Darian Brooks. Photo by David Kiefer.
SEATTLE – Stanford took home six track and field titles at the Pac-12 Championships at University of Washington and the gloomy environs did not cloud the Cardinal’s optimism after its men’s 4x400-meter relay ended the meet with its first conference title since 1954.
The Stanford team of Harrison Williams, Frank Kurtz, Isaiah Brandt-Sims, and Jackson Shumway halted the 67-year winless string in the 4x400/mile relay. And Stanford did it without having a single entrant in the open 400 and ran 3:08.13, with Shumway holding off Arizona anchor Miles Parish on the final turn. As Chris Miltenberg, Stanford’s Franklin P. Johnson Director of Track and Field, told the team afterward, take encouragement from winning the events that Stanford is not “supposed” to win.
The Stanford women finished third as a team for the third consecutive year, scoring 90 points. And the men were sixth with 74. In each case, Stanford increased its team scoring from last year.
Darian Brooks, competing in his hometown, became the first in conference history to win three consecutive men’s triple jump titles, winning in 51-11 3/4. And Valarie Allman repeated as women’s discus champ, at 188-11. Before Allman, Stanford had never had a Pac-12 champion in that event.
Two Stanford sophomores captured titles – Elise Cranny in the 1,500 in 4:17.72, with Rebecca Mehra right behind in 4:18.38. And Olivia Baker, the collegiate leader in the 800, went back to her roots to rally to victory in the 400 (53.20)..
They followed the Saturday victory by freshman Mackenzie Little, who extended a Stanford streak of victories in the women’s javelin to five.
The six combined titles were the most by Stanford men’s and women’s teams since 2005, with the same amount. Also, the combined points for Stanford’s teams – 164 – was the most since 2012.
Remarkably, considering Stanford’s strength in the women’s 1,500, it was the Cardinal’s first conference victory since Arianna Lambie won the Pac-10 title in 2007.
Baker overcame a deficit of at least 10 meters as she dug deep while USC’s Kendall Ellis was unable to maintain her fast early pace. Baker reeled her in with about 20 meters to spare. Stanford hadn’t had a 400 winner since Chauntae Bayne-Hackett in 2006.
Allman provided a bonus by placing second in the hammer throw. Allman has said that she competes in the hammer as a training tool and to add some spice to her training routine. Instead, she got much more, throwing 194-5, to finish behind Arizona’s State’s Maggie Ewen at 209-7.
The women’s 4x400 also placed second. The team of Gaby Gayles, Michaela Crunkleton Wilson, Claudia Saunders, and Baker ran 3:36.19.
In the much-anticipated men’s 1,500, Washington’s Izaic Yorks continued his remarkable season with the Pac-12 title and time of 3:39.14. Sean McGorty, Stanford’s ace, dropped to fifth in 3:40.74. Stanford senior Justin Brinkley, who was honored with the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete award for men’s track and field, was fourth with a three-second personal best of 3:40.31.
Husky Track, Seattle
Men’s team scores – 1, Oregon 155.6; 2, Washington 122; 3, UCLA 84.2; 4, Arizona State 83; 5, USC 75; 6, Stanford 74; 7, Colorado 63; 8, Arizona 57; 9, California 50.6; 10, Washington State 41.6. Women’s team scores – 1, Oregon 185; 2, USC 111.5; 3, Stanford 90; 4, Washington 82; 5, UCLA 66.5; 6, Colorado 66; 7, Arizona 62; 8, Washington State 45; 9, Arizona State 41; 10, California 39.5; 11, Oregon State 23.5; 12, Utah 3.
The Stanford team of Harrison Williams, Frank Kurtz, Isaiah Brandt-Sims, and Jackson Shumway halted the 67-year winless string in the 4x400/mile relay. And Stanford did it without having a single entrant in the open 400 and ran 3:08.13, with Shumway holding off Arizona anchor Miles Parish on the final turn. As Chris Miltenberg, Stanford’s Franklin P. Johnson Director of Track and Field, told the team afterward, take encouragement from winning the events that Stanford is not “supposed” to win.
The Stanford women finished third as a team for the third consecutive year, scoring 90 points. And the men were sixth with 74. In each case, Stanford increased its team scoring from last year.
Darian Brooks, competing in his hometown, became the first in conference history to win three consecutive men’s triple jump titles, winning in 51-11 3/4. And Valarie Allman repeated as women’s discus champ, at 188-11. Before Allman, Stanford had never had a Pac-12 champion in that event.
Two Stanford sophomores captured titles – Elise Cranny in the 1,500 in 4:17.72, with Rebecca Mehra right behind in 4:18.38. And Olivia Baker, the collegiate leader in the 800, went back to her roots to rally to victory in the 400 (53.20)..
They followed the Saturday victory by freshman Mackenzie Little, who extended a Stanford streak of victories in the women’s javelin to five.
The six combined titles were the most by Stanford men’s and women’s teams since 2005, with the same amount. Also, the combined points for Stanford’s teams – 164 – was the most since 2012.
Remarkably, considering Stanford’s strength in the women’s 1,500, it was the Cardinal’s first conference victory since Arianna Lambie won the Pac-10 title in 2007.
Baker overcame a deficit of at least 10 meters as she dug deep while USC’s Kendall Ellis was unable to maintain her fast early pace. Baker reeled her in with about 20 meters to spare. Stanford hadn’t had a 400 winner since Chauntae Bayne-Hackett in 2006.
Allman provided a bonus by placing second in the hammer throw. Allman has said that she competes in the hammer as a training tool and to add some spice to her training routine. Instead, she got much more, throwing 194-5, to finish behind Arizona’s State’s Maggie Ewen at 209-7.
The women’s 4x400 also placed second. The team of Gaby Gayles, Michaela Crunkleton Wilson, Claudia Saunders, and Baker ran 3:36.19.
In the much-anticipated men’s 1,500, Washington’s Izaic Yorks continued his remarkable season with the Pac-12 title and time of 3:39.14. Sean McGorty, Stanford’s ace, dropped to fifth in 3:40.74. Stanford senior Justin Brinkley, who was honored with the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete award for men’s track and field, was fourth with a three-second personal best of 3:40.31.
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Pac-12 ChampionshipsHusky Track, Seattle
Men’s team scores – 1, Oregon 155.6; 2, Washington 122; 3, UCLA 84.2; 4, Arizona State 83; 5, USC 75; 6, Stanford 74; 7, Colorado 63; 8, Arizona 57; 9, California 50.6; 10, Washington State 41.6. Women’s team scores – 1, Oregon 185; 2, USC 111.5; 3, Stanford 90; 4, Washington 82; 5, UCLA 66.5; 6, Colorado 66; 7, Arizona 62; 8, Washington State 45; 9, Arizona State 41; 10, California 39.5; 11, Oregon State 23.5; 12, Utah 3.