Tuesday, July 07, 2015

Stanford Season Review

Andrew Rondema. Photo by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com.
Andrew Rondema. Photo by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com.
Season Review: Track and Field
Courtesy: Stanford Athletics
Release: 07/07/2015
STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford men had three scorers at the NCAA Championships. Two were freshmen in eligibility and one was a sophomore.

The Cardinal women crowned 10 All-Americans during the outdoor season. Of those, five were freshmen in eligibility, two were sophomores, and all but one returns.

For Chris Miltenberg, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of Track and Field, three seasons leading the program are beginning to pay big dividends for Stanford track and field. In those three seasons, the Stanford men have gone from not scoring a point, to finishing 32nd, to finishing 16th.

Top-16 finishes by both the men and women (who were 13th), marked the first time had happened for the Cardinal since 2011. Considering its talented youth and Stanford seemed primed to continue its upward trend.

“I think of all the guys at home that were just on the cusp of being at NCAA’s that are freshmen and sophomores,” Miltenberg said after the final day of the NCAA’s. “It’s a sign of what’s to come.”

And what is to come? These Cardinal provided a glimpse:

•    True freshman Harrison Williams twice broke the school record in the decathlon and finished fourth at the NCAA Championships with 7,806 points, the second-highest ever for an American under 20 years old.

•    Elise Cranny broke the American junior record for the indoor 3,000 while finishing second at NCAA’s. This highlighted a year in which she was the top freshman at the NCAA cross country championships and the first true freshman since 2011 to reach the women’s NCAA outdoor 1,500 final.

•    In his first collegiate track race, redshirt freshman Sean McGorty broke four minutes in the mile, becoming the 14th in Stanford history to run sub-4. McGorty went on to earn first-team All-America honors outdoors by placing eighth in the NCAA 5,000.

Even with the success of its younger athletes, Stanford veterans provided two of the biggest highlights: senior Brianna Bain won her fourth consecutive Pac-12 women’s javelin title and junior Claudia Saunders earned her second consecutive NCAA outdoor runner-up finish in the 800 while setting a school record of 2:00.63.

Senior Darian Brooks, who has another year of eligibility, repeated as Pac-12 men’s triple jump champion and Jessica Tonn earned back-to-back conference 10,000 championships.

Tonn would finish third in the NCAA outdoor 5,000, and was the fastest collegian all season, clocking 15:18.85. The time, run at Stanford’s Payton Jordan Invitational, made her the seventh-fastest American collegian ever.

The losses of Tonn and fellow fifth-year senior Erik Olson, a five-time All-American, will be felt in the program. Both spent two years under the previous coaching staff and embraced the training set forth by Miltenberg, who arrived in the fall of 2012.

“I could not be more appreciative of everything they’ve done -- Erik and Jess fully buying into what we’ve been trying to change here and what we were going to bring," Miltenberg said.
"That's the reason all these young athletes are doing so well. Sean McGorty is not as successful as he’s been, if not for Erik Olson. The same for Vanessa Fraser because of Jess Tonn. They set the tone for the rest of the program too. Their effect is not going to be felt until after they’re gone.”

The Stanford men have the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, according to one rating, and that’s another indication of the progress that the program has been showing.

“To get people into the NCAA’s and to get on the podium is a multi-year process,” Miltenberg said.

Saunders embodied Miltenberg’s philosophy – the emphasis on patience combined with aggression. Stanford athletes learn to compete, and that’s what made the junior so successful in her NCAA race.

“Going into it, I told Coach Milt I wanted to run a super gutsy aggressive race," Saunders said afterward. “If I get fifth or eighth, I know I’m going to be happy with that because I know I’m going to run the kind of race where I did everything possible.”

Given the tools to do so, she did. And, like her talented teammates, Saunders is looking forward to the future of Stanford track and field.
* * *
Honors earned in 2015 by the Stanford track and field team and individuals:

Team
Outdoor
First twin top-16 finishes since 2011
Combined 30 men’s and women’s NCAA points is 12th overall and 3rd in Pac-12
20th consecutive year with at least one top-20 team finish
25th consecutive year with at least one top-5 individual finish

Men
Outdoor
16th in NCAA (12 points)
9th in Pac-12 (64.5 points)
Has not been beaten by Cal at NCAA’s for 19th consecutive year (18-0-1)
Indoor
6th in MPSF (61.5 points)

