Team also competes at Indoor Nationals

While spring break is a relaxing time for many Stanford students, the Cardinal track and field team was hard at work in both indoor and outdoor competition.

The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association named Stanford head coach — and director of the track and field program — Edrick Floreal as the Men’s West Regional Coach of the Year the first week of March. This was Floreal’s third time winning the honor, but first time on the men’s side. Floreal was commended for his success in leading the Stanford men to a second place finish at the MPSF Indoor Championships, as well as for pushing his athletes to achieve 16 provisional marks and two automatic qualifying marks.

After winning this honor, Floreal had the opportunity to take his group of elite athletes to Fayetteville, Ark. to compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships, with several Cardinal men and women earning All-American honors.

The Cardinal men were led by junior Elliott Heath, who placed seventh in the 5,000 meters with a time of 13:51.00, very close to his indoor personal best. Following Heath was junior Jake Riley, who finished 10th with a time of 13:59.85. From this race, Heath earned his fourth All-American award, while Riley earned his second.

Earning his first All-American honor was sophomore Dylan Ferris. He placed eighth in the mile with a time of 4:04.73 in his first NCAA Championships. Redshirt junior Justin Marpole-Bird also earned his first All-American, placing ninth in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:16.04. This was also Marpole-Bird’s first NCAA Championships appearance.

On the women’s side, the All-America title was provided by sophomore Katerina Stefanidi, who has showcased her pole-vaulting prowess all season long. Stefanidi tied for fifth in the event, matching her collegiate best mark of 14-1.25. This was her first All-American honor as well.

Although there were definitely some top performances by Stanford, they were not enough for Stanford to place at the championships. Florida won the meet on the men’s side, and Oregon claimed the women’s title.

After closing out the indoor season, the team turned its attention to the outdoor season, arguably much more competitive and highly charged than the indoor season. Setting the season off on a good note was the Stanford Invitational, the biggest track meet on the West Coast. The Invitational hosts thousands of high school and collegiate athletes, as well as a few pros from around the country.

The meet stood up to its name, providing some outstanding performances. The tone was set by Lisa Koll of Iowa State, who set a new 10,000-meter NCAA record, with a time of 31:18.07. This was also the fastest time in the world this year.

The Cardinal was also most happy to welcome an alumna who actually competed at the meet. Jillian Camarena (‘04) won the shot put by over 10 feet with a mark of 61-5.5. Camarena was an Olympian in the 2008 Beijing Games.

Leading the way for Stanford on the men’s side was sophomore Amaechi Morton, who won the 400 meters with a personal best time of 46.66 seconds. Morton also competed in the 200 meters, placing second with another personal best time — 21.33 seconds.

Other individual event winners for the Cardinal men were freshman Jules Sharpe, who won the high jump with a mark of 6-10.25, and sophomore Dylan Ferris, who won the 800 with an outdoor collegiate best time of 1:48.72. Ferris’ time was also the second fastest in the NCAA this outdoor season.

In the relays, the Stanford men captured the 4×400-meter title with a time of 3:11.90. The team consisted of Ferris, Morton and seniors Justin Reed and Durell Coleman. The men also captured the 4×100-meter relay title with a time of 40.78; this team consisted of all seniors: Danny Belch, Tyrone McGraw, Zach Chandy and Ryan Fisicaro.

Leading the way for the women was freshman Karynn Dunn, who won the collegiate meet title in the long jump with a mark of 19-8.25. Dunn scratched three of four jumps, but was able to notch a great mark on the one that did count.

“When the long jump came up I felt great, even though I fouled three of my four jumps,” Dunn said. “I managed to have one fair one that won me the collegiate long jump.”

“I plan on getting better by working on specific things while I am at practice and just trusting in myself and my coach” she added.

Junior Whitney Liehr also fared well in the long jump, placing second with a mark of 18-11.25. Junior Brittni Dixon-Smith had the best long jump mark of the day for Stanford (19-8.75), as she was competing in the invitational section of the meet.

Liehr came back to win the triple jump with a mark of 42-2, pushing her to the No. 1 spot in the NCAA so far this season. Also faring well in the field events were Stefanidi, who placed second in the pole vault to tie her collegiate best of 14-1.25, and redshirt senior Jaynie Goodbody, who placed third in the hammer throw with a mark of 181-6.

Next up for the Cardinal are the Texas Relays, UCLA Invitational and the Johnny Mathis Invitational this weekend.