SAN FRANCISCO – Stanford sophomore Sophia Kennedy earned her first collegiate cross-country victory, winning the USF Invitational at Golden Gate Park on Friday.
Kennedy ran 20:22.2 over 6 kilometers (3.72 miles) to pace Stanford to the team victory, scoring 18 points by placing five among the top seven, including the top three. Zofia Dudek (20:26.4) and Riley Stewart (20:41.0), the winner of the previous two editions, followed Kennedy across the line.
The Stanford men, running as a pack as part of a tempo workout, were fifth with 120 points. Seven of Stanford’s eight runners finished within 0.3 of each other from 25:09.3 to 25:09.6 over 8K (4.97 miles), taking 25th through 31st.
Stanford has opened its season at the USF Invitational 10 times in 14 seasons, including the past four years. Stanford has produced either an individual or team winner every time. It was the third consecutive team and individual victory for the Cardinal women, who have won seven times times overall.
Three freshmen men made their collegiate debuts – Patrick Koon, Joshua Bell, and Paul Bergeron. All finished within 0.1 of each other, with Koon finishing as Stanford’s No. 1 runner.
Kennedy continued her momentum from the track season, in which she placed 11th in the 5,000 at the NCAA Championships in a Stanford freshman outdoor record of 15:33.29. Kennedy’s first collegiate victory of any kind came in the 5,000 at the NCAA West Prelims, the qualifying meet for nationals. She now has won two of her past three collegiate races.
Stanford carried eight of the first nine places through 2K and the top five spots through 4K. Kennedy pulled away from teammate Dudek over the final kilometer to earn the victory.
On Sunday, the team travels to Boulder, Colorado, for two weeks of training before returning for the fall quarter, which begins on Sept. 23.
USF Invitational
At Golden Gate Park
Men (8K, 4.97 miles)
Team leaders – 1, Santa Clara 30; 2, Saint Mary’s 64; 3, Cal 81; 4, UC Davis 87; 5, Stanford 120.
Individuals – 1, Carrick Denker (Cal) 24:16.0; 25, Patrick Koon (Stanford) 25:09.3; 26, Zane Bergen (Stanford) 25:09.4; 27, Joshua Bell (Stanford) 25:09.4; 28, Paul Bergeron (Stanford) 25:09.4; 29, Milo Skapinsky (Stanford) 25:09.5; 30, Robert DiDonato (Stanford) 25:09.5; 31, Nolan Topper (Stanford) 25:09.6; 85, Galen Topper (Stanford) 27:01.5.
Women (6K, 3.72 miles)
Team leaders – 1, Stanford 18; 2, UC Davis 66; 3, Sacramento State 117; 4, Cal 123; 5, Saint Mary’s 126.
Individuals – 1, Sophia Kennedy (Stanford) 20:22.2; 2, Zofia Dudek (Stanford) 20:26.4; 3, Riley Stewart (Stanford) 20:41.0; 5, Julia Flynn (Stanford) 20:46.9; 7, Audrey Suarez (Stanford) 21:00.1; 11, Nicola Hogg (Stanford) 21:31.1; 37, Amelia Everett (Stanford) 22:29.3; Imogen Gardiner (Stanford) DNF; Hillary Studdert (Stanford) DNF.