Women
Outdoor
13th in NCAA (18 points)
3rd in Pac-12 (87 points)
Big Meet winner
Finished ahead of Cal at NCAA’s for 8th consecutive year
Penn Relays 4x1500 winner
Indoor
8th in NCAA (20 points)
5th in MPSF (52 points)

Individuals

Men

Marco Bertolotti
Indoor
Capital One T&F/CC Academic All-America first team
Capital One T&F/CC Academic All-District 8 first team
MPSF All-Academic team

Daniel Brady
Outdoor
Big Meet 4x400 relay winner
2nd at Canadian jr. nationals (400 IH)
Canadian Pan Am Junior team
400 IH No. 2 frosh all-time Stanford (52.94)

Isaiah Brandt-Sims
Outdoor
Big Meet 100 winner
Big Meet 200 winner
100 No. 6 all-time Stanford (10.53)
200 No. 4 all-time Stanford (20.93)
100 No. 3 frosh all-time Stanford (10.53)
200 No. 1 frosh all-time Stanford (20.93)

Justin Brinkley
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic first team

Darian Brooks
Indoor
All-America second team (12th in triple jump at NCAAs)
MPSF triple jump champion
Triple jump No. 1 all-time Stanford (52-2 ¾)
Outdoor
Pac-12 triple jump champion
Big Meet triple jump winner

Nick Budincich
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team

Scott Buttinger
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Big Meet 4x400 relay winner

Thomas Coyle
Indoor
All-America second team (10th in distance medley relay at NCAA’s)
MPSF All-Academic team
MPSF mile third place
440th American to break 4 minutes
DMR No. 5 all-time Stanford (9:29.34)
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team

Will Drinkwater
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team

Dalton Duvio
Indoor
Pole vault No. 6 all-time Stanford (17-0)

Dylan Duvio
Outdoor
All-America first team (3rd in pole vault at NCAA’s)
9th in pole vault at U.S. Championships
Pole vault No. 2 all-time Stanford (18-2 ½)

Dan Emery
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic first team

Steven Fahy
Outdoor
U.S. junior 1,500 runner-up
U.S. Pan Am Junior team

Patrick Gibson
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention

Jack Keelan
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
3,000 No. 8 all-time Stanford (7:54.62)
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team

Charles Kerr
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Javelin No. 7 all-time Stanford (202-2)

Luke Lefebure
Indoor
All-America second team (10th in distance medley relay at NCAA’s)
MPSF All-Academic team
DMR No. 5 all-time Stanford (9:29.34)
Outdoor
Pac-12 Men’s T&F Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Capital One T&F/CC Academic All-District 8 first team
Capital One T&F/CC Academic All-America first team
Pac-12 All-Academic first team
Big Meet 4x400 relay winner

Sean McGorty
Indoor
All-America second team (10th in distance medley relay at NCAA’s)
MPSF All-Academic team
Ran sub-4 mile in first collegiate track race
426th American to break 4 minutes
3,000 No. 10 all-time Stanford (7:54.68)
DMR No. 5 all-time Stanford (9:29.34)
Outdoor
All-America first team (8th in 5,000 at NCAA’s)
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
25th in 1,500 at U.S. Championships

Tristen Newman
Outdoor
Shot put No. 3 frosh (56-11 ½)
Hammer No. 5 frosh all-time Stanford (168-9)

Erik Olson
Indoor
All-America second team (11th in 3,000 at NCAA’s)
MPSF 3,000 runner-up
Outdoor
All-America second team (9th in 5,000 at NCAA’s)
19th in 5,000 at U.S. Championships
Pac-12 10,000 runner-up

Andrew Rondema
Outdoor
Big Meet javelin winner
Javelin No. 5 all-time Stanford (217-8)

Jackson Shumway
Indoor
All-America second team (10th in distance medley relay at NCAA’s)
MPSF All-Academic team
400 No. 9 all-time Stanford (48.03)
DMR No. 5 all-time Stanford (9:29.34)
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team
Pac-12 400 hurdles runner-up
Big Meet 400 hurdles winner
Big Meet 4x400 relay winner
400 hurdles No. 7 all-time Stanford (51.45)

Garrett Starkey
Indoor
Pole vault No. 5 all-time Stanford (17-2 ¾)
Outdoor
Big Meet pole vault winner
Pole vault No. 5 all-time Stanford (17-3)

