April 27, 2011
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Meet Schedule
Stanford, Calif. - The Stanford track and field teams will host the Payton Jordan Invitational this Sunday, May 1, at Cobb Track and Angell Field. The annual meet is one of the most completive in the United States that often leads to record breaking performances, such as Chris Solinsky breaking the American record in the 10,000 meters last season.
A packed crowd at Cobb Track and Angell Field is expected on Sunday, but for those unable to make it to Stanford, the meet will also be broadcast live by flotrack.com.
The meet will begin at noon with the field events, while the running events begin at 3:45 p.m. The evening distance carnival highlights the meet and is where records seem to go down every year. This year the fields are loaded again and May 1 marks the first day of the Olympic qualifying season where marks can be used towards the 2012 London Games.
In addition to the record run of Solinsky last season where he became the first non-African to run under 27 minutes in the 10K, several other major records have been set at the Payton Jordan Invitational. In 2001, Meb Keflizghi broke the American record in the 10,000 meters. A year later Deena Drossin accomplished the same feat on the women's side. In 2008, Shalane Flannagan lowered the women's 10K record and then in 2009, Stanford's own Chris Derrick, set a new American Junior Record for the 5,000 meters.
This year's meet should be no different as each of the distance events have some of the top college and professional athletes in the nation. Among the highlights will be Shalane Flanagan in the women's 10,000 meters where she is already the American record holder. In the men's 10K, Chris Solinsky will be back to the scene of his record-breaking performance last year. Other top events could be the women's 5,000 meters and the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Among the Stanford competitors, the top section of the 5,000 meters should be one to watch with Chris Derrick, Elliott Heath and Jake Riley each scheduled to compete. Derrick and Riley were All-Americans in the event last year, while Heath has been arguably the hottest collegiate distance runner of 2011, winning the NCAA title in the indoor 3K in March.
On the women's side, Kathy Kroeger is expected to make her 2011 debut in the second section of the 5,000 meters. Kate Niehaus and Stephanie Marcy are also entered in the same heat, giving Stanford the female version of the big three.