SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Stanford sophomore Udodi Onwuzurike continues to prove that his talent goes beyond being one of the best in the country today, but rather is one of the best collegians of all time.
Though the 200 meters is regarded as his best event, Onwuzurike flashed his 100 skill by winning his heat at the NCAA West Prelims in 9.92, the fastest time of the meet and the 11th-fastest time in collegiate history.
Onwuzurike shattered his lifetime best and school record of 10.03 and moved into a tie with UCLA great Ato Boldon for No. 9 on the all-time collegiate list.
The race was among three on the day for Onwuzurike, who also advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 200 by winning his heat. Earlier, he anchored Stanford to a school record in the 4x100 relay, running 39.56 to break the oldest record in Stanford's record books.
Other Cardinal to secure berths Friday for the NCAA meet were Ky Robinson and Charles Hicks in the men's 5,000. The Cardinal men thus will be represented in Austin, Texas, on June 7-10, by five individuals in eight spots: Onwuzurike in the 100 and 200, Hicks and Robinson in both the 5,000 and 10,000, Garrett Brown in the pole vault, and John Kroeger in the long jump.
The women's competition, and the meet, concludes Saturday. The Stanford women have one NCAA qualifier so far, long jumper Alyssa Jones, but the promise of several others.
Olufemi Cole takes the handoff from John Kroeger on the record-setting relay. Photo by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com.
Stanford's previously recognized 4x100 record harkens back to dirt surfaces, yard tracks, half-inch spikes, and stopwatches. The converted mark of 39.61 had lasted since 1965, when the Stanford foursome of Eric Frische, Dale Rubin, Bob McIntyre, and Olympian and NCAA champion Larry Questad ran 39.7, to break the world record for the 440-yard relay at the West Coast Relays in Fresno on the night of May 8. The achievement was verified by five timers with the same time on their watches.
It took 58 years before a Stanford team could match that. It was the team of John Kroeger, Olufemi Cole, Gabriel Navarro, and Onwuzurike that finally did so.
The time placed the Cardinal fifth in their heat and 18th overall – six spots shy of advancing to Austin. Onwuzurike, however, found his own way to Austin with brilliant performances in his individual events.
In the 100, Onwuzurike did not get off to a great start, and trailed for 95 meters of the 100-meter race before edging Texas Tech's Terrence Jones by 0.01. It was typical of Onwuzurike's style in that he can maintain his speed later in races while opponents break down.
In the 200, Onwuzurike won his heat in 20.07, cruising to a big victory. To further illustrate the kind of shape he's in, Onwuzurike won the Pac-12 Championships two weeks ago in a meet record 19.91, moving into a tie for No. 9 among the fastest in collegiate history. He was named Pac-12 Track Athlete of the Year. In the indoor 200, he's No. 7 all-time.
As a freshman, Onwuzurike was third in the 200 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and 10th in the 100. He is much faster now.
Ky Robinson. Photo by David Hicks.
In the 5,000, Stanford qualified men to NCAA's for the 14th consecutive season. Robinson and Hicks finished first and fourth in the first heat with the top-five earning automatic passage to Austin. Robinson took the lead on the third lap and pushed the pace throughout the race, finishing in 13:22.29, his outdoor personal best at Stanford and good for No. 4 in school history.
Hicks held back, running in a five-member chase pack much of the race, and eased to fourth in 13:26.65. Robert DiDonato and Evan Burke also ran the 5,000, but were unable to contend for top-five spots.
Pac-12 champion Kevin Yang was 19th in the triple jump in 50-7 ¼ (15.42m) and Chudi Ikpeazu was 45th in the discus in 168-6 (51.36m). Neither were able to advance.
Though the numbers will be small in Austin for the Stanford men, the chances of scoring high are great, with the likes of Onwuzurike and Robinson – each a top qualifier from the West – as well as NCAA cross country champion Hicks and NCAA indoor first-team All-American pole vaulter Garrett Brown.
The Stanford women close out the West Prelims on Saturday with 12 individuals scheduled to compete, plus both relay teams.
Kevin Yang. Photo by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com.
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NCAA West Prelims
At Hornet Stadium
Friday's results
Winners and all Stanford
Men
100 – 1, Udodi Onwuzurike (Stanford) 9.92 (PB; Stanford record; No. 9 collegian all-time). Onwuzurike advances to NCAA Championships.
200 – 1, Courtney Lindsey (Texas Tech) 19.92w; 3, Udodi Onwuzurike (Stanford) 20.07. Onwuzurike advances to NCAA Championshps.
5,000 – 1, Ky Robinson (Stanford) 13:22.29; 4, Charles Hicks (Stanford) 13:26.65.
4x100 relay – 1, Arizona 38.82; 18, Stanford (John Kroeger, Olufemi Cole, Gabriel Navarro, Udodi Onwuzurike) 39.56 (school record).
Triple jump – 1, Jaydon Hibbert (Arkansas) 55-2 (16.81m); 19, Kevin Yang (Stanford) 50-7 ¼ (15.42m).
Discus – 1, Mykolas Alekna (Cal) 222-3 (67.75m); 45, Chudi Ikpeazu (Stanford) 168-6 (51.36m).
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Stanford's Schedule
Saturday
2:30 p.m.: Women's high jump (top 12) – Fl. 1: Alyssa Jones.
5 p.m.: Women's 4x100 quarterfinals (top 3 + 3) – Ht. 3: Stanford.
5:15 p.m.: Women's 1,500 quarterfinals (top 5 + 2) – Ht. 1: Melissa Tanaka, Juliette Whittaker.
6:50 p.m.: Women's 400 quarterfinals (top 3 + 3) – Ht. 3: Maya Valmon.
7:05 p.m.: Women's 800 quarterfinals (top 3 + 3) – Ht. 1: Taylor James, Roisin Willis.
7:25 p.m.: Women's 400 hurdles quarterfinals (top 3 + 3) – Ht. 2: Samantha Thomas.
7:50 p.m.: Women's 200 quarterfinals (top 3 + 3) – Ht. 2: Alexa Rossum.
8:10 p.m.: Women's 5,000 semifinals (top 5 + 2) – Ht. 1: Riley Stewart; Ht. 2: Grace Connolly, Zofia Dudek, Lucy Jenks.
8:45 p.m.: Women's 4x400 relay quarterfinals (top 3 + 3) – Ht. 3: Stanford.