In Stanford track and field parlance, at least at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, those terms described Sean McGorty and Erik Olson.
Redshirt freshman McGorty and fifth-year senior Olson finished eighth and ninth in the men’s 5,000 meters on Friday at Hayward Field, completing the Stanford men’s season and Olson’s collegiate career. McGorty seems to be just getting started.
McGorty ran 13:53.63 and earned first-team All-America honors for the first time by finishing among the top eight. Olson, a Bay Area native out of Novato High, ran 13:55.74. He earns second-team status and leaves Stanford with five All-America honors.
“it would have been great to be top eight,” Olson said. “But having Sean just one place ahead of me was great to see. I’m definitely not disappointed. I’m happy with it. I could have done better, but also could have done worse.”
Stanford brought four men to Eugene and each was a top-10 finisher, including true freshman Harrison Williams, who was fourth in the decathlon Thursday, and sophomore Dylan Duvio, who was third in the pole vault Wednesday.
The Cardinal scored 12 points to finish 16th overall – its highest men’s finish since 2011 -- and third among Pac-12 teams.
In a new format, the meet is holding its men’s and women’s finals on separate days. Friday’s action concluded the men’s competition, and the women get center stage Saturday.
The change appeared successful. The crowd was more than 11,000, meaning that rather than cutting the attendance, an added full day of finals may actually double it. The meet was condensed into 2 ½ hours and the action – featuring a flurry of incredible marks -- was nonstop.
The 5,000 was no exception. The race was tight, the pack was large, and the racing didn’t begin in earnest until a lap remained. McGorty and Olson ran together, with a plan of staying just behind the front pack and letting attrition takes its toll on their competitors. Keep in contact, and be in the race when the racing actually starts.
It all fit together until the last lap when they were unable to match the charge of the leaders and were gapped a bit heading home.
Still, McGorty made the podium. He’s a sophomore by academic year, but a redshirt freshman in eligibility. He’s got three more track seasons to go.
“Three years down the road, I can see him in the top three,” Olson said. “He’s got great turnover, a lot of good endurance and a lot of growth to be had. There’s a lot of potential with him – not only him, but his entire class. His class is really going to be exciting.”
From McGorty’s class of ’18, McGorty and Tom Coyle have run sub-4:00 miles, Jack Keelan and Patrick Gibson have run sub-14:00 in the 5,000, Scott Buttinger is among Stanford’s top-10 indoor 800 runners, and Sam Wharton is a cross country All-America.
For all the success of his older teammates, Olson has been perhaps the team’s most influential leader to the younger classes. His experience is unique. Olson has bridged two different eras. He arrived in 2009 during the run of Chris Derrick, Jacob Riley, and Brendan Gregg. Now, he leaves a group that can carry Cardinal distance running into the future.
“Erik’s really the guy that helps bring things together,” McGorty said. “His influence, wisdom and experience has had a large impact on the team. It goes beyond what places he’s gotten or how he’s finished. He’s laid down a foundation.”
Just before the NCAA final, the pair was on the track about to take a few nervous strides before the gun. The crowd was bigger than any they had run in front of before, the noise was loud, the mood electric. And just before they galloped around the turn, Olson made a comment that cut through the tension and eased their mood.
And during the race, as competitors locked in mentally as they circled the track together before the paced jacked up, McGorty and Olson ran side by side.
“There was a point where I was able to look over and he was right there,” McGorty said. “Just having a teammate right there is such a calming factor because you know you guys have done this before. That was reassuring.”
Olson has served as the seasoned vet who has led a transition between eras – that of Chris Derrick and Jacob Riley to McGorty and company. And between coaching staffs, from Edrick Floreal’s to Chris Miltenberg’s.
“I really have to thank Chris and those guys,” Olson said. “They really humbled me. That’s always key coming out of high school as a big-time recruit -- it’s good to be humbled quickly. And being with the younger guys allowed me to show them what I did wrong in hopes that they won’t do the same. I feel very thankful to be part of both eras.”
McGorty showed a glimpse of the future when he unleashed a 13:37.64 at the Payton Jordan Invitational in the 5,000 while redshirting as a true freshman. A spring injury limited him in the fall, but despite a lack of racing, McGorty pulled off a 20th-place finish at the NCAA cross country championships, leading Stanford to a surprising runner-up finish. Then, in his first collegiate track race, he ran 3:59.34 indoor mile in Seattle.
His future is yet to be determined. He’s a first-team All-America in the 5,000, but his first love is the 1,500. McGorty doesn’t have to make a choice.
“if you want to be a good 5K runner, you need that speed from the 15,” McGorty said. “And strength from the 5K can help me in the 15. I love doing both and I want to be an athlete that can run both for my team. It’s whatever really Coach Milt wants me to do.”
Like Olson, McGorty wasn’t completely satisfied Friday.
“They were able to gap me a little and by the time I was able to get out, they had some distance on me,” McGorty said. “I tried my best to make that up. That’s something I need to work on -- maybe get myself in better position going into the last 400. But it was a great learning experience.
“I would definitely say it leaves me hungry for the next three years. I’m ready to be up there with the top guys and leave my mark in the NCAA.”
Olson, for one, believes he will.
* * *
Stanford will have five women in action Saturday: sophomore Pac-12 champion Valarie Allman in the discus, junior 2014 NCAA outdoor runner-up Claudia Saunders in the 800, freshman indoor track 3,000 runner-up Elise Cranny in the 1,500, and sophomore Scotts Valley native Vanessa Fraser and national leader Jessica Tonn in the 5,000.
* * *
NCAA Championships
At Hayward Field
Saturday’s result involving Stanford
Men
Final team scores – 1, Oregon 85; 2, Florida 56; 3, Arkansas 53; 4, LSU 45; 5, USC 40.5. 16, Stanford 12.
5,000 – 1, Edward Cheserek (Oregon) 13:48.67; 8, Sean McGorty (Stanford) 13:53.63; 9, Erik Olson (Stanford) 13:55.74.
* * *
Stanford's remaining schedule:
Saturday
1:35 p.m.: Women’s discus final (Valarie Allman)
2:15 p.m.: Women’s 1,500 final (Elise Cranny)
3:20 p.m.: Women’s 800 final (Claudia Saunders)
4 p.m.: Women’s 5,000 final (Vanessa Fraser, Jessica Tonn)
* * *
Stanford athletes who have concluded competition and clinched All-America status:
Men
First team: Dylan Duvio (pole vault), Sean McGorty (5,000), Harrison Williams (decathlon).
Second team: Erik Olson (5,000).
Women
Second team: Olivia Baker (800, 4x400), Michaela Crunkleton Wilson (4x400), Gaby Gayles (4x400), Victoria Smith (javelin), Kristyn Williams (4x400).
