Stanford Track & Field Opens Season In Seattle

Track & Field Opens Season In Seattle
The Cardinal open its season at the UW Indoor Preview.
Jan. 17, 2010

Seattle, Wash. - The Stanford track and field teams got their season underway at the UW Indoor Preview. The early season meet was a chance for several Cardinal athletes to get some meet experience in the very early-going of the season.

Highlighting the day for Stanford was Katerina Stefanidi in the pole vault. The Stanford sophomore cleared 13-11 ¼ for the NCAA automatic standard. Stefanidi placed third with her collegiate best vault. The vault was also a new Stanford indoor record.

Stanford was well represented in the 60 meters where Griffin Matthew finished second (7.56) and Carissa Levingston placed third (7.58).

The Cardinal women entered two teams in the distance medley relay, placing second and fourth. The team of Victoria Pennings, Levingston, Sarah McCurdy and Madeleine O'Meara finished with a time of 11:44.05, while the team of Matthew, Georgia Griffin, Kristin Reese and Madeline Duhon stopped the clock at 12:05.58.

Kala Stepter made her Stanford debut in the 400 meters, finishing with the second fastest time of the day (57.77).

In the field, Elaine Patten began her freshman season with a mark of 5-4 ¼ in the high jump. The leap was good enough for a tie for ninth.

The Cardinal men fared well in the 60 meters with three qualifying through to the final. Tyrone McGraw led the way, capturing the meet title with a time of 6.87. Just behind McGraw were Daniel Belch who placed second with a time of 6.91 and Ryan Fisicaro who placed fourth with a time of 6.96.

The Cardinal entered four teams in the distance medley relay, giving 16 athletes a chance to get the first race of the year under their belt. Andrew Berberick, Zach Chandy, Justin Marpole-Bird and Riley Sullivan led the way with a time of 9:53.71 to place second. Also competing were teams of JT Sullivan, Spencer Chase, Justin Reed and Tyler Valdes (9:54.98); Tyler Stutzman, Ramsey Chapin, Miles Unterreiner and Amaechi Morton (9:57.24) and Dylan Ferris, Durell Coleman, Ryan Valdes and Benjamin Johnson (10:05.97).

Freshman Jules Sharpe began his Stanford career by tying for the best mark of the day in the high jump with a clearance of 6-11.

In the pole vault, Casey Roche tied for third with a vault of 16-7 ¼.

The Cardinal will next compete on Saturday, January 23, in a pair of meets. Some athletes will head to Boise, Idaho to compete in the Blue & Orange Classic, while others will head to Albuquerque, New Mexico to compete in the New Mexico Cherry and Silver Classic.

Courtesy Stanford