Though the 200 meters is regarded as his best event, Onwuzurike flashed his 100 skill by winning his heat at the NCAA West Prelims in 19.92, the fastest time of the meet and the 11th-fastest time in collegiate history.
Onwuzurike shattered his lifetime best and school record of 10.03 and moved into a tie with UCLA great Ato Boldon for No. 9 on the all-time collegiate list.
The race was among three on the day for Onwuzurike, who also advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 200 by winning his heat. Earlier, he anchored Stanford to a school record in the 4×100 relay, running 39.56 to break the oldest record in Stanford’s record books.
Other Cardinal to secure berths Friday for the NCAA meet were Ky Robinson and Charles Hicks in the men’s 5,000. The Cardinal men thus will be represented in Austin, Texas, on June 7-10, by five individuals in eight spots: Onwuzurike in the 100 and 200, Hicks and Robinson in both the 5,000 and 10,000, Garrett Brown in the pole vault, and John Kroeger in the long jump.
The women’s competition, and the meet, concludes Saturday. The Stanford women have one NCAA qualifier so far, long jumper Alyssa Jones, but the promise of several others.
Stanford’s previously recognized 4×100 record harkens back to dirt surfaces, yard tracks, half-inch spikes, and stopwatches. The converted mark of 39.61 had lasted since 1965, when the Stanford foursome of Eric Frische, Dale Rubin, Bob McIntyre, and Olympian and NCAA champion Larry Questad ran 39.7, to break the world record for the 440-yard relay at the West Coast Relays in Fresno on the night of May 8. The achievement was verified by five timers with the same time on their watches.
It took 58 years before a Stanford team could match that. It was the team of John Kroeger, Olufemi Cole, Gabriel Navarro, and Onwuzurike that finally did so.
The time placed the Cardinal fifth in their heat and 18th overall – six spots shy of advancing to Austin. Onwuzurike, however, found his own way to Austin with brilliant performances in his individual events.
In the 100, Onwuzurike did not get off to a great start, and trailed for 95 meters of the 100-meter race before edging Texas Tech’s Terrence Jones by 0.01. It was typical of Onwuzurike’s style in that he can maintain his…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at Stanford University Athletics…