STANFORD, Calif. – In the first track and field meet at Cobb Track and Angell Field since the 2019 Prefontaine Classic, Stanford runners made a big splash while sweeping the distance events Friday night at the Stanford Invitational.
Cole Sprout and Charles Hicks, each making their outdoor collegiate debut, seized the men's 5,000 and 10,000 meters, and Ella Donaghu won in her first track race at the 5,000 distance. All three recorded impressive times.
The men's 5,000 was especially spectacular. Unlike past years, the downsized meet had a minimum of pacing, but that didn't stop Sprout and his teammates from fast times. Seven Stanford runners broke 14 minutes, each in a lifetime best. In all, Stanford now has 11 on the roster who have run sub-14.
Sprout took the lead from teammate Devin Hart in final stages and covered the last 400 in 58 seconds on the way to winning in 13:43.92 – making Sprout the No. 5 freshmen mark in school history. Also under 14 were true freshman Thomas Boyden (third, 13:45.38), redshirt freshman Devin Hart (sixth, 13:48.75), DJ Principe (seventh, 13:49.26), true freshman Ky Robinson (eight, Stanford) 13:51.53; Callum Bolger (ninth, 13:54.31), and Evan Burke (11th, 13:58.09). For Robinson, it was a 41-second lifetime best.
Cole Sprout. Photo by John P. Lozano/ISIphotos.com.
Hicks, a redshirt freshman, made his move with a lap to go in the 10,000, only for Hofstra's Alex Masai to go back in front on the backstretch. Hicks re-took the once more, this time kicking to the finish with a final lap of 59 seconds.
Hicks, running his first track 10,000, ran 28:25.29 to climb to No. 6 in Stanford history. Alek Parsons was third in 28:31.45, also a PB and No. 9 all-time at Stanford. Parsons broke his previous best by 25 seconds.
Donaghu, a five-time All-American, pushed the pace in the women's 5,000 and extended her lead throughout, running 15:36.52. True freshman Lucy Jenks took third in 16:06.56 and Grace Connolly, a redshirt freshman, was fifth in 16:14.49.
All 14 Stanford runners in those three races – the men's and women's 5,000 and men's 10,000 – set personal bests.
In the women's javelin, Stanford All-American Virginia Miller tied her all-time best of 162-8 (49.60m) while placing second to UCLA's Ilaria Casarotto (169-8, 51.72m) in a duel of Pac-12 contenders. Miller is No. 7 in school history.
A meet record was set by California's Camryn Rogers in the women's hammer. Rogers also set a Canadian under-23 record of 235-4 (71.73m).
The two-day meet continues on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
Ella Donaghu. Photo by John P. Lozano/ISIphotos.com.
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Men
5,000 – 1, Cole Sprout (Stanford) 13:43.92; 3, Thomas Boyden (Stanford) 13:45.38; 6, Devin Hart (Stanford) 13:48.75; 7, DJ Principe (Stanford) 13:49.26; 8, Ky Robinson (Stanford) 13:51.53; 9, Callum Bolger (Stanford) 13:54.31; 11, Evan Burke (Stanford) 13:58.09.
10,000 – 1, Charles Hicks (Stanford) 28:25.29; 3, Alek Parsons (Stanford) 28:31.45; 8, Meika Beaudoin-Rousseau (Stanford) 29:11.08.
3,000 steeplechase – 1, Julius Diehr (Washington) 8:53.67.
Long jump – 1, Jason Smith (Long Beach State) 25-6 ¼ (7.78m); 3, Allan Hunter (Stanford) 24-1 (7.34m); 11, Kevin Yang (Stanford) 21-4 (6.50m).
Hammer – 1, Trey Knight (USC) 209-11 (64.00m); 6, Max Mckhann (Stanford) 185-5 (56.53m); 10, Mason Mckhann (Stanford) 155-1 (47.27m).
Javelin – 1, Zach Holland (unat.) 231-3 (70.50m); 4, Liam Christensen (Stanford) 189-1 (57.63m).
Women
5,000 – 1, Ella Donaghu (Stanford) 15:36.52; 3, Lucy Jenks (Stanford) 16:06.56; 5, Grace Connolly (Stanford) 16:14.49; 8, Rebecca Story (Stanford) 16:32.83.
3,000 steeplechase – 1, Katie Rainsberger (Washington) 10:00.29.
Pole vault – 1, Makenna Barton (Washington) 13-1 ½ (4.00m); 5, Erika Malaspina (Stanford) 12-1 ½ (3.70m); 9, Laurel Wong (Stanford) 11-1 ¾ (3.40m).
Long jump – 1, Tianna Bartoletta (Team TB) 21-1 ½ (6.44m); 6, Aria Small (Stanford) 18-4 ½ (5.60m); 11, Yinka Braimah (Stanford) 17-2 ¼ (5.24m).
Hammer – 1, Camryn Rogers (Cal) 235-4 (71.73m); 6, Jordan Fong (Stanford) 177-8 (54.17m).
Javelin – 1 Ilaria Casarotto (UCLA) 169-8 (51.72m); 2, Virginia Miller (Stanford) 162-8 (49.60m); 4, Brielle Smith (Stanford) 151-5 (46.16m); 9, Allie Jones (Stanford) 101-1 (30.83m).