VERONA, Wis. – Competing in the strongest cross country invitational in the country, the Stanford men and women each placed second at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Friday.
Alex Ostberg and Thomas Ratcliffe placed third and fourth, clocking 23:41.4 and 23:41.5 over 8 kilometers (4.97 miles) on the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course. The No. 5 Stanford men scored 133 points and was second only to No. 1 Northern Arizona with 59.
"They had to overcome a little adversity with some minor injuries which required a little time off," said J.J. Clark, Stanford's Franklin P. Johnson Director of Track and Field. "Coach (Ricardo) Santos did a great job managing that entire situation. Everyone is up and running now."
Fiona O'Keeffe was fourth in the women's race in 19:55.4, and led a group of three Cardinal among the top 12. She was followed by Ella Donaghu (sixth, 20:04.7) and Jessica Lawson (12th, 20:11.4) over 6K (3.73 miles). No. 4 Stanford scored 98 points to 62 for No. 1 Arkansas. Second was the best for the Stanford women at this meet in five tries.
Clark said before the meet that this would be a benchmark for his teams, but that not too much emphasis should be placed on the results, especially with the postseason coming. This was Stanford's second meet, and its' next is the Pac-12 Championships on Nov. 1.
"This is not a trial run for NCAAs, but is preparing us for NCAAs," Clark said. "Some teams have already run two or three meets. We are still preparing."
Fiona O'Keeffe. Photo by Aaron Shepley.
O'Keeffe's finish was the highest for a Stanford woman at this meet, bettering Kathy Kroeger's fifth in 2012. It also bettered O'Keeffe's fifth place on this course at Pre-Nationals last year.
O'Keeffe was among the lead pack until eventual winner Alicia Monson of Wisconsin and New Mexico's Weini Kelati broke away about halfway through. The pack strung out, but O'Keeffe maintained her place for the last half of the race.
The last time Donaghu ran this race, in 2017, she placed 120th. Donaghu was sixth in the NCAA outdoor 1,500 this spring, but this was her finest collegiate race in cross country. Also, freshman Abi Archer made her collegiate debut, placing 61st.
"It was good to see how the women flowed together through the race," Clark said. "They all finished well and trusted their training."
Ostberg and Ratcliffe were in the men's lead pack until Iowa State's Edwin Kurgat surged to a commanding lead just before the 6K mark. Ratcliffe was second as the runners headed into the final stretch, but was passed by Wisconsin's Oliver Hoare and then caught at the line by Ostberg.
"It's great to see Alex and Ella run up closer to the potential that we know they have," Clark said. "Their performances, along with Thomas and Fiona, just strengthens our team."
Second place matched the best finish by the Stanford men at this meet, from 2016.
Each race featured six of the nation's top-10 teams and 20 of the top 30.
"Both teams are moving in the right direction," Clark said. "We're in good position as we approach the championship part of our season."
Stanford's Callum Bolger and Alek Parsons. Photo by Aaron Shepley.
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Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational
At Thomas Zimmer Course
Winners and Stanford runners
Men (8K)
Team leaders – 1, Northern Arizona 59; 2, Stanford 133; 3, Tulsa 175; 4, Iowa State 180; 5, UCLA 219.
Individuals – 1, Edwin Kurgat (Iowa State) 23:29.4; 3, Alex Ostberg (Stanford) 23:41.4; 4, Thomas Ratcliffe (Stanford) 23:41.5; 37, Clayton Mendez (Stanford) 24:09.1; 44, Callum Bolger (Stanford) 24:14.5; 45, Alek Parsons (Stanford) 24:15.1; 78, Steven Fahy (Stanford) 24:28.1; 132, Meika Beaudoin-Rousseau (Stanford) 24:50.2.
B Race
Individuals – 7, Joshua Schumacher (Stanford) 24:40.8; 11, DJ Principe (Stanford) 24:46.5; 18, Liam Conway (Stanford) 24:52.8; 77, Andy Monroe (Stanford) 25:50.7.
Women (6K)
Team leaders – 1, Arkansas 62; 2, Stanford 98; 3, North Carolina State 203; 4, Wisconsin 217; 5, Michigan State 219.
Individuals – 1, Alicia Monson (Wisconsin) 19:39.3; 4, Fiona O'Keeffe (Stanford) 19:55.4; 6, Ella Donaghu (Stanford) 20:04.7; 12, Jessica Lawson (Stanford) 20:11.4; 30, Jordan Oakes (Stanford) 20:33.5; 46, Julia Heymach (Stanford) 20:44.1; 61, Abi Archer (Stanford) 20:54.1; DNF, Kristin Fahy (Stanford).
B Race
Individuals – 21, Hannah DeBalsi (Stanford) 21:46.0.
Ella Donaghu. Photo by Aaron Shepley.