staying composed and in the moment at all times," Eskind said. "To be the first Stanford male multi-event champion at an NCAA meet is just a testament to all of his hard work and the total team effort that the past five years have been for Harrison at Stanford. From the entire coaching staff to the medical and P.T. staff, and our strength coaches. Everyone has had a hand in this."
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NCAA Championships
At Birmingham CrossPlex
(200-meter track)
Saturday's results
Winners and Stanford competitors
Men
Team scores – 1, Florida 49; 2, Houston 34; 3, LSU 31; 4 (tie), Stanford and Wisconsin, each 30.
5,000 – 1, Morgan McDonald (Wisconsin) 7:52.85; 2, Grant Fisher (Stanford) 7:53.15; 5, Alex Ostberg (Stanford) 7:55.62.
Heptathlon – 1, Harrison Williams (Stanford) 6,042 (PB, school record).
Harrison Williams (event, place, mark, points):
First day: 60 – 8, 7.05, 865; LJ – 3, 24-1 ½ (7.35m), 898; SP – 10, 44-7 (13.59m), 703; HJ – 7, 6-8 (2.03m) (PB), 831. First-day total: 3,297 (PB).
Second day: 60 hurdles – 4, 8.13, 949; PV – 1, 16-11 (5.16m), 960; 1,000 – 5, 2:43.38, 836.
Women
Team scores – 1, Arkansas 62; 2, USC 51; 3, Oregon 32; 12, Stanford 14.
3,000 – 1, Jessica Hull (Oregon) 9:01.14; Fiona O'Keeffe (Stanford) DNS.
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Stanford All-Americans:
Men
First team: Isaiah Brandt-Sims (DMR), Isaac Cortes (DMR), Grant Fisher (3,000, DMR), Alex Ostberg (3,000, DMR), Harrison Williams (heptathlon).
Women
First team: Lena Giger (shot put), Fiona O'Keeffe (5,000).
Second team: Abbie McNulty (5,000).
