Sunday, April 10, 2016

Stanford Sweeps Big Meet

Jackson Shumway takes the baton from Daniel Brady for the anchor leg of the 4x400. Photo by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com.
Jackson Shumway takes the baton from Daniel Brady for the anchor leg of the 4x400. Photo by Spencer...
Stanford Sweeps Big Meet
Courtesy: David Kiefer
Release: 04/09/2016
BERKELEY, Calif. – In a track and field duel that came down to the final running event, Stanford trounced California in a rainy 4x400-meter relay to earn its first men’s team victory in four years and sweep the 122nd Big Meet at Edwards Stadium on Saturday.

Stanford rallied from a 15-point deficit over the final four events by shutting out Cal in three of them to win, 86-77. Meanwhile, the Cardinal women led from start to finish to rout Cal, 114-48, and earn their fifth victory in six years.

“It takes a while when you get to Stanford to understand how big of a deal this meet really is, its’ history and how much it means to our alumni,” said Chris Miltenberg, Stanford’s Franklin P. Johnson Director of Track and Field. “This is great. It was a complete team effort across the board. It’s really exciting. I’m proud of these guys.”

After a Cal sweep of the men’s discus, the Bears led, 73-58, and had led by as many as 18. But Stanford responded with sweeps of the pole vault and 3,000 to take a 76-73 lead going into the relay. Stanford made a late switch to insert Harrison Williams into the relay lineup. Williams, with a 47.17 best in the 400, gave the Cardinal a 10-meter lead on the leadoff leg and teammates Isaiah Brandt-Sims, Daniel Brady and Jackson Shumway extended it from there. The Cardinal ran 3:11.21 to Cal’s 3:18.14.

Williams ran a 48.2 split. “I was just trying to give us a good lead when I gave it to Isaiah,” he said. “That way we could relax in the second and third legs and try to bring it home at the end.”

The relay finished a big day for Williams, only nine days removed from winning the decathlon at the Texas Relays in a school-record 7,842 points. Williams, a sophomore, also won the pole vault (16-0) and set a lifetime best in the 110 high hurdles (14.25, second place), in addition to leading off the second-place 4x100.

Brandt-Sims took off too quickly before receiving the baton, and had to slow down to take the stick. “Harrison was looking real strong, real fast,” he said. “I got a little nervous and went out a little too quickly.”

Brandt-Sims is a 100-200 specialist, but sprints coach Gabe Sanders has extended his training to include 400s specifically for these relays. Brandt-Sims, whose best open 400 is 48.5, clocked a 47.6 split to essentially put the race away.

Brady followed with a 48.6 and Shumway came home in 46.9.

“I’m a senior, so this is my last Big Meet,” Shumway said. “So, to have a group of guys who are capable of winning this with me was pretty fantastic. We’ve gotten a pretty big beatdown the last couple of years. This is the best event in track and for it to come down to this … it was huge.”

* * *
Willis better than ever

Stanford won all four men’s jumping events, but none was greater than the high jump by Dartis Willis II, a fifth-year senior who matched a lifetime best 7-2 ¼ to win. It was his best jump since 2011, an outdoor personal record and it moved him to No. 5 on Stanford’s all-time outdoor performers’ list.

The rain was falling early in the meet. In such conditions, the high jump is among the first events to be scratched. But Willis wouldn’t even consider the possibility.

“It’s Big Meet,” he said. “They’re going to find a way to jump.”

Willis has suffered injuries that limited his progress over the years, but said, “Some of those results were the result of me being down on myself. It affected my form, and I’d attempt to try to muscle my way to PR’s. But I realized I needed to stick with the program. It took me three years to learn that I really needed to stick to the coaching and try to stay as healthy as possible.”

One more thing, this year Willis has focused on one event rather than compete in the long jump too. Without the wear-and-tear from long jumping, Willis is more fresh and has retained the bounce in his takeoff.

Now, it’s paying off, with three 7-foot performances this year. Willis also has learned to channel his adrenaline better. A fast starter, Willis said he would tend to jump too high on the lower bars and have little left when the bar gets higher.

With these lessons learned, Willis found himself Saturday standing in a large puddle at the beginning of his approach run, which is carefully measured out before each competition. Undeterred, Willis quickly got into a rhythm, helped by having only four jumpers in the field, and overcame the conditions brilliantly.

