STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford track and field delivered multiple strong performances in the program's busiest weekend of the indoor season, competing in three meets across the country — the Don Kirby Elite Invitational, Husky Classic, and Tyson Invitational.
Stanford's distance group collected a majority of the weekend's marquee moments in Seattle, with several Cardinal runners setting new personal bests. Hanne Thomsen captured the lone victory for Stanford in her 5000m collegiate debut, clocking a 15.52.87 to pace the field. Meanwhile, Sophia Kennedy shaved two seconds off her personal best in the invitational section, running a 15:07.90 to cement her No. 2 ranking in the Stanford Indoor Top 10.
Freshman Evan Noonan made history in the men's mile, becoming the first freshman in program history to break four minutes indoors with a 3:59.29. Noonan joins Gabe Jennings (1998) to accomplish the feat in any condition. In the women's mile, Julia Flynn broke into the program ranks with a runner-up 4:35.60, moving to No. 9 in the Stanford Top 10 list.
James Dargan made the largest improvement among Stanford competitors with an 11-second PR in the men's 3000m, finishing fourth in the men's 3000m to climb to sixth in program history. It is Dargan's second time breaking into the Top 10 list, previously entering the ranks in the mile (3:58.35).
Leo Young set a pair of career-bests in the mile invite (3:56.17) and the 800m (1:49.81), moving to No. 3 and No. 9 in the Stanford Top 10, respectively. The women’s distance medley relay of Juliette Whittaker, Addie Pendergast, Olivia Cieslak, and Kennedy capped the weekend with a 10:49.28, the third-fastest indoor distance medley relay in school history.
Down in New Mexico, the Cardinal speed and power group impressed in Stanford's final appearance at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Zachary Ryan led the way for Stanford with a 21.24 in the men's 200m, setting a personal-best for the second time this season. The mark moves Ryan to No. 3 on Stanford's all-time indoor list.
Ryce Reynolds followed with a runner-up finish in the 400 meters (46.67), entering at No. 4 in program history after previously posting a top-10 200-meter time last weekend. Sage Hinton highlighted the notable performers on the women's side with a third-place 54.49 in the 400m and a 24.26 showing in the 200m. Meanwhile, Hannah Rutherford finished sixth in the 400 (54.81), and Sariah Doresca added a top-10 finish with a 7.55 in the 60 meters.
At the Tyson Invitational, it was Stanford's field performers who turned in strong showings in Fayetteville. Alyssa Jones captured her second high jump title of the season, clearing 1.89m to win the championship section of the event. Alaysia Oakes recorded her third personal best of the indoor season, moving to No. 3 in program history with a 13.03m mark in the triple jump, while Xavier Drumgoole finished 10th in the men's championship triple jump at 15.78m.
Stanford returns to the East Coast for the Saucony Battle for Boston on Feb. 22, before gearing up for the postseason with the ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships on Feb. 26-28.
Don Kirby Elite Invitational
Albuquerque, N.M. | Feb. 13-14
Women’s Pole Vault: Sky Schullar - 3.70m (12' 1½")
Men’s Weight Throw: 25. Jack D’Amico - 14.20m (46' 7¼"), 29. Jason Liu - 13.09m (42' 11½")
Women’s Long Jump: 16. Samantha Ennin - 5.89m (19' 4")
Men’s High Jump: 25. Laolu Oguneye - 1.88m (6' 2")
Men’s 200m: 6. Zachary Ryan - 21.24, 55. Joseph Bailey - 22.26, 72. Gabriel Ajaegbu - 23.97
Women’s 200m: 24. Sage Hinton - 24.26, 33. Elena Cooper - 24.51
Men’s 400m: 2. Ryce Reynolds - 46.67, 27. Joseph Bailey - 49.09
Women’s 400m: 3. Sage Hinton - 54.49, 6. Hannah Rutherford - 54.81
Men’s Shot Put: 16. Mason McKhann - 10.21m (33' 6")
Women’s Triple Jump: 25. Arianna Guerrero - 12.06m, 40. Elena Cooper - 11.35m
Women’s 60m Hurdles: 43. Sara Rivas - 9.06
Men’s 60m: 38. Joseph Bailey - 7.21
Women’s 60m: 9. Sariah Doresca - 7.55, 32. Samantha Ennin - 7.67
Husky Classic
Seattle, Wash. | Feb. 13-14
Men’s Weight Throw: 6. Mason McKhann - 17.24m (56' 6¾")
Women’s Weight Throw: 13. Jamie Deines - 15.14m (49' 8¼")
Women’s 3000m: 44. Maya de Brouwer - 9:36.20, 63. Ava Parekh - 9:50.38
Men’s 3000m: 4. James Dargan - 7:44.36, 24. Joshua Bell - 8:02.85, 37. Milo Skapinsky - 8:13.64
Women’s 5000m: 1. Hanne Thomsen - 15:52.87
Men’s 5000m: 25. Callum Sherry - 14.30.91
Women’s 4000 DMR: 4. Whittaker, Pendergast, Cieslak, Kennedy - 10:49.28
Men’s Mile Invite: 5. Leo Young - 3:56.17
Men’s Shot Put: 16. Mason McKhann - 10.21m (33’ 6”)
Women’s 400m: 12. Addie Pendergast - 55.85
Women’s Mile: 2. Julia Flynn - 4:35.60, 13. Hillary Studdert - 4:40.98, 24. Hanne Thomsen - 4:53.95, 43. Nicola Hogg - 4:48.84, 84. Ava Parekh - 4:57.58
Men’s Mile: 4. Evan Noonan - 3:59.29, 9. Zane Bergen - 3:59.96, 22. Joshua Bell - 4:02.26 (PB), 48. Toby Chippendale - 4:08.09
Women’s 800m: 5. Amelia Everett - 2:05.79, 12. Olivia Cieslak - 2:06.63, 15. Clemmie Lilley - 2:07.31
Men’s 800m: 12. Leo Young - 1:49.81, 17. Colin Abrams - 1:50.57
Women’s 5000m Invite: 3. Sophia Kennedy - 15:07.90
Women’s 800m Invite: 3. Juliette Whittaker - 1:59.70
Men’s 4x400 Relay: 2. Abrams, Sherry, Skapinsky, Dargan - 3:24.90, 3. Chippendale, Bergen, Noonan, Young - 3.25.91
Tyson Invitational
Fayetteville, Ark. | Feb. 13-14
Women’s 60m University: 16. Alyssa Jones - 7.42m, 32. Alaysia Oakes - 7.49m
Women’s High Jump Championship: 1. Alyssa Jones - 1.89m (6-2¼)
Women’s Triple Jump University: 9. Alaysia Oakes - 13.03m (42-9)
Men’s Triple Jump Championship: 10. Xavier Drumgoole - 15.78m (51-9¼)