Garrett Sweatt
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team

Jaak Uudmae
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Big Meet high jump winner
High jump No. 9 all-time Stanford (6-10 ¾)
Pac-12 Men’s Field Athlete of the Week (April 27)

Sam Wharton
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team

Harrison Williams
Indoor
MPSF heptathlon runner-up
60 hurdles No. 6 all-time Stanford (8.19)
Heptathlon No. 2 all-time Stanford (5,539)
Outdoor
All-America first team (4th in decathlon at NCAA’s)
No. 2 all-time U.S. junior decathlon performers’ and performances’ lists (collegiate implements)
U.S. junior decathlon champion for second consecutive year
No. 3 on all-time U.S. junior decathlon performers’ and performances’ lists (jr. implements)
Twice broke Stanford decathlon record
Decathlon No. 1 all-time Stanford (7,806)
400 No. 4 frosh all-time Stanford (47.16)
110 hurdles No. 5 all-time Stanford (14.51)
Pole vault No. 4 all-time Stanford (16-6 ¾)
Decathlon No. 1 frosh all-time Stanford (7,806)
Stanford Athletic Board Block ‘S’ Outstanding Male Freshman
Pac-12 Men’s Track Athlete of the Week  (March 30)

Women

Valarie Allman
Outdoor
All-America first team (5th in discus at NCAA’s)
Highest Stanford NCAA discus finisher since 1986
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
U.S. World University Games team
10th in discus at U.S. Championships
Pac-12 discus champion
Big Meet discus winner
Discus No. 3 all-time Stanford (188-7)
Hammer No. 10 all-time Stanford (180-5)
Stanford Athletic Board Block ‘S’ Outstanding Female Sophomore

Olivia Baker
Indoor
All-America First team (2nd in distance medley relay at NCAA’s)
MPSF 4x400 third place
4x400 No. 3 all-time Stanford (3:36.81)
4x400 No. 7 all-time Stanford (3:38.18)
DMR No. 1 all-time Stanford (10:53.66)
DMR No. 7 all-time Stanford (11:04.99)
Outdoor
All-America second team (9th in 800, 15th in 4x400)
U.S. junior 400 third place
U.S. Pan Am Junior team (4x400)
Pac-12 800 third place
Big Meet 800 winner
Big Meet 4x400 winner
400 No. 6 all-time Stanford (53.28)
800 No. 4 all-time Stanford (2:04.00)
400 No. 1 frosh all-time Stanford (53.28)
800 No. 2 frosh all-time Stanford (2:04.00)

Brianna Bain
Outdoor
Pac-12 javelin champion
Four-time Pac-12 javelin winner
Stanford Athletic Board Conference Female Athlete of the Year

Sophie Chase
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team

Elise Cranny
Indoor
Two-time All-America first team (2nd in 3,000, 2nd in distance medley)
Broke U.S. junior indoor 3,000 record (8:58.88)
No. 10 performer in NCAA indoor championships history in the 3,000
Highest NCAA indoor finish (2nd) in 3,000 by Stanford since 2004
3,000 No. 2 all-time Stanford (8:58.88)
800 No. 6 all-time Stanford 2:07.06)
DMR No. 1 all-time Stanford (10:53.66)
DMR No. 7 all-time Stanford (11:04.99)
3,000 No. 2 frosh all-time Stanford (8:58.88)
Outdoor
All-America second team (10th in 1,500 at NCAA’s)
Penn Relays 4x1,500 winner
First true freshman to reach the NCAA 1,500 final in four years
First Stanford NCAA 1,500 finalist since 2009
1,500 No. 6 all-time Stanford (4:14.05)
1,500 No. 2 frosh all-time Stanford (4:14.05)
Pac-12 Women’s Track Athlete of the Week  (April 27)

Michaela Crunkleton Wilson
Indoor
MPSF 4x400 third place
4x400 No. 3 all-time Stanford (3:36.81)
4x400 No. 7 all-time Stanford (3:38.18)
Outdoor
All-America second team (15th in 4x400 at NCAA’s)
Big Meet 100 winner
Big Meet 4x400 winner

Emma Fisher
Indoor
Capital One T&F/CC Academic All-District 8 first team

Carla Forbes
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Triple jump No. 5 all-time Stanford (41-3 ¾)

Vanessa Fraser
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
MPSF 3,000 runner-up
Outdoor
All-America second team (13th in 5,000 at NCAA’s)
Big Meet 3,000 winner

