FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Three Stanford men advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships through their performances on Wednesday night.
Competing at the NCAA West Prelims at University of Arkansas's John McDonnell Field, pole vaulter Max Manson, and 10,000-meter runners Cole Sprout and Charles Hicks earned passage to Eugene, Oregon, for nationals.
Competing in the first round of the 100 and 200, freshman Udodi Onwuzurike qualified for Friday's finals with the fastest times in both events. Another freshman, John Lester, moved on to the 800 final by 0.01.
In all, 10 Cardinal competed on the first of four days of competition determining qualifiers for Eugene. Overall, 28 Stanford athletes, plus two relay teams will compete with the goal of finishing among the top 12, joining the qualifiers from the NCAA East Prelims in Eugene. Stanford already had qualified Allie Jones in the heptathlon, giving the Cardinal four qualifiers so far.
Manson placed eighth in the pole vault, clearing 17-4 ¼ (5.29m) to earn his first NCAA berth. Manson was perfect over his first four heights. Six cleared 17-8 ¼ (5.39m), but Manson was the only one under that height without a miss. Teammate Garrett Brown, however, was unable to clear his opening height.
In the 10,000, Stanford sent five runners to the starting line. Sprout and Hicks remained in the qualifying zone throughout the race, with Thomas Boyden just outside, and Meika Beaudoin-Rousseau and Nolan Topper remained farther back.
Sprout finished second to Northern Arizona's Abdihamid Nur, running 28:45.90. Hicks was seventh in 28:47.37. Boyden was 13th in 28:57.88, missing qualifying by one place and five seconds.
Onwuzurike was simply spectacular. Shortly after 7 p.m. Central time, Onwuzurike won the fifth heat of the 100 in a wind-aided 10.13.
At 8:45 p.m., Onwuzurike won the first heat of the 200 in 20.13. In both cases, no one in any of the other five heats ran as fast.
In Heat 2 of the 800, Lester closed with a negative split, going 54.80 on the first lap and 54.50 on the second. Lester placed fourth, just out of the three automatic qualifying positions. But once the overall placings were sorted out, Lester's 1:49.29 was just enough for the 24th and final spot.
On Thursday, 11 Cardinal women perform, with NCAA spots to be decided in the hammer, javelin, and 10,000.
Cole Sprout (left), Charles Hicks. Photo by Chuck Aragon.
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Wednesday's Stanford results
NCAA West Prelims
At John McDonnell Field
Men
100 first round – 1, Udodi Onwuzurike (Stanford) 10.13w. (Onwuzurike advances to final).
200 first round – 1, Udodi Onwuzurike (Stanford) 20.13. (Onwuzurike advances to final).
800 first round – 24, John Lester (Stanford) 1:49.29. (Lester advances to final).
10,000 semifinal – 1, Abdihamid Nur (Northern Arizona) 28:45.90; 2, Cole Sprout (Stanford) 28:46.65; 7, Charles Hicks (Stanford) 28:47.37; 13, Thomas Boyden (Stanford) 28:57.88; 38, Meika Beaudoin-Rousseau (Stanford) 29:58.73; 40, Nolan Topper (Stanford) 30:16.89. (Sprout and Hicks advance to NCAA's).
Pole vault – 1, Zach Bradford (Kansas), Clayton Fritsch (Sam Houston), each 17-8 ¼ (5.39m); 8, Max Manson (Stanford) 17-4 ¼ (5.29m); Garrett Brown (Stanford) NH. (Manson advances to NCAA's).
Hammer – 1, Logan Blomquist (Southeast Missouri) 229-4 (69.91m); 22, Max McKhann (Stanford) 206-4 (62.90m).
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Stanford's upcoming schedule
Thursday
8 a.m.: Women's hammer first round – Jordan Fong.
Noon: Women's javelin first round – Virginia Miller.
4 p.m.: Women's 100 hurdles first round – Allie Jones.
4:30 p.m.: Women's pole vault first round – Laurel Wong.
4:30 p.m.: Women's 1,500 first round – Christina Aragon, Julia Heymach, Melissa Tanaka.
5 p.m.: Women's 100 first round – Kennedy Gamble.
5:25 p.m.: Women's 400 first round – Maya Valmon.
5:50 p.m.: Women's 800 first round – Ellie Deligianni.
6:45 p.m.: Women's 200 first round – Kennedy Gamble.
7:10 p.m.: Women's 10,000 semifinal – Grace Connolly.
Friday
11 a.m.: Men's discus first round – Chudi Ikpeazu.
3 p.m.: Men's 4x100 relay quarterfinals – Stanford.
4 p.m.: Men's triple jump first round – Keyshawn King.
4:35 p.m.: Men's 100 quarterfinals -- Udodi Onwuzurike.
5:05 p.m.: Men's 800 quarterfinals -- John Lester.
5:50 p.m.: Men's 200 quarterfinals -- Udodi Onwuzurike.
6:10 p.m.: Men's 5,000 semifinals – Thomas Boyden, Evan Burke, Charles Hicks, Ky Robinson, Cole Sprout.
Saturday
3 p.m.: Women's 4x100 relay quarterfinals – Stanford.
3:15 p.m.: Women's 1,500 quarterfinals.
4:15 p.m.: Women's 100 hurdles quarterfinals.
4:35 p.m.: Women's 100 quarterfinals.
4:50 p.m.: Women's 400 quarterfinals.
5:05 p.m.: Women's 800 quarterfinals.
5:50 p.m.: Women's 200 quarterfinals.
6:10 p.m.: Women's 5,000 semifinals – Lucy Jenks, Audrey Suarez.