AUSTIN, Texas – A stunning opening day for Stanford at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships resulted in a 1-2 finish in one race and one of the fastest times in collegiate history in another.
Cardinal teammates Ky Robinson and Charles Hicks emerged from a pack on the final lap of the 10,000 meters to take the top two places Wednesday at Mike A. Myers Stadium. It Stanford's first victory in that event since Brad Hauser and Jason Balkman went 1-2 in 2000 and no other school had done so since. In 1998 and 1999, Stanford swept the top three places.
Udodi Onwuzurike advanced to Friday's finals in the 100 and 200, squeezing into the ninth and final qualifying spot in the former, and absolutely dominating the latter.
In the 200 semifinals, Onwuzurike scorched the track with a time of 19.76 – the third-fastest time in collegiate history.
Needless to say, it was the day's fastest prelim time, a school record, and broke the Pac-12 record of 19.80 set by UCLA's Ato Boldon in 1996. Only Florida State's Walter Dix (19.69, 2007) and Texas Tech's Divine Oduduru (19.73, 2019) ever have run faster in collegiate competition.
Onwuzurike broke his own school record of 19.91, which won the Pac-12 title on May 14. Only a sophomore, Onwuzurike has broken or tied Stanford school records 18 times already.
Udodi Onwuzurike in the 200. Photo by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport.
In the 100, Onwuzurike finished fourth in his heat in 10.04, but it was enough to advance him. He became the first from Stanford to qualify for an NCAA 100 final since 1963 when Larry Questad and Eric Frische reached the final of the 100 yards, which Questad won.
Stanford hasn't had a 200 champion since 1939 when Clyde Jeffrey won the straight 220 yards.
Though only six of 21 events have been scored, Stanford is second in the men's team competition with 18 points, just behind Arkansas' 21.
Stanford has only five men, but with Robinson and Hicks doubling in the 5,000, and with Onwuzurike prepared to do damage in both short sprints, the Cardinal could be in line for a top-five team finish.
Stanford had two field event athletes compete Wednesday. Garrett Brown jumped a season-best 17-10 ½ (5.45m) to place 14th in the pole vault, and John Kroeger, in his first NCAA championship meet, was 24th in the long jump at 22-11 ¾ (7.00m).
John Kroeger. Photo by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport.
Brown opened with first-attempt clearances at 16-4 ¾ (5.00m) and 16-10 ¾ (5.15m), and a second-attempt make at 17-4 ½ (5.30m). He got in trouble at 17-10 ½ (5.45m), requiring three tries before reaching his outdoor personal best. He was unable to clear an absolute PB of 18-4 ½ (5.60m).
As for the 10,000, Hicks was the first Stanford runner to win an NCAA individual cross country title, doing so last fall while Robinson placed 10th. Robinson has had great races as well, placing second in the NCAA indoor 5,000 in 2022, winning the Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational cross country meet last fall, finishing 23rd at the World Cross Country Championships in February, and running 13:11.53 in the 5,000 and 3:55.87 in the mile this past indoor season.
Robinson, a junior from Brisbane, Australia, was more than ready to become an NCAA champion.
Both Robinson and Hicks hung back in a pack of 11 that Oklahoma State's Isai Rodriguez was content to lead. But with the evening temperature at about 90 degrees, with humidity, some top runners started to labor. With two laps remaining, nine remained, with Robinson and Hicks growing more confident as they positioned themselves higher in the pack.
Charles Hicks. Photo by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport.
At the bell, Robinson burst into the lead, and Hicks followed. On the final turn, Hicks closed to within a stride and appeared poised to go around Robinson as they reached the straight. But Robinson instead pulled away and won comfortably with his arms outstretched.
After crossing the finish line, Robinson turned toward his teammate. Hicks embraced Robinson before collapsing to the ground in exhaustion, while Robinson grabbed a water, drank it, and looked to the stands as his thrust his fist into the air.
Robinson's fast final lap was 54.19, while Hicks closed in 55.12. Robinson's final 800 was 1:56.85.
Robinson becomes Stanford's third different 10,000 champion, following Hauser in 1998 and 2000, and Nathan Nutter in 1999.
The Stanford men resume action Friday with finals in the 100, 200, and 5,000. Meanwhile, the Stanford women begin on Thursday and continue Saturday.
Charles Hicks, Ky Robinson. Photo by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport.
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NCAA Outdoor Championships
At Mike A. Myers Stadium
Stanford and other winners
Men
Team leaders (6 of 21 events scored) – 1, Arkansas 21; 2, Stanford 18; 3, Arizona 16; 4, LSU 15; 5 Harvard 13.
100 semifinals – Ht. 3: 4, Udodi Onwuzurike (Stanford) 10.04q (9).
200 semifinals – Ht. 2: 1, Udodi Onwuzurike (Stanford) 19.76Q (PB; Stanford record; Pac-12 record; No. 3 collegiate AT).
10,000 final – 1, Ky Robinson (Stanford) 28:10.96; 2, Charles Hicks (Stanford) 28:12.20.
Pole vault final – 1, Kyle Rademeyer (South Alabama) 18-8 ¼ (5.70m); 14, Garrett Brown (Stanford) 17-10 ½ (5.45m) (No. 5 Stanford AT).
Long jump final – 1, Carey McLeod (Arkansas) 27-1 ¼ (8.26m); 24, John Kroeger (Stanford) 22-11 ¾ (7.00m).
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Stanford's Schedule
Thursday
5:32 p.m. PT (7:32 p.m. CT): Women's 4x100 relay (top 2 + 3) – Ht. 3, Stanford.
7 p.m. PT (9 p.m. CT): Women's long jump prelims and final (top 9) – Fl. 2: Alyssa Jones.
7:14 p.m. PT (9:14 p.m. CT): Women's 800 semifinals (top 2 + 3) – Ht. 2, Taylor James, Roisin Willis.
8:48 p.m. PT (10:48 p.m. CT): Women's 4x400 relays (top 2 +3) – Ht. 3: Stanford.
Friday
6:52 p.m. PT (8:52 p.m. CT): Men's 100 final – Udodi Onwuzurike.
7:37 p.m. PT (9:37 p.m. CT): Men's 200 final – Udodi Onwuzurike.
7:55 p.m. PT (9:55 p.m. CT): Men's 5,000 final – Charles Hicks, Ky Robinson.
Saturday
6:02 p.m. PT (8:02 p.m. CT): Women's 4x100 relay final.
7:14 p.m. PT (9:14 p.m. CT): Women's 800 final.
7:55 p.m. PT (9:55 p.m. CT): Women's 5,000 final.
8:21 p.m. PT (10:21 p.m. CT): Women's 4x400 relay final.