SEATTLE – Stanford sophomore Juliette Whittaker assured herself of an individual event at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships with her performance in the 800 meters on Saturday at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational.
On the final day of NCAA qualifying, Whittaker sought to give herself a better chance at being among the nation's top 16 -- the cutoff to qualify for NCAA Indoors -- and did so with a time of 2:00.09 while placing second overall and first among collegians on Dempsey Indoor's 307-meter flat track.
The time was the seventh-fastest for all-sized indoor tracks in collegiate history. Whittaker and teammate Roisin Willis own four of those top seven times. Of greater importance as far as NCAA's are concerned, Whittaker moved up to No. 2 on the NCAA Division I season list.
This season, Whittaker had four shots to reach NCAA's: In the 800, mile, and 4x400 and distance medley relays. She entered the weekend No. 12 in the 800, No. 17 in the mile, No. 5 in the DMR, and not in contention in the 4x400.
She did not attempt to run the mile at Ken Shannon and the top of the DMR list remained the same through the weekend. However, her 800 time of 2:02.67 was on the bubble, though it would have survived the weekend with a No. 14 final ranking.
The final piece of that puzzle was the 4x400. The team of Cydney Wright, Willis, Whittaker, and Maya Valmon gave it a shot. They ran 3:31.97 for the No. 2 time in Stanford indoor history while placing second. Ultimately, it wasn't enough to get to the NCAA's, and the Cardinal sits at No. 17, with the top 12 advancing for nationals in relays. Stanford would have needed to run faster than 3:29.94 to advance.
Whittaker was under the meet and facility records, with pro Nia Akins winning the race in 1:58.27 and taking those honors.
The official list of those to advance to the NCAA Indoor Championships will be released Tuesday. However, seven Cardinal are in position to qualify in individual events, plus one relay.
Men in qualifying position: Garrett Brown (No. 7, pole vault) and Ky Robinson (No. 1, 3,000; No. 3, 5,000).
Women in qualifying position: Amy Bunnage (No. 3, 5,000), Lucy Jenks (No. 15, 5,000), Alyssa Jones (No. 12, high jump; No. 7, long jump; No. 15, pentathlon), Whittaker (No. 2, 800), Willis (No. 8, 800), and the DMR (No. 5). Stanford's team that ran the fastest DMR time was Jenks, Taylor James, Willis, and Whittaker.
If the DMR team is unchanged, Stanford would be represented by eight individuals altogether.
Among Saturday's highlights for Stanford were two Cardinal running sub-4 miles. Cole Sprout ran 3:58.87 for fourth and Thomas Boyden ran 3:59.27 for sixth. Both were season bests, though Sprout and Boyden have faster times from 2023. However, these were encouraging times as Sprout and Boyden round into elite shape. Boyden in particular has improved greatly since his 4:12.23 in his opening race a month ago.
Leo Young placed 12th in 4:02.57, which puts him fifth on the all-time Stanford freshmen list.
Pac-12 triple jump champion Kevin Yang set an indoor personal best, jumping 50-9 ½ (15.47m) to strengthen his spot at No. 6 in Stanford indoor history.
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Saturday's results
Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational
At Dempsey Indoor
307-meter flat track
Winners and all Stanford results
Men
Mile – 1, Miguel Coca (Adams State) 3:56.38; 4, Cole Sprout (Stanford) 3:58.87; 6, Thomas Boyden (Stanford) 3:59.27; 12, Leo Young (Stanford) 4:02.57 (No. 5 Stanford frosh); 14, Lex Young (Stanford) 4:03.12; 27, Nolan Topper (Stanford) 4:08.32; 41, Caleb Boutelle (Stanford) 4:13.55; 49, Galen Topper (Stanford) 4:35.02.
High jump – 1, Elias Gerald (USC) 7-0 ½ (2.15m); 6, James Stevens (Stanford) 6-6 ¾ (2.00m).
Triple jump – 1, Kunle Akinlosotu (Washington) 50-10 (15.49m); 2, Kevin Yang (Stanford) 50-9 ½ (15.47m) (No. 6 Stanford AT).
Shot put – 1, Brandon Lloyd (Arizona State) 62-1 (18.92m); 10, Garin Gross (Stanford) 48-6 (14.78m).
Women
400 – 1, Abbey Glynn (Colorado) 52.03; 15, Samantha Thomas (Stanford) 55.97; 16, Sage Hinton (Stanford) 56.01; 20, Camille Peisner (Stanford) 56.91.
800 – 1, Nia Akins (Brooks Beasts) 1:58.27; 2, Juliette Whittaker (Stanford) 2:00.09; 11, Taylor James (Stanford) 2:06.67; 16, Cate Peters (Stanford) 2:09.25; 18, Amelia Everett (Stanford) 2:09.50; 26, Madison Shults (Stanford) 2:12.56; 27, Hillary Studdert (Stanford) 2:13.65.
Mile – 1, Gracie Hyde (Adams State) 4:30.90; 16, Riley Stewart (Stanford) 4:50.74; 17, Nicola Hogg (Stanford) 4:52.08; 26, Hillary Studdert (Stanford) 4:58.51.
4x400 relay – 1, Oregon 3:30.25; 2, Stanford (Cydney Wright, Roisin Willis, Juliette Whittaker, Maya Valmon) 3:31.97 (No. 2 Stanford AT).
High jump – Alyssa Jones (Stanford) NH.
Triple jump – 1, Ryan Porter (Oregon) 42-8 ¼ (13.01m); 3, Alaysia Oakes (Stanford) 40-11 ½ (12.48m).
Shot put – 1, Jaida Ross (Oregon) 60-4 (18.39m); 7, Kaiah Fisher (Stanford) 46-4 ¼ (14.13m); 9, Brandy Atuatasi (Stanford) 43-10 ½ (13.37m).
