LONG BEACH, Calif. – With its athletes competing in three track and field meets Friday, Stanford got lifetime bests from two senior hammer throwers to highlight performances from across Los Angeles County.
Jordan Fong and Max McKhann had big days at the Beach Invitational at Cal State Long Beach's Jack Rose Track. Fong threw 198-10 (60.62 meters) to all but assure herself of an NCAA West Regionals qualifying mark.
The throw exceeded her previous best of 193-0 (58.82m) and jumped one spot higher on Stanford's all-time performers' list, to No. 4. Fong was fourth overall and third among collegians in the meet.
She opened with a strong 192-4 (58.63m) and, after a foul, unleashed her new personal record toss. Proving this was no fluke, she nearly equaled the distance on her fifth throw, reaching 198-2 (60.42m).
In the men's hammer, McKhann exceeded his previous best by two feet, throwing 205-0 (62.48m) while placing 14th overall and sixth among collegians. McKhann hit that mark on his third and final attempt.
Stanford competed mainly at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, with a few Cardinal each at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific University and at the Beach Invitational.
Fong and McKhann were among eight Cardinal to earn personal bests Saturday, with Fong's among three women's top-10 list performances. The others were from pole vaulter Laurel Wong and sprinter Kennedy Gamble.
Wong reached 13-7 ¼ (4.15m) for the second time in her past three meets, equaling her best and holding her spot at No. 5 all-time at Stanford. Wong, competing in the collegiate B competition at Mt. SAC, was among three to tie at that height, but took third on the countback.
It was a gritty performance for Wong, who needed two tries at her opening height of 12-7 ½ (3.85m) and three tries at 13-1 ½ (4.00m) and 13-7 ¼.
Gamble edged into a tie for the No. 10 spot in the 100 meters by running 11.53 in the prelims at Mt. SAC. The time bettered a PB of 11.61 that had stood for her since 2018. Though it didn't get her into the final, it did move her into a tie with Brittni Dixon-Smith (2011) on the Stanford list.
Any time Udodi Onwuzurike takes to the track, something exciting can happen. The freshman faced his first major test of the season, in the 200 at Mt. SAC. Onwuzurike placed second in a duel with Micaiah Harris of Texas, the reigning Big 12 outdoor 200 champ. Harris ran 20.31 to Onwuzurike's 20.46, with the competitors aided by a 3.6 meters per second wind.
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Mt. SAC Relays
At Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, Calif.
Friday's results
Winners and all Stanford
Men
100 prelims – 24, Dorien Simon (Stanford) 10.44w.
200 – 1, Micaiah Harris (Texas) 20.31w; 2, Udodi Onwuzurike (Stanford) 20.46w; 42, Dorien Simon (Stanford) 21.71w.
400 – 1, Jonathan Jones (Texas) 45.30; 26, Miles Zoltak (Stanford) 47.09 (PB).
800 – 1, Tim Zepf (Notre Dame) 1:47.46; 19, John Lester (Stanford) 1:50.30.
1,500 – 1, Garrett MacQuiddy (Cal) 3:44.36; 7, Liam Conway (Stanford) 3:50.28; 8, DJ Principe (Stanford) 3:50.61; 9, Michael Vernau (Stanford) 3:50.93 (PB); 10, Joshua Schumacher (Stanford) 3:51.44.
Pole vault – Collegiate A: 1, Luke Winder (WinderUp) 18-4 ½ (5.60m); Max Manson (Stanford) NH. Collegiate B: 1, Ethan Gardner (Air Force) 16-10 ¾ (5.15m); 2, Garrett Brown (Stanford) 16-10 ¾ (5.15m); 5, J.T. Herrscher (Stanford) 16-4 ¾ (5.00m).
Women
100 prelims – 16, Kennedy Gamble (Stanford) 11.53 (PB; No. 10 Stanford AT).
400 – 1, Nicole Yeargin (Hurdle Mechanic) 51.63; 32, Maya Valmon (Stanford) 54.99 (PB).
800 – 1, Valery Tobias (Texas) 2:04.79; 6, Ellie Deligianni (Stanford) 2:06.85.
1,500 – 1, Valery Tobias (Texas) 4:17.09; 4, Lucy Jenks (Stanford) 4:18.85; 7, Melissa Tanaka (Stanford) 4:23.04; 13, Morgan Foster (Stanford) 4:29.65; 18, Lily Flynn (Stanford) 4:33.47.
5,000 – 1, Isabel Van Camp (Arkansas) 15:54.70; 22, Grace Connolly (Stanford) 16:53.69.
400 hurdles – 1, Shana Grebo (Oregon) 56.43; 24, Samantha Thomas (Stanford) 1:01.00.
4x400 relay – 1, Oregon 3:31.96; 10, Stanford 3:45.10.
Pole vault -- Collegiate B: 1, Jaidyn Garrett (South Dakota) 13-7 ¼ (4.15m); 3, Laurel Wong (Stanford) 13-7 ¼ (4.15m) (PB; No. 5 Stanford AT). Collegiate C: 8, Lianne Kistler (Stanford) 12-7 ½ (3.85m).
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Bryan Clay Invitational
At Cougar Athletic Stadium, Azusa, Calif.
Friday's results
Winners and all Stanford
Women
400 – 1, Shereen Vallabouy (Winona State) 53.37; 74, Hannah Wilson (Stanford) 58.91.
Long jump – 1, Aasha Marler (unattached) 20-5 ¼ (6.23m); 8, Teagan Zwaanstra (Stanford) 19-8 (5.99m) (PB).
Shot put – 1, Nikita Maines (Hillsdale) 51-0 (15.54m); 34, Brandy Atuatasi (Stanford) 38-5 ½ (11.72m).
Discus – 1, Princess Kara (Central Arizona) 182-3 (55.57m); 22, Kaiah Fisher (Stanford) 130-8 (39.83m).
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Beach Invitational
At Jack Rose Track, Long Beach, Calif.
Friday's results
Winners and all Stanford
Men
Hammer – 1, Sean Donnelly (adidas) 247-10 (75.55m); 14, Max McKhann (Stanford) 205-0 (62.48m) (PB).
Women
Hammer – 1, Lara Boman (Velaasa) 221-7 (67.55m); 4, Jordan Fong (Stanford) 198-10 (60.62m) (PB; No. 4 Stanford AT).
PB = personal best
AT = all-time