Gaby Gayles
Indoor
4x400 No. 3 all-time Stanford (3:36.81)
400 No. 5 all-time Stanford (54.31)
Outdoor
All-America second team (15th in 4x400 at NCAA’s)
400 No. 4 frosh all-time Stanford (54.31)

Lena Giger
Outdoor
U.S. junior hammer runner-up
U.S. junior shot put ninth place
U.S. Pan Am Junior team (hammer)
Big Meet hammer winner
Shot put No. 7 all-time Stanford (51-11 ¼)
Hammer No. 6 all-time Stanford (188-3)
Shot put No. 3 all-time Stanford (51-11 ¼)
Hammer No. 1 frosh all-time Stanford (188-3)

Rebecca Hammar
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Big Meet shot put winner
Shot put No. 9 all-time Stanford (50-11)
Discus No. 4 all-time Stanford (182-7)

Danielle Katz
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
Outdoor
Pac-12 steeplechase third place
Big Meet steeplechase winner
Steeplechase No. 8 all-time Stanford (10:23.32)

Marisa Kwiatkowski
Indoor
Broke Philippines indoor triple jump record
Outdoor
U.S. junior triple jump fifth place
Broke Philippines junior outdoor triple jump record
Big Meet long jump winner
Big Meet triple jump winner
Triple jump No. 8 all-time Stanford (41-5 ¼)
Triple jump No. 3 frosh all-time Stanford (41-5 ¼)
Pac-12 Women’s Field Athlete of the Week (May 4)

Anna Laman
Indoor
DMR No. 7 all-time Stanford (11:04.99)

Amber Lewis
Outdoor
Big Meet 100 hurdles winner
Big Meet 400 hurdles winner

Molly McNamara
Stanford Athletic Board Donald Kennedy Award
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team

Rebecca Mehra
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Member of Penn Relays-winning 4x1,500 relay

Claudia Saunders
Indoor
All-America first team (2nd in distance medley relay at NCAA’s)
MPSF All-Academic team
MPSF 4x400 third place
4x400 No. 7 all-time Stanford (3:38.18)
DMR No. 1 all-time Stanford (10:53.66)
DMR No. 7 all-time Stanford (11:04.99)
Outdoor
All-America first team (2nd in 800 at NCAA’s)
Matched her 2014 NCAA  finish, the highest for a Stanford runner
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
27th in 800 at U.S. Championships
Penn Relays 4x1,500 winner
Big Meet 4x400 winner
800 No. 1 all-time Stanford (2:00.63)

Victoria Smith
Outdoor
All-America second team (16th in javelin at NCAA’s)
Big Meet javelin winner
Javelin No. 7 all-time Stanford 156-5)
Fifth at Canadian championships

Jessica Tonn
Indoor
Two-time All-America first team (2nd in distance medley, 5th in 3,000)
MPSF All-Academic team
MPSF mile champion
3,000 No. 5 all-time Stanford (9:01.84)
5,000 No. 5 all-time Stanford (15:47.65)
Mile No. 3 all-time Stanford (4:38.00)
DMR No. 1 all-time Stanford (10:53.66)
Outdoor
All-America first team (3rd in 5,000 at NCAA’s)
Pac-12 Women’s T&F Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Capital One T&F/CC Academic All-District 8 first team
Capital One T&F/CC Academic All-America second team
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
17th in 5,000 at U.S. Championships
No. 1 on collegiate season list in 5,000 (15:18.85)
No. 7 all-time among American collegians
Pac-12 10,000 champion for second consecutive year
Penn Relays 4x1,500 winner
Big Meet 1,500 winner
5,000 No. 2 all-time Stanford (15:18.85)
Stanford Athletic Board Spirit of Stanford Award
Pac-12 Women’s Track Athlete of the Week (May 4)

Malika Waschmann
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
800 No. 8 all-time Stanford (2:07.58)
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention

Kaitlyn Williams
Outdoor
Pac-12 All-Academic second team

Kristyn Williams
Indoor
MPSF All-Academic team
MPSF 4x400 third place
Broke Husky Classic 400 record (53.35)
4x400 No. 3 all-time Stanford (3:36.81)
4x400 No. 7 all-time Stanford (3:38.18)
400 No. 1 all-time Stanford (53.35)
Outdoor
All-America second team (15th in 4x400 at NCAA’s)
Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
Big Meet 200 winner
Big Meet 400 winner
Big Meet 4x400 winner



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