Runners Flock to Stanford Invite

Courtesy: Stanford Athletics
Release: 09/24/2013

Related LinksSign Up For Free Email Updates STANFORD, Calif. – The 40th annual Stanford Invitational cross country meet will be held Saturday at Stanford Golf Course, beginning at 9 a.m. Besides being Stanford’s only home meet this season, it also serves as a showcase for some of the best high school runners in the state.
The college races begin at 9:50 a.m. and are sandwiched among 12 high school races – six each for boys and girls covering five enrollment divisions and seeded races. Also, 33 college teams will be represented.

Overall, there are 14 races, with 3,322 registered runners.

Location: Stanford Golf Course

Entrance: Near the Stanford Red Barn (and No. 2 fairway) at the end of Electioneer Road, at the intersection Fremont Road, just off Campus Drive.

Parking: Free public parking is available at the parking garage on Stock Farm Road, near the intersection of Campus Drive. Also, there is recommended parking at Parking Structure 5, which is on Oak Road and intersects with Stock Farm Road.

Cost:$10 for adults; $5 for youths/seniors.

Bring: Water, sunscreen, a hat, something to sit on, and find a good spot in the shade. Traditionally, there are high temperatures on meet weekend.

Results link: Click here

Meet Schedule:

Time Race Division Distance

9 a.m.: HS boys Div. IV 5K

9:25 a.m.: HS girls Div. IV 5K

9:50 a.m. College men Men’s 8K

10:30 a.m. College women Women’s 6K

11 a.m. HS boys Div. I 5K

11:30 a.m. HS girls Div. I 5K

Noon HS boys Seeded 5K

12:30 p.m. HS girls Seeded 5K

1 p.m. HS boys Div. II 5K

1:30 p.m. HS girls Div. II 5K

2 p.m. HS boys Div. III 5K

2:30 p.m. HS girls Div. III 5K

3 p.m. HS boys Div. V 5K

3:30 p.m. HS girls Div. V 5K

Men’s Preview: This meet will showcase a Stanford team that won the NCAA West Regional last year and was 16th at the NCAA championships. The Cardinal has five of its top seven returning and comes into the meet ranked No. 20. The Cardinal should be led by seniors Erik Olson and Tyler Stutzman, a pair of 2013 track and field All-Americans, and junior Jim Rosa. The meet will serve another purpose for coach Chris Miltenberg, who will evaluate his team’s results to help determine the Cardinal’s top seven for the rest of the season. His entire star-studded freshman class will run unattached, and Miltenberg will determine afterward whom he will redshirt or choose to run this season.

Women’s Preview: Stanford is ranked No. 8 in the country and No. 4 in the Pacific Region. The Cardinal returns its top finisher from its third-place NCAA championship performance of last year, Aisling Cuffe. Also, Jessica Tonn was a 2013 track All-America in the 5,000 meters and returns as well. Stanford’s top five will have a different look without graduated defending Pac-12 champion Kathy Kroeger, the winner of the past three Stanford Invitational races. But a strong freshman class could make an impact and 800-meter stars Justine Fedronic and Amy Weissenbach could score points as well. The University of San Francisco is the only other ranked team in the field, at No. 23.

Meet History: The Stanford men have won their past 18 races at the meet and the Cardinal women have a nine-year winning streak. The meet began in 1974 with a men’s race, and the women’s race began in 1977. Among the men’s winners over the years have been 2012 U.S. cross country champion Chris Derrick, and Olympians such as Ryan Hall, Gabe Jennings, Meb Keflezighi, and Ian Dobson. Past women’s winners have included Regina Jacobs, Ceci Hopp, Sara Bei, and Amy Yoder.



Stanford Cross Country

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Keith Conning: I started announcing the Stanford Invitational in 1999 after the death of Bob Womack. This will be my 15th year.