“I’d like to thank Coach (Michael) Eskind because I was definitely coming in at a way lower bar because it was wet and rainy,” Willis said. “But he told me this is a good surface and even though it’s wet, my spikes are long enough to give me just enough grip. He told me just to go for it.”

* * *
Brooks the catalyst

Though Stanford had the meet in hand, two-time defending Pac-12 champion Darian Brooks finished off the meet by winning the triple jump (50-9 ¼) for the final margin. Brooks was a catalyst, earning the victory in his first long jump competition in two years, winning at 23-10 ¾.

Miltenberg knew the men’s score would be close, but he doped an 83-80 victory in a best-case scenario.

“Darian coming through in the long jump was big,” Miltenberg said. “He did even more than we thought he could.”

Also significant was the collegiate track debut for freshman Grant Fisher, one of eight high-schoolers in history to run a sub-4 mile. Fisher was third in the 1,500 in a personal best 3:42.86, behind teammates and two other members of the sub-4 club, Sean McGorty and Tom Coyle. McGorty earned the victory in 3:42.11 and Coyle kicked to second in a personal best 3:42.68.

In the men’s 800, Stanford placed four in the top five – each in a lifetime best. Justin Brinkley led the charge in 1:49.81 with Tai Dinger just behind in 1:49.84, his best by nearly two seconds.

* * *
Women win easily

Both the Stanford men and women won the 4x400 relays for the sixth consecutive year, but a more impressive streak continued in the women’s javelin. Freshman Mackenzie Little – two for two in meet victories so far in her young collegiate career – won the event in 179-5 to give the Cardinal its 14th consecutive victory in that event.

Defending Pac-12 discus champion Valarie Allman won her specialty (184-2), but also captured the hammer in 189-1 – a four-foot personal best – moving her past Carol Cady to No. 6 all-time at Stanford. With Allman and Lena Giger (182-10) going 1-2 in the hammer, Stanford launched the rout, outscoring Cal in 16 of the 19 events.

Another top-10 addition came in the 400 hurdles, where freshman Hannah Labrie-Smith moved to No. 8 with her 59.71 victory.

Michaela Crunkleton Wilson, a sophomore, won the 100 (11.90) and 200 (24.40), just ahead of teammate Gaby Gayles in each, and anchored the winning 4x100 (46.60). And Kristyn Williams gave Stanford the women’s sprints sweep by winning the 400 in 53.53 and 4x400 (3:44.58).

Vanessa Fraser provided the most stirring victory of the day for Stanford. Locked in a 3,000 duel with fellow All-America Bethan Knights of Cal, Fraser was passed on the backstretch of the final lap, but managed to grind out a final push down the stretch and beat Knights on the final stride, 9:18.20 to 9:18.25.

Another high-quality race came in the 800 when two-time NCAA outdoor runner-up Claudia Saunders pulled away from teammate Olivia Baker, third at NCAA Indoors, to win in 2:03.73 to 2:04.15.

In the past two years, Stanford’s women have outscored Cal, 225-97. This was the Cardinal’s largest margin of victory since 2012 when it won by 81.

By the time it ended, the rain was falling hard, adding to the lore of 122nd Big Meet, one of collegiate track’s oldest and greatest rivalries.
* * *

