EUGENE, Ore. – Virginia Miller used a clutch third throw to earn her second consecutive first-team All-America honor in the women's javelin on Day Two of the four-day NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field on Thursday.
With the day devoted to the women, Stanford had five athletes competing, including three in one event, 1,500 meters. Remarkably, all three advanced to Saturday's final.
And competing in her first NCAA Outdoor Championships, sophomore Ellie Deligianni was eighth in her semifinal of the 800, concluding a collegiate year in which she earned All-America honors in the indoor distance medley relay and moved to No. 6 in the 800 in Stanford outdoor history.
Mired in 23rd place after two rounds and in danger of missing the nine-thrower final, Miller unleashed a throw of 177-7 (54.12m) to move all the way up to seventh place. With no improvements in her final three throws, Miller finished seventh for the second consecutive year.
Julia Heymach (right) and Melissa Tanaka (second from left) advance from the 1,500 semifinals. Photo by David Hicks.
In the 1,500, the top five in each semifinal, plus the next two fastest times, determined the qualifiers for Saturday. In the first semifinal, Christina Aragon controlled a slow race from the front before finishing in second to secure a spot to her fourth 1,500 final, running 4:21.53.
The second semi included Stanford's Julia Heymach and Melissa Tanaka. At the NCAA West Prelims, Tanaka, a graduate transfer from Penn, was a time qualifier, advancing to the NCAA Championships for the first time. On Thursday, she advanced on time again, by 0.03 for the final qualifying spot.
Heymach looked very much in control in placing second in 4:13.45. Tanaka, however, was in a battle. Running ninth on the final turn, Tanaka was among a crowd down the stretch. She was passed by two runners in the final 50, but continued to push and passed two others in the final strides, including Alabama's Flomena Asekol at the line, for seventh in the race. That effort made the difference.
The meet continues Friday with men's finals and the first day of the heptathlon with Allie Jones. Udodi Onwuzurike, the first from Stanford to reach an NCAA men's 200 final in 59 years, is among five Cardinal to compete.
Relaxing after qualifying for the 1,500 final: Julia Heymach, Christina Aragon, Melissa Tanaka. Photo by Chuck Aragon.
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NCAA Championships
Thursday's results
Winners and all Stanford
Women
Team scores (6 of 21 events) – 1, Arizona State 18; 2 (tie), Virginia Tech, Nebraska, and Florida, each 14; 30 (tie), Stanford 2.
800 semifinals – 23, Ellie Deligianni (Stanford) 2:07.21.
1,500 semifinals – 2, Julia Heymach (Stanford) 4:13.45; 7, Melissa Tanaka (Stanford) 4:14.43; 14, Christina Aragon (Stanford) 4:21.53 (Heymach, Tanaka, and Aragon qualified for the final).
Javelin final – 1, Ashton Riner (BYU) 191-1 (58.24m); 7, Virginia Miller (Stanford) 177-7 (54.12m).
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Stanford's Schedule
Friday
1 p.m.: Women's heptathlon 100 hurdles – Ht.2: Allie Jones.
2 p.m.: Women's heptathlon high jump – Fl.1: Allie Jones.
4 p.m.: Women's heptathlon shot put – Fl.1: Allie Jones.
6:20 p.m.: Men's triple jump trials and final – Fl.1: Keyshawn King.
7:37 p.m.: Men's 200 final – Udodi Onwuzurike.
7:43 p.m.: Women's heptathlon 200 – Sec.1: Allie Jones.
7:55 p.m.: Men's 5,000 final – Ky Robinson, Cole Sprout.
Saturday
10:30 a.m.: Women's heptathlon long jump – Fl.1: Allie Jones.
11:45 a.m.: Women's heptathlon javelin – Fl.1: Allie Jones.
2:41 p.m.: Women's 1,500 final – Christina Aragon, Julia Heymach, Melissa Tanaka.
4:13 p.m.: Women's heptathlon 800 – Allie Jones.
4:25 p.m.: Women's 5,000 final – Lucy Jenks.