FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Stanford's Virginia Miller earned her third NCAA Championships berth, advancing to Eugene in the women's javelin.
Miller, seventh in the NCAA's last year, placed fourth at the NCAA West Prelims on Thursday at University of Arkansas's John McDonnell Field, becoming the second Cardinal woman and fifth Stanford athlete so far to advance to nationals June 8-11 at Hayward Field.
Miller threw 174-0 (53.05 meters) on her third and final attempt to move up six spots, though she would have advanced anyway among the 12 qualifiers in each event. This extends Stanford's streak of having an NCAA qualifier in that event to 11 consecutive seasons.
Most of the events – all women's – were qualifiers for Saturday's final round in Fayetteville, and Stanford did well, advancing athletes in every non-hurdle running event from the 100 to the 1,500.
Kennedy Gamble advanced in both the 100 and 200, setting a lifetime best of 23.62 in the latter. Her 100 time of 11.57 was only 0.04 off her best.
In the 1,500, all three Cardinal among the four heats advanced. Christina Aragon won her heat in 4:20.94. Julia Heymach and Melissa Tanaka raced together in Heat 3, with Heymach placing second (4:17.94) and advancing on place. Tanaka was sixth, missing an automatic qualifying spot by one place, but emerged as qualifier by time, with her 4:19.60 getting her through.
Freshman Maya Valmon was another time qualifier, advancing in the 400 in 54.70 after placing fourth in Heat 2.
In the 800, sophomore Ellie Deligianni took fourth in Heat 1 in 2:05.86 and was the top time qualifier.
Jordan Fong closed her Stanford career with a 16th place finish in the hammer at 199-8 (60.87m). Fong leaves at No. 3 in school history.
The Cardinal men take to the track on Friday with Udodi Onwuzurike featured as the top qualifier for the quarterfinals in the 100 and 200.
Virginia Miller. Photo by Chuck Aragon.
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Stanford's Thursday Results
NCAA West Prelims
At John McDonnell Field
Women
100 first round – 22, Kennedy Gamble (Stanford) 11.57. (Gamble qualifies for quarterfinals).
200 first round – 23, Kennedy Gamble (Stanford) 23.62 (PB). (Gamble qualifies for quarterfinals).
400 first round – 24, Maya Valmon (Stanford) 53.70. (Valmon qualifies for quarterfinals).
800 first round – 10, Ellie Deligianni (Stanford) 2:05.86. (Deligianni qualifies for quarterfinals).
1,500 first round – 4, Julia Heymach (Stanford) 4:17.94; 12, Melissa Tanaka (Stanford0 4:19.20; 21, Christina Aragon (Stanford) 4:20.94. (Heymach, Tanaka, Aragon advance to the quarterfinals.)
10,000 semifinals – 1, Grace Forbes (Rice) 33:35.30; 37, Grace Connolly (Stanford) 35:16.86.
110 hurdles first round – 28, Allie Jones (Stanford) 13.58.
Pole vault – 1, Chloe Wall (Texas Tech) 13-9 ¾ (4.21m); 24, Laurel Wong (Stanford) 12-11 ¾ (3.96m).
Hammer – 1, Camryn Rogers (Cal) 250-10 (76.46m); 16, Jordan Fong (Stanford) 199-8 (60.87m).
Javelin – 1, Ashton Riner (BYU) 187-10 (57.25m); 4, Virginia Miller (Stanford) 174-0 (53.05m). (Miller qualifies for NCAA's).
Laurel Wong. Photo by Chuck Aragon.
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Stanford's schedule
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 – Christina Aragon, Julia Heymach, Melissa Tanaka.
4:35 p.m.: Women's 100 quarterfinals – Kennedy Gamble.
4:50 p.m.: Women's 400 quarterfinals – Maya Valmon.
5:05 p.m.: Women's 800 quarterfinals – Ellie Deligianni.
5:50 p.m.: Women's 200 quarterfinals – Kennedy Gamble.
6:10 p.m.: Women's 5,000 semifinals – Lucy Jenks, Audrey Suarez.