SAN FRANCISCO – Stanford freshman Riley Stewart, making her collegiate debut, won the women's race at the USF Invitational and highlighted a Stanford team sweep at Golden Gate Park on Saturday morning.
The No. 5 Stanford women placed seven among the top 10 to score 21 points, far ahead of runner-up San Francisco with 87. Stewart pulled away on the last of three 2,000-meter laps over the 6-kilometer (3.73-mile) course that began and ended at Hellman Hollow and looped around the Polo Fields and clocked 20:48.6.
The top five Stanford men – Caleb Boutelle, Robert DiDonato, Nolan Topper, Meika Beaudoin-Rousseau, and Liam Anderson -- ran together and finished side by side, from 12th to 16th place. No. 3 Stanford scored 70 points to edge Cal, which was second with 80.
Stanford rested many of its top runners in the season opener, including cross country All-Americans Charles Hicks and Cole Sprout. Ky Robinson, who raced for Australia at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games on the track during the summer, is getting an extended rest.
For the women, Stewart, Ava Parekh (ninth) and Caroline Wells (10th) were the Cardinal freshmen to make their debuts. Stanford largely ran as a pack, though Lucy Jenks and Audrey DaDamio had a couple of steps on their teammates in the early going.
Stewart finished 10 seconds ahead of Jenks, with Grace Connolly leading a group of five Cardinal from sixth through 10th.
Nolan Topper, Caleb Boutelle, Robert DiDonato, Liam Anderson, Meika Beaudoin-Rousseau. Photo by Brandon Vallance/ISIphotos.com.
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USF Invitational
At Golden Gate Park
Winners and all Stanford
Men (8K, 4.97 miles)
Team leaders – 1, Stanford 70; 2, California 80; 3, San Francisco 101; 4, Saint Mary's 110; 5, Stanislaus State 122.
Individuals – 1, Alex Miley (Santa Clara) 24:56.7; 12, Caleb Boutelle (Stanford) 25:24.9; 13, Robert DiDonato 25:24.9; 14, Nolan Topper (Stanford) 25:24.9; 15, Meika Beaudoin-Rousseau (Stanford) 25:24.9; 16, Liam Anderson (Stanford) 25:25.0; 27, John Lester (Stanford) 25:49.3;
Women (6K, 3.73 miles)
Team leaders – 1, Stanford 21; 2, San Francisco 87; 3, Stanislaus State 104; 4, Santa Clara 109; 5, UC Davis 140.
Individuals – 1, Riley Stewart (Stanford) 20:48.6; 2, Lucy Jenks (Stanford) 20:58.8; 6, Grace Connolly (Stanford) 21:15.6; 7, Audrey DaDamio (Stanford) 21:16.9; 8, Audrey Suarez (Stanford) 21:20.1; 9, Ava Parekh (Stanford) 21:23.6; 10, Caroline Wells (Stanford) 21:33.3; 13, Abi Archer (Stanford) 21:42.9; 17, Lily Flynn (Stanford) 21:58.5; 19, Melissa Tanaka (Stanford) 22:01.3; 26, Imogen Gardiner (Stanford) 22:08.3; 43, Tori Starcher (Stanford) 22:56.3.