Stanford’s women’s 4x400-meter relay set a school indoor record to highlight an eventful Saturday for Cardinal track and field that included a victorious return from injury for sophomore All-America Elise Cranny, and a big-time victory for freshman Grant Fisher.
The relay team of Gaby Gayles, Olivia Baker, Michaela Crunkleton Wilson, and Kristyn Williams ran 3:33.78 to finish third on the 200-meter track at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, while breaking a school mark of 3:34.92 that had stood since 2005, and running a full three seconds faster than any other Stanford quartet since then.
Cranny, a four-time All-American as a freshman, hadn’t raced since the NCAA outdoor 1,500 final last spring because of a hip injury, but came back to win the Iowa State Classic women’s mile in 4:38.44 on the 300-meter Lied Recreational Center track.
Fisher, who is redshirting, made his season track debut at the Husky Classic in Seattle and beat 2015 NCAA outdoor 1,500 champ Chad Noelle of Oklahoma State and a handful of professionals while winning the 3,000 in 7:50.06 on the 307-meter Dempsey Indoor track.
"Great day across the board," said Chris Miltenberg, Stanford's Franklin P. Johnson Director of Track and Field.
The following is a closer look at each meet:
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Record Relay
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – First-year Stanford sprints coach Gabe Sanders knew something was on the horizon with his 4x400 team. The young group made the NCAA outdoor championships last year and he had been looking forward to seeing what they were capable of in 2016.
“Everything leading up to this week led up to something really special, whatever that may be,” Sanders said. “Our group’s motto is ‘Be a Cardinal. Do your job.’ We came to New Mexico with a job to do, to show the NCAA what it means to be a Cardinal, and we definitely accomplished that mission.”
Sophomores ran the first three legs. Gaby Gayles opened with a 54.3, followed by Olivia Baker in 52.9, Michaela Crunkleton Wilson with her lifetime best split of 54.0, and came home with senior Kristyn Williams in 52.5. Stanford competed well with Oregon, the winner in 3:31.96 and runner-up Arizona (3:33.29).
There were some tricky moments. On the opening leg, the field collapsed on Gayles at the break. Said Sanders, “she didn’t panic,” and quickly moved to the outside, avoiding being pinned against the rail without room to move.
On the second leg, Baker got pushed from the inside to lane three with what Sanders called, “a stiff-arm,” but still produced a fast leg that moved Stanford from third to second, and opened things up for Crunkleton Wilson, who lost one position, but kept the Cardinal in the race.
Williams, who ran 53.80 in the open 400 earlier in the meet, was hungry to run faster and came through with the fastest split of the group, making up some ground over the first 200 before settling into a smooth rhythm.
Sanders noticed a change in attitude from earlier in the season when some runners seemed intimidated by workouts. If you’re going to compete with the best, that can’t happen, Sanders stressed. Since then, he’s felt a shift in mentality.
“The best part is, I don’t think we’re done,” Sanders said.
“A school record wasn’t even on our minds,” Williams said. “But it was a very special and rewarding moment when we realized our performance was the best in school history.”
The previous mark of 3:34.92 was held by Christine Moschella, Janice Davis, Ashley Freeman, and Ashley Purnell in 2005.
In any of the previous six years, and possibly more, Stanford’s time would be enough to be among the top 12 and get into the NCAA’s. But this year’s relays are loaded. Given Albuquerque’s 5,300-foot elevation, Stanford’s altitude-adjusted time is listed at 3:34.22 and stands as an outsider at No. 13. The Cardinal will have one more shot at NCAA qualifying, at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships on Feb. 27.
In the women’s pole vault, freshman Kaitlyn Merritt, a two-time California state high school champion, jumped 13-4 3/4 to finish fifth. It was a season best that moved her up to No. 3 on Stanford’s all-time indoor performers’ list and No. 3 all-time among Stanford freshmen, including outdoors.
Just as encouraging as her high clearance was that she blew through 13-8 ¼, meaning she had the height, but kicked off the bar on her way up.