122nd Big Meet
At Edwards Stadium

Men
Team scores – Stanford 86, California 77.
100 – 1, Khalfani Muhammad (Cal) 10.50; 2, Isaiah Brandt-Sims (Stanford) 10.77; 3, Tyler Brendel (Cal) 10.93; 5, Miguel Shaw (Stanford) 11.37.
200 – 1, Khalfani Muhammad (Cal) 21.31; 2, Isaiah Brandt-Sims (Stanford) 21.46; 3, Walter Jones (Cal) 21.99; 5, Amit Maity (Stanford) 22.65; 6, Isaac Westlund (Stanford) 22.95; 7, Zac Espinosa (Stanford) 23.34; 8, Miguel Shaw (Stanford) 23.45; 9, Frank Kurtz (Stanford) 25.76.
400 – 1, Frank Kurtz (Stanford) 47.73; 2, Ben Greenwald (Cal) 48.75; 3, Amit Maity (Stanford) 49.30.
800 – 1, Justin Brinkley (Stanford) 1:49.81 (PB); 2, Tai Dinger (Stanford) 1:49.84 (PB); 3, Josh Lewis (Cal) 1:50.31; 4, Brian Smith (Stanford) 1:50.89 (PB); 5, Daniel Book (Stanford) 1:51.62; 7, Christian White (Stanford) 1:54.69; 9, Patrick Perrier (Stanford) 1:56.07.
1,500 – 1, Sean McGorty (Stanford) 3:42.11; 2, Tom Coyle (Stanford) 3:42.68 (PB); 3, Grant Fisher (Stanford) 3:42.86 (PB); 7, Ryan Silva (Stanford) 3:52.42.
3,000 – 1, Jack Keelan (Stanford) 8:08.55; 2, Collin Leibold (Stanford) 8:14.51; 3, Sam Wharton (Stanford) 8:15.83 (PB); 5, Patrick Gibson (Stanford) 8:18.03; 7, Blair Hurlock (Stanford) 8:26.83; 8, Garrett Sweatt (Stanford) 8:27.11.
110 hurdles – 1, Ashtyn Davis (Cal) 14.12; 2, Harrison Williams (Stanford) 14.25 (PB); 3, Marsalis Gibson (Cal) 14.73.
400 hurdles – 1, Jackson Shumway (Stanford) 52.21; 2, Daniel Brady (Stanford) 52.93; 3, Jonte Turner (Cal) 53.16; 5, Colin Dolese (Stanford) 53.73.
3,000 steeplechase – 1, Kai Benedict (Cal) 9:06.49; 2, Steven Fahy (Stanford) 9:07.18; 3, Max Leach (Cal) 9:16.52; 4, Adam Thorne (Stanford) 9:19.00; 5, Patrick Perrier (Stanford) 9:28.75 (PB).
4x100 relay – 1, California 41.19; 2, Stanford (Harrison Williams, Isaiah Brandt-Sims, Colin Dolese, Frank Kurtz) 41.50.
4x400 relay – 1, Stanford (Harrison Williams, Isaiah Brandt-Sims, Daniel Brady, Jackson Shumway) 3:11.21; 2, California 3:18.14.
High jump – 1, Dartis Willis II (Stanford) 7-2 ¼ (2.19m) (PB; No. 5); 2, Noel Frazier (Cal) 7-1 (2.16m); 3, David Chukwu (Cal) 6-3 ¼ (1.91m); 4, Trevor Rex (Stanford) 6-1 ¼ (1.86m).
Pole vault – 1, Harrison Williams (Stanford) 16-0 (4.88m); 2, Dylan Duvio (Stanford) 16-0 (4.81m); 3, Dan Emery (Stanford) 15-6 ¼ (4.73m).
Long jump – 1, Darian Brooks (Stanford) 23-10 ¾ (7.28m) (PB); 2, Jonte Grant (Cal) 23-6 (7.16m); 3, Walter Jones (Cal) 23-5 ½ (7.15m).
Triple jump – 1, Darian Brooks (Stanford) 50-9 ¼ (15.47m);  2, Karsten Wethington (Cal) 50-3 ½ (15.33m); 3, Jonte Grant (Cal) 49-6 ¼ (15.09m).
Shot put – 1, Peter Simon (Cal) 62-1 ¾ (18.94m); 2, Sullivan Parker (Cal) 58-6 (17.83m); 3, Tristen Newman (Stanford) 57-4 ¼ (17.48m).
Discus – 1, Aaron Russell (Cal) 178-11 (54.53m); 2, Ethan Cochran (Cal) 170-5 (51.94m); 3, Malik McMorris (Cal) 166-1 (50.62m); 4, Nick Budincich (Stanford) 163-11 (49.96m).
Javelin – 1, Scott Chiesa (Cal) 222-1 (67.69m); 2, Charles Kerr (Stanford) 206-4 (62.89m) (PB; No.7); 3, Andrew Rondema (Stanford) 200-5 (61.10m).
Hammer – 1, Isaac Dan (Cal) 197-11 (60.34m); 2, Aaron Russell (Cal) 184-1 (56.10); 3, Marshall Godsil (Cal) 182-2 (55.52m); 4, Tristen Newman (Stanford) 173-9 (52.96m).

