WALNUT, Calif. – Udodi Onwuzurike and Juliette Whittaker won elite invitational events at the Mt. SAC Relays on Saturday at Hilmer Lodge Stadium.
Onwuzurike won the men's 200 meters in 20.14, outdueling Georgia's Matthew Boling, who was second in 20.27. Onwuzurike won a world under-20 title in the 200 and was third outdoors at the NCAA Championships as a freshman last year. But Saturday marked Onwuzurike's first major collegiate invitational victory.
Whittaker's victory was dramatic, coming from behind to win in 2:01.79 with teammate Roisin Willis second in 2:01.97. This was the first collegiate outdoor 800 for each freshman. They are now Nos. 5 and 6 on Stanford's all-time outdoor performers' list.
Willis was third and Whittaker fourth coming off the final turn as leader Kendra Chambers began to fade. Sammy Watson, a pro like Chambers, took the lead decisively and carried a two stride lead on Willis and three on Whittaker with 50 meters to go.
But Whittaker, on the outside, passed Willis and caught Watson with a few meters to spare. Willis continued to fight and caught Watson just before the line.
It was the second victory in as many days for Whittaker, who captured the 1,500 on Friday.
The oldest record in the Stanford books is in the men's 4x100. The time of 39.64 dates back to 1965, from the team of Eric Frische, Dale Rubin, Bob McIntyre, and Larry Questad. But the Stanford team of John Kroeger, Olufemi Cole, Gabriel Navarro, and Onwuzurike came close, running 38.68 to place seventh.
In the women's high jump, freshman Alyssa Jones competed in the elite invitational field and cleared 5-10 (1.78m) to place ninth. It was her highest collegiate outdoor jump and moves her into a tie for No. 6 on Stanford's all-time list.
Juliette Whittaker (left) and Roisin Willis. Photo by Chuck Aragon.
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Mt. SAC Relays
At Hilmer Lodge Stadium
Saturday's results
Winners and all Stanford
Men
200 elite invitational – 1, Udodi Onwuzurike (Stanford) 20.14.
4x100 relay elite invitational – 1, USA 38.53; 7, Stanford (John Kroeger, Olufemi Cole, Gabriel Navarro, Udodi Onwuzurike) 39.68 (No. 2 Stanford AT).
Pole vault elite invitational – 1, Austin Miller (Vaulthouse) 19-0 ¼ (5.80m); 8, Garrett Brown (Stanford) 17-8 ½ (5.40m).
Hammer collegiate – 1, Kegan Schroeter (Cal) 230-4 (70.21m); 5, Max McKhann (Stanford) 217-7 (66.32m) (PB; No. 9 Stanford AT); 21, Anthony Argyropoulos (Stanford) 188-4 (57.41m).
Women
800 elite invitational – 1, Juliette Whittaker (Stanford) 2:01.79 (No. 5 Stanford AT); 2, Roisin Willis (Stanford) 2:01.97 (No. 6 Stanford AT); 14, Anna Tovkach (Stanford) 2:06.85.
4x400 relay elite invitational – 1, USA 3:25.31; 6, Stanford (Cydney Wright, Maya Valmon, Alexa Rossum, Samantha Thomas) 3:33.71.
High jump elite invitational – 1, Vashti Cunningham (Nike/Red Bull) 6-6 (1.98m); 9, Alyssa Jones (Stanford) 5-10 (1.78m) (No. 6 Stanford AT).
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Bryan Clay Invitational
At Cougar Athletic Stadium
Saturday's results
Winners and all Stanford
Men
Shot put – 1, Kellen Tropeck (Charleston, W.Va.) 56-4 ¾ (17.19m); 9, Garin Gross (Stanford) 50-2 ½ (15.30m).
1,500 invitational – 1, Cooper Teare (Nike Bowerman TC) 3:34.96; 108, Gavin Sherry (Stanford) 3:46.61 (PB); 126, Zane Bergen (Stanford) 3:47.60; Ky Robinson (Stanford) DNF.