“This was a really nice step,” said Stanford assistant Michael Eskind, who coaches the pole vaulters. “Kaitlyn did a great job of focusing on the few things that we’ve been talking about the past few weeks, and it’s starting to pay off. Our main points of emphasis have been her pole drop and her rhythm on the runway. As those things clean up, her jump is really taking off.”
Senior Jackson Shumway, training for the 400 hurdles outdoors, set another personal best in the 400. His 47.53 strengthened his hold on the No. 7 spot all-time. Not far behind was Harrison Williams, who continues to baffle observers who wonder what he can’t do.
The decathlete moved to No. 9 on the all-time list with a 47.97 in the 400 after earlier finishing third in the 60 hurdles in a personal best 8.15, moving him to No. 6 all-time at Stanford.
* * *
Look Who’s Back
AMES, Iowa -- Elise Cranny returned to racing for the first time since last spring and pulled off an unexpected victory in the mile at the Iowa State Classic.
Cranny was making her season track debut without expectations, but looked patient and confident in coming from behind to win in 4:38.44, a personal record. It placed her fifth on the Stanford's all-time indoor performers' list for that distance.
"It was amazing to be back," Cranny said. "Traveling with the team again was so much fun. I forgot how much I missed it."
Cranny stayed midpack early, but at the half had moved outside and into fourth, and then third. At the bell on Lied Recreational Center,'s 300-meter flat track, Cranny moved to the outside shoulder of leader Shannon Morton of Virginia Tech.
On the backstretch, Cranny pushed forward and used the turn to shoot herself into the lead. She rolled down the homestretch to win going away, with Morton second in 4:39.38.
"My coaches wanted to make sure I didn't put any pressure on myself today or have high expectations," Cranny said. "They reminded me that today is just a starting point, and it was important to just get back out there and compete."
Cranny's time would've been fast enough to get her into last year's NCAA Championships. However, she's No. 21 and only the nation's top 16 go to nationals on March 11-12 in Birmingham, Alabama. Stanford has one meet remaining before then, the MPSF Championships.
But qualification wasn't the goal. Simply racing for the first time since the NCAA Outdoor Championships last June was. Cranny was the NCAA 3,000 indoor runner-up last year, the top freshman at the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships, and the first true freshman to make the NCAA outdoor 1,500 final in four years.
The time was a personal record for the mile and placed her at No. 5 on Stanford’s all-time indoor list.
“Being injured was a great learning experience,” Cranny said. “It was difficult, but I’m so grateful for such amazing teammates, coaches, family and friends. I am so thankful to be on such a supportive team and with coaches that kept me patient and helped me get back to competing again.”
Among those whom Cranny has learned from is Aisling Cuffe, a fifth-year senior and two-time Pac-12 cross country champ who also is coming back from injury. Cuffe's positive attitude in the face of adversity has been an example.
"Aisling was a huge inspiration," Cranny said.
* * *
Ahead of his time
SEATTLE – Grant Fisher wasn’t wearing a Stanford singlet as he preserves a probable redshirt season, but made an incredible “collegiate” track debut by winning the 3,000 over a quality field at the Husky Classic.
Fisher outran not only NCAA outdoor 1,500 champ Chad Noelle of Oklahoma State, but 2010 NCAA 3,000 champ Dorian Ulrey, Pac-12 1,500 champ Izaic Yorks of Washington, and Cal 1,500 record-holder Thomas Joyce. Third-place finisher Patrick Corona, the 2015 Mountain West Conference outdoor 5,000 champion, set an Air Force Academy record in the race.
Fisher started conservatively and moved up the field. At the bell, he moved past York and into second behind Washington’s Colby Gilbert. Fisher passed Gilbert on the backstretch, pulling Yorks with him. As they kicked down the homestretch, they were side by side, before Fisher won with one last push to the line.
“There’s no better way to start a collegiate track career,” said Fisher, the only American high schooler to win two Foot Locker national cross-country championships and run a sub-4 mile, to Flotrack. “I feel great. There was no pressure, no expectations, just grab your own jersey and get going.”
