FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Pole vaulter Kaitlyn Merritt and high jumper Rachel Reichenbach flew to lifetime bests on the way to a pair of second-place finishes for Stanford at the National Relay Championships track and field meet on Saturday at University of Arkansas' John McDonnell Field.
Merritt cleared 14-1 ¼ (4.30 meters), the same as the winning height, to strengthen her hold as the No. 2 performer in Stanford history, behind only reigning Olympic gold medalist Katerina Stefanidi.
Reichenbach cleared 5-10 ½ (1.79m) to place second by 1 inch. Reichebach moved up to No. 5 at Stanford all-time.
Merritt, a redshirt junior and human biology major, exceeded her previous best by half-inch and moved up to No. 17 in Division I this year. She is No. 3 among Pac-12 vaulters going into the conference championships in two weeks. She was second last year.
Merritt opened with a first-try clearance at 13-1 ½ (4.00) and cleared the next height, 13-7 ¼ (4.15m) on her third try. Three cleared the winning height of 14-1 ¼ -- Merritt and Oklahoma's Meagan Gray on their third tries and Victoria Hoggard of Arkansas on her first. That clean effort by Hoggard was enough to give her the victory. All three took three tries at 14-7 ¼ (4.45m) without success.
Saturday marked the third time this outdoor season that Reichenbach has tied or bettered her lifetime best. She opened with first-try clearance at 5-6 ½ (1.69m), but was among only six of the 11 competitors to make that height.
Reichenbach, a fifth-year senior and comparative literature major, cleared 5-8 ½ (1.74m) on her second try and 5-10 ½ on her third. The winner, Kansas freshman Rylee Anderson, was perfect through her winning height of 5-11 ½ (1.82m), which Reichenbach attempted as well.
In the women's triple jump, Stanford sophomore Aria Small was fourth with a wind-aided 43-4 ¼ (13.21m).
In the men's 4x400 relay, Stanford took fifth with a season-best 3:11.29. The team was comprised of Louis Stenmark, Gabriel Navarro, Julian Body, and Harrison Williams.
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National Relay Championships
At University of Arkansas
Saturday's Results
Winners and Stanford
Men
4x400 relay – 1, Baylor 3:07.81; 5, Stanford (Louis Stenmark, Gabriel Navarro, Julian Body, Harrison Williams) 3:11.29.
High jump – 1, Joel Long (Kansas) 6-4 ¾ (1.95m); Trevor Rex (Stanford) NH.
Triple jump – 1, Chengetayi Mapaya (TCU) 55-5 3/4w (16.86m); 9, Fisayo Omilana (Stanford) 46-4 ¼w (14.13m); Keyshawn King (Stanford) Foul.
Women
4x400 relay – 1, Baylor 3:35.71; 9, Stanford (Missy Mongiovi, Ashlan Best, Sarah Walker, Carolyn Wilson) 3:42.79.
High jump – 1, Rylee Anderson (Kansas) 5-11 ½ (1.82m); 2, Rachel Reichenbach (Stanford) 5-10 ½ (1.79m) (PB, No. 5 Stanford AT).
Pole vault – 1, Victoria Hoggard (Arkansas) 14-1 ¼ (4.30m); 2, Kaitlyn Merritt (Stanford) 14-1 ¼ (4.30m) (PB, No. 2 Stanford AT).
Triple jump – 1, Shardia Lawrence (Kansas State) 44-9 1/2w (13.65mw); 4, Aria Small (Stanford) 43-4 ¼w (13.21mw), 42-9 ¾ (13.05m).
Shot put – 1, Meia Gordon (Oklahoma) 52-8 (16.05m); 6, Jaimi Salone (Stanford) 44-9 ½ (13.65m).
