Relay Makes History – Stanford University Athletics

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Stanford took the national lead in the women’s distance medley relay on Friday night while winning the Razorback Invitational indoor track and field meet in spectacular fashion.

The team of Juliette Whittaker, Maya Valmon, Roisin Willis, and Melissa Tanaka ran 10:55.15 on the 200-meter banked track and the Randal Tyson Track Center at University of Arkansas, with the top eight teams, including Stanford’s ‘B’ team, running the fastest times in the nation this year. 

But the real stories came from the splits. Freshman Juliette Whittaker opened with a 1,200 split of 3:18.96 – the second-fastest in collegiate history, and No. 6 by an American and No. 8 all-time in the world. The only faster collegiate indoor split was a 3:18.8 leg run by Florida’s Agata Strausa in 2012 on a relay that clocked 10:58.77.

Whittaker handed off to the sophomore Valmon, who responded with a 52.41, the second-fastest 400 split in the field.

Next was Willis. The freshman unleashed an 800 split of 2:01.06. Get this … it was the fastest at any level — world, American or collegiate — in indoor DMR history. The previous record was 2:01.93 by Brenda Martinez in 2017.

Taking it home was Tanaka, a graduate student and returning All-American. She anchored 1,600 meters in 4:42.73 as the Cardinal won in 1.58 seconds over a strong Arkansas team. The Cardinal ran the No. 6 time in school indoor history and the 23rd-fastest in collegiate history. 

The Cardinal freshmen talent doesn’t stop there. Alyssa Jones long-jumped 21-0 ½ (6.41 meters), becoming the first 21-footer for the Stanford women in 11 years – since Arantxa King and Karynn Dunn in the same season. Jones placed fourth, but even more impressive, after only three collegiate meets, Jones ranks among the top five all-time at Stanford indoors in three events (200, high jump, and long jump). 

Competing in her first multi competition, sophomore Elise Miller scored 3,700 points to vault to No. 4 on Stanford’s all-time indoor list. Miller placed 10th in the five-event single-day competition. 

In the men’s pole vault, sophomore Garrett Brown jumped 17-6 ½ (5.35m) to place third. 

The meet continues Saturday with the season debut of NCAA cross country champion Charles Hicks, in the 3,000. In the same race is Ky Robinson, the collegiate leader and Stanford record-holder in the 5,000. 

 

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Friday’s results

Razorback Invitational

At Randal Tyson Indoor Track Center

(200-meter banked track)

Winners and…