University of Washington
Stanford Invitational
Distance Dawgs Deliver At Stanford Invitational
April 02, 2016 | Track & Field
Complete Results
PALO ALTO, Calif. – The distance races at the Stanford Invitational annually produce a hefty percentage of the NCAA preliminary qualifiers, with the weather conditions and strong fields adding up to great times. Many of the Husky distance runners were ready to seize the opportunity today at Cobb Track & Angell Field, as Aaron Nelson and Johnathan Stevens put themselves among the NCAA leaders in the 10k and 5k, while four women broke the 4:20 mark in the 1,500-meters.
The first Huskies were on the track before noon today, but it wasn't until after 10 p.m. that Nelson finished up, going under the 29-minute mark in the 10,000-meters for the second time in his career, in just his second 10k on the track, the last coming two years ago at the Stanford Invitational as well.
Nelson had to run by himself for much of the second half of the race, as the lead group of professionals broke away. After leading a chase pack for several laps, Nelson gradually pulled away and ran with a large gap in front and in back, but kept on rolling off the laps, until he finished in 28:53.70, ninth overall and the top collegiate finisher. Nelson is also the first in the NCAA under 29-minutes this season. Fellow senior Tyler King ran with Nelson for much of the early race, and finished with a time of 29:28.15, twelfth out of collegiate competitors.
Sophomore Johnathan Stevens turned in a second straight fantastic performance to start his outdoor season. Last week he ran a 1,500m PR of 3:43.70 which was No. 1 in the NCAA at the time. Today he stepped up to the 5k, and won his heat in a career-best time of 13:57.65. That put Stevens into the all-time Husky top-10 list, at the No. 9 spot, and will certainly qualify him for West Prelims in the 5k now as well as the 1,500m.
In the top three sections of the women's 1,500-meters, four different Huskies went under 4:20, led by sophomore Anna Maxwell who had a PR of 4:17.96 out of the second heat, to break into the Husky top-10 list with the No. 10 mark. In the fast heat, Maddie Meyers opened her outdoor season with a 4:18.57, while sophomore Amy-Eloise Neale clocked a PR of 4:19.29 in the third heat, closing very strong to go from last to third over the final two laps. Senior Baylee Mires broke the 4:20 mark for the first time going 4:19.43, and junior Katie Knight also had a PR of 4:21.35.
For the second week in a row, freshman Charlotte Prouse and sophomore transfer Izzi Batt-Doyle showed a strong connection on the track. At Arizona State, they finished one after the other in the 1,500-meters with 4:22 times. Today it was the same story in the 5,000-meters. Prouse ran a time of 16:03.80 and Batt-Doyle was right behind with a 16:04.79.
In the early 1,500-meter sections, Fred Huxham opened his outdoor season with a 3:49.79 time in the 1,500-meters. Andrew Gardner was second in his section in a time of 3:52.49, and Keith Williams ran 3:54.76.
Emily Hamlin had a season-best of 4:30.86 in the sixth section. The seventh section saw Grace Hodge run a PR of 4:32.12, with Joey Bosserman running 4:33.57 and Kaylee Flanagan getting a five second PR of 4:33.74.
Also getting some work this weekend are the Husky multis group. Josh Gordon had a 110m hurdles PR of 15.29 seconds while C.J. Smith ran in the women's hurdles and posted a 15.02 time. Gordon later went in the long jump, getting a best of 23-1 ¼.
The men's hammer throw went early in the afternoon as well. Sophomore Carey Campbell tossed a new personal best of 175-3 to finish 10th with senior Kyle White throwing 169-9.
The Stanford Invitational continues on Saturday with the Huskies having multiple entries in the 800-meters, 200-meters, and field events.
Players Mentioned
