FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Ky Robinson put himself in position to defend his NCAA outdoor 5,000-meter title by advancing in that event through the NCAA West Prelims on Friday at John McConnell Field at the University of Arkansas.
Needing to finish among the top five in his heat to qualify automatically to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene on June 5-8, Robinson placed third in 13:50.25 and will be Stanford's only male representative in Oregon.
Robinson was among four Stanford competitors on the final day of men's qualifying, along with freshmen twin distance runners Leo and Lex Young, and senior triple jumper Kevin Yang.
Yang, the 2023 Pac-12 champion, came within 4 ½ inches of qualifying for his first NCAA Championships. Yang placed 13th, one spot from qualifying, with a jump of 51-4 ¼ (15.65m).
Yang fouled on his first two attempts, before hitting his third and final jump. It was aided by a 2.2 meters per second wind, over the allowable 2.0 for record purposes.
The top 12 in each event advance to Eugene. Stanford has a squad of 26 in individual events and plus two in relays in Fayetteville. This is one of two meets in the country, along with another in Lexington, Kentucky, that will determine the NCAA Championships fields of 24 for each event.
Leo Young placed ninth in his heat of the 1,500 and 16th overall, missing advancement by four spots. Young ran a season-best 3:41.84 and was the highest placing American true freshman in the event. His time tied him for No. 5 on Stanford's all-time freshmen list, alongside Marc Olesen, who ran a converted 3:41.84 in 1984.
Lex Young finished 33rd overall in the 5,000, but has the distinction, like his brother in the 1,500, of being the highest-finishing American true freshman in the event.
Robinson will be a four-year NCAA outdoor qualifier. He was sixth in the steeplechase as a freshman, fourth in the 5,000 as a sophomore, and was a double winner (5,000 and 10,000) as a junior.
The Stanford women close out the meet Saturday, with 10 individuals and two relay teams competing.
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NCAA West Prelims
At John McDonnell Field
Stanford results
Men
1,500 – Quarterfinals: 16, Leo Young 3:41.84 (No. 5 frosh).
5,000 – Quarterfinals: 8, Ky Robinson 13:50.25; 33, Lex Young 14:29.07; 42, Leo Young 15:03.37. Robinson advances to NCAA Championships.
Triple jump – 13, Kevin Yang 51-4 ¼w (15.65m).
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Stanford's Schedule (all times Pacific)
Saturday
11 a.m.: Women's discus first round – F1: Brandy Atuatasi, Kaiah Fisher.
3 p.m.: Women's 4x100 relay – H2: Stanford.
3:40 p.m.: Women's 3,000 steeplechase quarterfinals – H3: Riley Stewart.
4 p.m.: Women's triple jump first round – F1: Alaysia Oakes.
5:05 p.m.: Women's 800 quarterfinals – H2: Juliette Whittaker; H3: Roisin Willis.
5:25 p.m.: Women's 400 hurdles quarterfinals – H2: Samantha Thomas.
6:10 p.m.: Women's 5,000 semifinals – Amy Bunnage, Lucy Jenks, Sophia Kennedy.
6:45 p.m.: Women's 4x400 relay – H2: Stanford.