If Fisher was representing Stanford, he most likely would have earned an NCAA qualifying spot. His time of 7:50.06 would stand at No. 6 in the nation right now. He said the final decision on redshirting during indoors and possibly outdoors is still to be decided.
“I really like the collegiate racing scene,” Fisher said to Flotrack. “It’s more physical, much more competitive. The guys are more mentally tough. To race against this type of competition is a dream come true.”
The meet also was successful for the Cardinal throwers. Discus first-team All-America Valarie Allman set a personal record in the 20-pound weight throw while finishing third at 60-10 ½, strengthening her hold on the No. 3 spot in Stanford history.
Other top-10 improvements or additions were by Lena Giger in the women’s shot put (No. 6, 50-10 for third) and Tristen Newman in the men’s shot put (No. 6, 57-3 ¾ for seventh. Giger also set a personal best of 53-3 in the weight throw.
Saturday's Results
Winners and Stanford competitors
Iowa State Classic
Ames, Iowa
Men
Mile – 1, Matthew Fayers (Oklahoma State) 3:59.25; 16, Patrick Perrier (Stanford) 4:04.13; 18, Justin Brinkley (Stanford) 4:04.49; 28, Tom Coyle (Stanford) 4:06.21.
Women
800 – 1, Hanna Green (Virginia Tech) 2:04.87; 6, Claudia Saunders (Stanford) 2:05.87; 7, Malika Waschmann (Stanford) 2:06.10.
Mile – 1, Elise Cranny (Stanford) 4:38.44; 17, Molly McNamara (Stanford) 4:50.22.
Don Kirby Elite Invitational
Albuquerque, N.M.
Men
400 – 1, Marcus Chambers (Oregon) 46.53; 8, Jackson Shumway (Stanford) 47.53; 14, Harrison Williams (Stanford) 47.97; 47, Daniel Brady (Stanford) 56.11.
60 hurdles – 1, A.J. Boully (Utah State) 7.98; 3, Harrison Williams (Stanford) 8.15.
Triple jump – 1, Shawn Johnson (Auburn) 53-10 ½ (16.42m); 9, Jaak Uudmae (Stanford) 50-6 ¼ (15.40m).
Women
400 – 1, Daye Shon Roberson (Oklahoma) 53.08; 8, Kristyn Williams (Stanford) 53.80; 9, Olivia Baker (Stanford) 53.90; 19, Kaitlyn Williams (Stanford) 55.44.
4x400 relay – 1, Oregon 3:31.96; 3, Stanford (G. Gayles, Baker, Crunkleton Wilson, Kr. Williams) 3:33.78 (school record).
Pole vault – 1, Kristen Brown (unattached) 14-6 (4.42m); 5, Kaitlyn Merritt (Stanford) 13-4 ¼ (4.07m); 10, Jackie McNulty (Stanford) 12-4 ½ (3.77m).
Triple jump – 1, Isabella Marten (California) 43-6 (13.26m); 12, Marisa Kwiatkowski (Stanford) 40-2 ¼ (12.25m).
Husky Classic
Seattle, Wash.
Men
Mile – 1, David Elliott (Boise State) 3:57.38; 57, Adam Thorne (Stanford) 4:11.25.
3,000 – 1, Grant Fisher (unattached) 7:50.06; 48, Patrick Gibson (unattached) 8:17.83; 49, Will Lauer (unattached) 8:17.98; 66, Jack Bordoni (Stanford) 8:24.22.
Shot put – 1, Ryan Crouser (Texas) 69-9 ¾ (21.28m); 7, Tristen Newman (Stanford) 57-3 ¾ (17.47m).
Women
Shot put – 1, Brittany Mann (Oregon) 52-10 ¼ (16.11m); 3, Lena Giger (Stanford) 50-10 (15.49m).
Weight throw – 1, Kaytlyn Coleman (Eastern Washington) 67-3 ½ (20.51m); 3, Valarie Allman (Stanford) 60-10 ½ (18.55m); 19, Lena Giger (Stanford) 53-3 (16.23m).
