Robinson Pulls Off Rare Double

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford’s Ky Robinson, the reigning NCAA outdoor champion in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, pulled off a rare feat Friday at the Stanford Invitational. He raced at both distances on the same day. 

Robinson managed this by running the fourth section of the 5,000 at 9:36 a.m. and was at the starting line for the invitational section of the 10,000 at 10:08 p.m., which gave him a little over 12 hours between races. 

How did he do? Running in rainy conditions at Cobb Track and Angell Field, Robinson ran the fastest 5,000 of the day. His 5,000 time of 13:35.95 was faster than the 13:36.76 by invitational section winner Taha Er Raouy of Eastern Kentucky. In the 10,000, Robinson placed 12th in 28:15.12. 

Coming in his season outdoor debut, Robinson likely earned himself spots in the NCAA West Prelims in both distances on the first day of his season. 

Recently-crowned women’s NCAA indoor 800 champion Juliette Whittaker made her outdoor season debut as well. The Stanford sophomore raced in the 1,500 and finished eighth in a fast race. Whittaker clocked 4:17.35 in a race won by BYU’s Riley Chamberlain in 4:11.52 – just 0.02 off the 20-year-old meet record.

 

Juliette Whittaker. Photo by John P. Lozano/ISIphotos.com.

Roisin Willis, the 2023 women’s NCAA indoor 800 champion, won the 400 in her first outdoor race of the season. Her time of 53.90 was good enough to beat teammate Maya Valmon’s 54.15 in a 1-2 Cardinal finish, though each was in a different heat. 

Stanford’s Samantha Thomas won the women’s 400 hurdles in a strong 58.91, notable for being so fast despite the conditions and so early in season. 

Cydney Wright captured the women’s 200 for Stanford in 23.54 on a difficult day for sprinters, not only for the rain, but for headwinds that plagued the 100. 

The two-day meet concludes Saturday. Over both days, there will be 24 hours of competition in collegiate and high school competition. 

 

Tess Stapleton, 100 hurdles. Photo by Scott Gould/ISIphotos.com.

 

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Friday’s results

Stanford Invitational

At Cobb Track and Angell Field

Winners and Stanford

Men

100 – Prelims: 8, Dylan Davis (Stanford) 10.63; 42, Evan Jackson (Stanford) 11.14.
200 – 1, Jaden Smith (San Jose State) 20.90; 4, Olufemi Cole (Stanford) 21.26 (PB); 18, Dylan Davis (Stanford) 22.01; 20, John Kroeger (Stanford) 22.06; 22, Gabriel Ajaegbu (Stanford) 22.26 (PB).
400 – 1, Shemar Palmer (Fresno Pacific) 46.84; 40, Gabriel Ajaegbu (Stanford) 51.09.
1,500 – Sec. 1:…