Stanford Invitational Preview
- West Coast XC
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Stanford Invitational - April 4 & 5
Stanford University - Palo Alto, CA
Watch High School Meet Preview HERE
Here is a preview of distance races from the two day Stanford Invitational.
Friday
College
Most of the distance races in the college division is on Friday. The steeplechase will be raced on Friday and Caroline Jepkorir of Washington State has already run 10:16.08 in this early outdoor season. Mia Kane of UCLA won the last Pac 12 steeplechase championship in 2024. Isaac Hedengren of BYU has a top ten time for the season in a time of 8:44.01 in the men's 3000 steeplechase.
In the women's 1500, Chloe Foerster of Washington is entered and qualified for last year's 1500 NCAA championship. Tessa Buswell of BYU returns to California as she was the California state champion in the 800 last year for Poway High School. Carter Cutting of BYU, Rhys Hammond and Ronan McMahon-Staggs of Washington, Mark Milner of Portland and Spencer Pickren of Cal Poly all have opportunities to place themselves in the west regional rankings in the 1500.
The women's 5000 has a deep field including Karrie Bologa and Maggie Congdon of NAU, Riley Chamberlain, Lexy Halladay-Lowry of BYU, Marion Jepnegetich of New Mexico, Juliet Cherubet of Oregon, Audrey Suarez and Zofia Dudek of Stanford and Julia David-Smith of Washington. Some of the athletes to watch in the men's 5000 include Olympian James Corrigan of BYU, teammates Joey Nokes and Creed Thompson, Matt Strangio of Portland, Leo Young, Cole Sprout, Thomas Boyden of Stanford and Matthew Kosgei of New Mexico.
Stanford Invitational has been the meet to make NCAA qualifying marks in the 10,000. Sydney Thorvaldson of Arkansas has one of leading returning times from 2024 and Lexy Halladay-Lowry of BYU is another contender (she is listed in the 5000 too). Rosina Machu of Gonzaga and Elise Stearns of NAU are other athletes to watch. The top finishers from last year's Stanford Invitational 10,000 return with Evan Jenkins of Washington, Wil Smith Gonzaga, Victor Kiprop of Alabama and Evans Kiplagat of New Mexico race on Friday night. Other returners from last year's 10,000 meter race at Stanford include Adisu Guadia and Denis Kipngetich of Oklahoma State and Patrick Kiprop of Arkansas. Bob Liking of Wisconsin and Drew Bosley of NAU are other notable entries. Hometown favorites Cole Sprout and Thomas Boyden are entered in Friday's race.
High School
The boys and girls 3200 will be run on Friday afternoon. Lily Montilla of Las Lomas, Eleanor Raker of Galena (NV), Shea Elmore of Los Gatos, Kinga Czajkowska of Palo Alto and Grace Baxter of Granite Hills are the top seeds in the girls 3200.
It is possible to have a number of boys break nine in the 3200 and in the process set the meet record. Top boy runners in the 3200 include Benjamin Bouie of Crystal Springs Uplands, Broen Holman of Sonora, Eli Fitchen-Young of Santa Cruz, Yosef Berhan of Piedmont Hills and Aydon Stefanopolous of Los Gatos.
None of the Montgomery (Santa Rosa) distance runners are listed individually so we can assume that they are all in for the distance medley on Friday. If this is the case, look for a fast time from Montgomery. St. Francis (Mountain View), Palo Alto and Carlmont are other contenders.
Bellarmine College Prep won the Dublin Distance Fiesta's distance medley and holds the Stanford meet record and are the meet favorites. They will be challenged by Jesuit, Crystal Springs Uplands, St. Francis (Mountain View) and Vacaville.
College
Saturday
The last distance race in the college division are Saturday's 800 meter races. Chloe Foerster of Washington leads the 800 meter field with pro Addy Townsend in the race too. Justin O'Toole and Kyle Reinheimer of Washington are coming off a successful indoor campaign and are racing the 800 on Saturday.
High School
Eleanor Raker of Galena (NV) is one of the favorites in the girls 1600 on Saturday. Other notable runners include Kinga Czajkowska and Amaya Bharadwaj of Palo Alto. Lily Montilla of Las Lomas, Ella Mogannam of Lick Wilmerding, Giselle Fernandez of Riverbank and Khloe DeLaTorre of Vacaville.
Evan Noonan of Dana Hills set the meet record in the 1600 at last year's Stanford Invitational. Noonan, who will run for Stanford next year, returns as one of the favorites in the 1600. Aydon Stefanopoulos of Los Gatos won the Dublin Distance Fiesta two weeks ago and will challenge. Eli Fitchen-Young of Santa Cruz, Isaac Abbott of Jesuit, Ford Stegge of Yosemite and Yosef Behran of Piedmont Hills are other contenders.
In the girls 800 meters, the Stanford Invitational has several athletes who have run 2:14 or faster thids season including Kylie Hoornaert of Prospect, Sabrina Zanetto of St. Francis (Mountain View), Kinga Czajkowska of Palo Alto, Ava Padilla of Monte Vista, Amaya Bharadwaj of Palo Alto and Ava Decleve of Scotts Valley.
The boys 800 looks to be a repeat of the Dublin Distance Fiesta with Lucas Alberts of Jesuit, Hugh Heyer of McClatchy, Mack Aldi of Carmel, Hunter Steele of Galena (NV), Jackson Hein of Pleasant Valley and Jack Dufour of Casa Grande return for a rematch.
Look for photo galleries for the Stanford Invitational after the meet!
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