Women
Team scores – Stanford 114, California 48.
100 – 1, Michaela Crunkleton Wilson (Stanford) 11.90; 2, Gaby Gayles (Stanford) 11.93; 3, Jayla Scholis (Cal) 11.97.
200 – 1, Michaela Crunkleton Wilson (Stanford) 24.40w; 2, Gaby Gayles (Stanford) 24.71w; 3, Jayla Scholis (Cal) 25.07w.
400 – 1, Kristyn Williams (Stanford) 53.53; 2, Kaitlyn Williams (Stanford) 55.19; 3, Missy Mongiovi (Stanford) 55.32.
800 – 1, Claudia Saunders (Stanford) 2:03.73; 2, Olivia Baker (Stanford) 2:04.15; 3, Rebecca Croft (Cal) 2:06.51; 6, Elise Cranny (Stanford) 2:10.53; 8, Karina Shepard (Stanford) 2:20.75.
1,500 – 1, Molly McNamara (Stanford) 4:20.76 (PB); 2, Elise Cranny (Stanford) 4:21.17; 3, Rebecca Mehra (Stanford) 4:21.73; 7, Maddy Berkson (Stanford) 4:33.08.
3,000 – 1, Vanessa Fraser (Stanford) 9:18.20; 2, Bethan Knights (Cal) 9:18.25; 3, Sydney Gray (Cal) 9:23.96; 5, Julia Maxwell (Stanford) 9:32.02 (PB); 6, Abbie McNulty (Stanford) 9:34.37 (PB); 7, Emma Fisher (Stanford) 9:37.85; 8, Sophie Chase (Stanford) 9:47.69; 12, Megan Lacy (Stanford) 10:09.05.
100 hurdles – 1, Morgan Robertson (Cal) 14.18; 2, Hannah Labrie-Smith (Stanford) 14.30 (PB); 3, Amber Lewis (Stanford) 14.62.
400 hurdles – 1, Hannah Labrie-Smith (Stanford) 59.71 (PB; No. 8; No. 4 frosh); 2, Schantell Williams (Cal) 1:01.47; 3, Amber Lewis (Stanford) 1:03.84.
3,000 steeplechase – 1, Danielle Katz (Stanford) 10:24.13; 2, Megan Bordes (Cal) 10:32.86.
4x100 relay – 1, Stanford (Hannah Labrie-Smith, Gaby Gayles, Amber Lewis, Michaela Crunkleton Wilson) 46.60; 2, Cal 46.65.
4x400 relay – 1, Stanford (Missy Mongiovi, Olivia Baker, Claudia Saunders, Kristyn Williams) 3:44.58; 2, California 3:47.01.
High jump – 1, Christine Canning (Cal) 5-5 ¼ (1.66m); 2 (tie), Rachel Reichenbach (Stanford) and Asia Chesley (Cal), each 5-3 ¼ (1.61m); 3,
Pole vault – 1, Kaitlyn Merritt (Stanford) 12-5 ½ (3.80m); 2, Lauren Martinez (Cal) 12-5 ½ (3.80m); 3, Nicole Summersett (Stanford) 10-11 ¾ (3.35m).
Long jump – 1, Marisa Kwiatkowski (Stanford) 18-9 ¼ (5.72m); 2, Isabella Martin (Cal) 18-7 (5.66m); 3, Daryth Gayles (Stanford) 18-9 ¼ (5.72m).
Triple jump – 1, Isabella Marten (Cal) 43-5 (13.23m); 2, Ashley Anderson (Cal) 41-8 (12.70m); 3, Carla Forbes (Stanford) 41-7 ¾ (12.69m); 4, Marisa Kwiatkowski (Cal) 40-2 (12.24m).
Shot put – 1, Lena Giger (Stanford) 49-3 ¾; 2, Ginika Iwuchukwu (Cal) 48-6 (14.78m); 3, Destiny Parker (Cal) 45-6 ¼ (13.87m).
Discus – 1, Valarie Allman (Stanford) 184-2 (56.13m); 2, Kendall Mader (Cal) 166-3 (50.68m); 3, Lena Giger (Stanford) 132-3 (40.30m).
Javelin – 1, Mackenzie Little (Stanford) 179-5 (54.70m); 2, Victoria Smith (Stanford) 142-11 (43.57m); 3, Asha Culhane (Cal) 98-11 (30.14m).
Hammer – 1, Valarie Allman (Stanford) 189-1 (57.63m) (PB, No. 6); 2, Lena Giger (Stanford) 182-10 (55.73m); 3, Destiny Parker (Cal) 157-9 (48.09m).




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