STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford trio of Charles Hicks, Cole Sprout, and Ky Robinson pushed hard for world championship qualifying times in the 10,000 meters at the Payton Jordan Invitational on Friday night.
Though unable to reach their ultimate goal at Cobb Track and Angell Field, they became three of the four fastest at that distance in Stanford history.
Hicks, who placed third, ran the 20th-fastest time in collegiate history. His time of 27:40.16, strengthened his hold on the No. 2 spot in Stanford history and is No. 6 all-time in the Pac-12. Sprout was fourth in 27:42.42 and Robinson sixth in 27:47.11 in their debuts at that distance. They are now Nos. 2-4 in Stanford history and Nos. 6-8 in conference history.
Hicks, the defending Pac-12 10,000 champion, improved upon his best by seven seconds, but his two goal outcomes – Chris Derrick's school record of 27:31.38 and the World Championships standard of 27:28.00 – remain goals.
Behind the goal pace early on, Hicks, Robinson, and Sprout were among those who shared the lead until former Utah State standout Dillon Maggard took the lead with more than two laps to go and reeled off a 59-second final lap to win in 27:37.26.
Stanford record-holder Julia Heymach made her season outdoor debut and ran the year's fastest collegiate time, placing third in the 1,500 in 4:11.00 on Friday night.
Cardinal teammate Christina Aragon placed eighth in 4:12.82, the fifth-fastest collegiate time.
Heymach was running her first 1,500 since she placed sixth at the U.S. Olympic Trials in a Stanford record 4:04.84, a Pac-12 record and the fourth-fastest collegian ever.
Heymach stayed back for the first two laps before moving up to sixth at the bell and into fourth on the penultimate curve. The final 200 was a fight for second, with three runners side by side on the homestretch.
Max McKhann earned his second lifetime best in as many meets, throwing 207-3 (63.17 meters), a two-foot improvement from his previous best of 205-0 (58.63m) from the Beach Invitational on April 15 in Long Beach.
McKhann, who has improved his best by four feet this season, finished second to two-time U.S. champion Alex Young, who broke the meet record with a toss of 246-5 (75.12m). The previous mark was 241-11 (73.75m) by Mark Dry in 2013.
McKhann hit big throw on his third attempt, and teammate James Wright, a freshman, also set a personal best, throwing 168-10 (51.46m).
Stanford's Max Manson jumped 17-5 to capture the men's pole vault, and Kelly Kern jumped a season best 12-9 ½ (3.90m) to edge Cardinal teammate Laurel Wong at the same height.
In the men's 800, John Lester made his move on the backstretch of the final lap and pushed hard over the next 200. In the end, he held off Canadian Stephen Evans to win in 1:48.49, a season best that strengthens his hold as the No. 3 freshman at Stanford all-time.
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Payton Jordan Invitational
At Cobb Track and Angell Field
Winners and all Stanford
Men
100 – 1, Francisco Sanchez (unat.) 11.22.
200 – 1, Michael Ohioze (City Speed SF) 21.84.
400 – 1, Michael Ohioze (City Speed SF) 48.11; 2, Gabriel Navarro (unat.) 49.13.
800 – 1, John Lester (Stanford) 1:48.49 (No. 3 Stanford frosh); 3, Miles Smith (PDC) 1:49.62.
1,500 – 1, Rob Heppenstall (unat.) 3:38.17.
5,000 – Sec. 1: 1, Emil Danielsson (Sparvagen FK) 13:25.62. Sec. 2: 9, Joshua Schumacher (Stanford) 13:49.49 (PB); 11, DJ Principe (Stanford) 13:51.97; 19, Devin Hart (Stanford) 14:16.02.
10,000 – 1, Dillon Maggard (unat.) 27:37.26; 3, Charles Hicks (Stanford) 27:40.16 (PB; No. 2 Stanford AT); 4, Cole Sprout (Stanford) 27:42.42 (PB; No. 3 Stanford AT); 6, Ky Robinson (Stanford) 27:47.11 (PB; No. 4 Stanford AT); 12, Thomas Boyden (Stanford) 28:44.67 (PB); 14, Meika Beaudoin-Rousseau (Stanford) 28:49.22 (PB); 16, Robert DiDonato (Stanford) 29:36.55 (PB).
3,000 steeplechase – 1, Ahmed Jaziri (Eastern Kentucky) 8:24.33.
High jump – 1, James Stevens (Stanford) 6-4 ¾ (1.95m).
Pole vault – 1, Max Manson (Stanford) 17-5 (5.31m); 2, Garrett Brown (16-7 ¼ (5.06m); 3, J.T. Herrscher (Stanford) 16-7 ¼ (5.06m).
Shot put – 1, Garin Gross (Stanford) 45-7 (13.89m); Sam Liokumovich (Stanford), F.
Hammer – 1, Alex Young (unat.) 246-5 (75.12m) (meet record); 2, Max McKhann (Stanford) 207-3 (63.17m) (PB); 3, James Wright (Stanford) 168-10 (51.46m) (PB); 4, Anthony Argyropoulos (Stanford) 159-6 (48.63m).
Women
800 – 1, Susan Ejore (unat.) 2:03.90.
1,500 – 1, Hanna Klein (Nike) 4:07.71; 3, Julia Heymach (Stanford) 4:11.00 (collegiate leader); 8, Christina Aragon (Stanford) 4:12.82.
5,000 – Sec. 1: 1, Vanessa Fraser (Nike Bowerman TC) 15:19.11. Sec. 2: 7, Jessica Lawson (Stanford) 16:19.12.
10,000 – 1, WuGa He (China AA) 31:46.51.
3,000 steeplechase – 1, Annie Rodenfels (BAA) 9:25.48 (meet record; world leader).
High jump – 1, Valerie Przekop (Stanford) 5-3 (1.60m).
Pole vault – 1, Kelly Kern (Stanford) 12-9 ½ (3.90m); 2, Laurel Wong (Stanford) 12-9 ½ (3.90m); 4, Lianne Kistler (Stanford) 11-9 ¾ (3.60m).
Shot put – 1, Kaiah Fisher (Stanford) 44-8 ¼ (13.62m); 2, Brandy Atuatasi (Stanford) 43-0 ½ (13.12m); 3, Allie Jones (Stanford) 40-11 ½ (12.48m).
Discus – 1, Brandy Atuatasi (Stanford) 155-2 (47.30m); 2, Kaiah Fisher (Stanford) 155-0 (47.24m).
