Merrick Belding
Staff Writer
The Stanford Invitational was held this weekend giving athletes from around the country a chance to compete against the fastest and strongest athletes in Division 1 track and field.
Eric Causey and Jose Madera led the Men’ team and qualified themselves for NCAAs for a third year in a row. Causey placed 17th in the 5,000 m by running 13:59.15, the second fastest time of his career. “For where Eric is at right now, he did exactly what he needed to do,” Lehman-Winters said. “We have a lot of work to do, but it is so early.”
Madera also ran the second fastest time of his career in the 10,000 m and qualified for NCAAs with a time of 29:30.31. “Jose made some tactical errors, which cost him from running a lifetime best, but the fact is our goal for today was to get an NCAA qualifying mark and he most likely did that this evening,” Lehman-Winters said.
On the Womens side, leading San Francisco into the NCAA Preliminary Championships was the German Jana Soethout who reached the NCAA Championships last year in the 10,000 meters. Soethout placed 18th in the 10,000 meters on Friday with a time of 33:30.30. In the race was an Olympic bronze medalist, Shalane Flanagan, who placed second.
“Jana ran a very patient controlled race,” said head coach Helen Lehman-Winters. “She has a lot more in the tank and will gain a lot more fitness over the next two months. I am extremely pleased with where she is at.”
Elena Burkard also qualified for the NCAA preliminary championships, who ran the 5,000 m with a time of 16:09.24.
“Elena found herself in a less than ideal position as the rabbit stepped off the track at 2k and she was in the lead, which was way too early of a position to lead,” Lehman-Winters said. “We are very happy with where she is at and confident she will run well under 16:00 when she needs to.”
Kate Jamboretz represented USF in elite fashion on Saturday by finishing first in the 800 m on Saturday. Jamboretz ran a new personal best of 2:10.67, faster than any Don this season.
“Kate executed perfectly today,” head coach Helen Lehman-Winters said. “I am so proud of how she managed herself in a tightly packed field and then how she was able to battle the last 100 meters for the win. She is getting better and better with every performance, and she has a lot more in her.”
The Dons also competed in the San Francisco State Distance Carnival on Saturday. Senior Cameron Farrell placed sixth in the Javelin with an impressive throw of 48.00 m.
San Francisco’s next competition will be the Mt. SAC Invitational at Pamona.
Photo Credits: Dons Athletics
