BOULDER, Colo. – Stanford's Sam Liokumovich accomplished a feat on Saturday that hadn't been done at the school in 12 years – place among the top three in the men's shot put at the Pac-12 Track and Field Championships.
Liokumovich, a graduate student in computer science, was third at 60-1 (18.31 meters). It was the best Stanford placing in that event since Geoffrey Tabor was third in 2021 with a put of 55-5 ½ (16.90m).
Liokumovich hit his best throw in the fifth round. It was his second consecutive meet over 60 feet and the second-best performance of his career.
The Stanford men are seventh through two days. With eight of 21 events completed, the Card men have 20 points and the Cardinal women are fifth with 21 points.
In her first conference championship meet in the 3,000 steeplechase, sophomore Riley Stewart was fifth in 10:59.48 and was Stanford's highest placing woman on Saturday. This was Stanford's best finish in this event since Jordan Oakes was fourth in 2018.
In the men's hammer, Mason McKhann set lifetime bests on two consecutive throws, the final one at 194-0 (59.15m) for 13th place. Anthony Argyropoulos was next at 193-0 (58.84m).
Earning places in Sunday's finals were Roisin Willis in the women's 800 and Cydney Wright in the women's 400.
Wright ran a personal best 52.51 to place second in her heat and advance with the fourth-fastest time. Wright jumped one spot on Stanford's all-time outdoor top-10 list, to No. 4.
Willis, a sophomore, easily won the first heat of the 800, with a time of 2:04.90 and advances to her first conference final.
Sunday's finals will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network. The finals are scheduled to include 38 Stanford athletes – 21 women and 17 men.
Kevin Yang seeks to win back-to-back men's triple jump titles and Ky Robinson hopes to add a 5,000 championship to the 10,000 title he won Friday.
Willis and Juliette Whittaker, each an NCAA indoor 800 champion, are among Stanford's women's favorites. Whittaker won the 2023 Pac-12 title in the 800, and races in the 1,500 final this year. They are expected to combine in the 4x400 relay with Wright and Maya Valmon in what could be a fast race.
Kaiah Fisher. Photo by Kirby Lee/Pac-12
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Pac-12 Championships
At Potts Field
Saturday's results
Winners and Stanford
Men
Team scores (through 8 of 21 events) – 1, Washington 82; 2, California 67; 3, USC 29; 4 (tie), Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, each 26; 7, Stanford 20; 8, Washington State 17; 9, UCLA 11; 10, Arizona State 8.
100 – Prelims: 15, Dylan Davis (Stanford) 10.69; 20, Evan Jackson (Stanford) 11.31.
400 – Prelims: 16, Will Floyd (Stanford) 46.95; 23, Gabriel Ajaegbu (Stanford) 49.75.
3,000 steeplechase -- 1, Joe Waskom (Washington) 9:03.66.
Pole vault -- 1, Skyler Magula (Cal) 17-6 1/4 (5.34m).
Shot put – 1, Jeff Duensing (Cal) 65-0 ¾ (19.83m); 3, Sam Liokumovich (Stanford) 60-1 (18.31m); 11, Garin Gross (Stanford) 45-8 (13.92m).
Hammer – 1, Rowan Hamilton (Cal) 251-1 (76.53m); 13, Mason McKhann (Stanford) 194-0 (59.15m) (PB); 14, Anthony Argyropoulos (Stanford) 193-0 (58.84m).
Women
Team scores (through 8 of 21 events) – 1, Oregon 65; 2, UCLA 56; 3, Colorado 53; 4, Arizona 42; 5, Stanford 21; 6, Washington State 20; 7, Oregon State 15; 8, USC 14; 9, Washington 13; 10, Utah 7; 11, California 6.
100 – Prelims: 13, Alyssa Jones (Stanford) 11.59; 16, Teagan Zwaanstra (Stanford) 11.68w; Alaysia Oakes (Stanford) DNF.
400 – Prelims: 4, Cydney Wright (Stanford) 52.51Q (PB; No. 4 Stanford AT); 12, Maya Valmon (Stanford) 54.13; 17, Cate Peters (Stanford) 56.36.
800 – Prelims: 3, Roisin Willis (Stanford) 2:04.90Q; 11, Taylor James (Stanford) 2:07.13; 16, Madison Shults (Stanford) 2:08.92; 17, Amelia Everett (Stanford) 2:08.92.
100 hurdles – Prelims: 11, Tess Stapleton (Stanford) 13.71.
3,000 steeplechase – 1, Mia Kane (UCLA) 10:19.81; 5, Riley Stewart (Stanford) 10:59.48.
High jump -- 1, Emma Gates (Arizona) 6-2 (1.88m).
Shot put – 1, Jaida Ross (Oregon) 62-4 ½ (19.01m); 11, Kaiah Fisher (Stanford) 45-10 ¾ (13.99m).
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Stanford's Schedule (all times Pacific)
Sunday
10 a.m.: Women's discus final – Fl. 1: Brandy Atuatasi, Kaiah Fisher.
10:10 a.m.: Women's triple jump final – Alaysia Oakes.
10:15 a.m.: Men's triple jump final – Kevin Yang.
11 a.m.: Women's pole vault final -- Kelly Kern, Lianne Kistler, Sky Schuller.
Noon: Women's 4x100 relay final – Stanford (Cydney Wright, Tess Stapleton, Teagan Zwaanstra, Alyssa Jones).
12:10 p.m.: Men's 4x100 relay final – Stanford (Evan Jackson, Will Floyd, Dylan Davis, Olufemi Cole).
12:15 p.m.: Men's high jump final – James Stevens.
12:20 p.m.: Women's 1,500 final – Zofia Dudek, Julia Flynn, Lucy Jenks, Juliette Whittaker.
12:30 p.m.: Men's 1,500 final – Thomas Boyden, Leo Young.
12:45 p.m.: Men's discus final – Fl. 1: Garin Gross, Sam Liokumovich, Mason McKhann.
12:55 p.m.: Women's 400 final – Cydney Wright.
1:15 p.m.: Women's 800 final – Roisin Willis.
1:45 p.m.: Women's 200 final – Cydney Wright.
2 p.m.: Women's 5,000 final -- Amy Bunnage, Grace Connolly, Audrey DaDamio, Zofia Dudek, Lucy Jenks, Sophia Kennedy, Caroline Wells.
2:25 p.m.: Men's 5,000 final -- Thomas Boyden, Robert DiDonato, Ky Robinson, Callum Sherry, Nolan Topper, Leo Young, Lex Young.
2:55 p.m.: Women's 4x400 relay final – Stanford (Cydney Wright, Roisin Willis, Maya Valmon, Juliette Whittaker).
3:10 p.m.: Men's 4x400 relay final – Stanford (Will Floyd, Dylan Davis, Gabriel Ajaegbu, Evan Jackson).