2002 Cardinal Invitational
Friday, May 3
Cobb Track and Angell Field
Tickets available on Friday at Payton Jordan Plaza
$10 adults, $5 kids 12 and under, Free with Stanford ID
Schedule and entry list available at:
http://gostanford.fansonly.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/101901aac.html
In its seventh year the Cardinal Invitational has developed into
one of the premier track and field meets of the outdoor season. Each
May, college and elite level athletes gather at Cobb Track and Angell
Field with intentions of achieving qualifying marks for the season's
remaining championship meets. Tonight's athletes will have their
eyes set on the standards for the NCAA Championships in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana and the USATF Championships at Stanford University on June
21-23. Hundreds of top collegiate athletes and international stars
are scheduled to compete before an anticipated sold-out Cobb Track
and Angell Field stadium assuring top performances in virtually every
event.
After American and U.S. all-comers records were set in the men's
10,000 meters at the 2001 Cardinal Invitational, Stanford Director of
Track and Field Vin Lananna has assembled one of the finest women's
10,000 meter fields in U.S. history to highlight the 2002 Cardinal
Invitational. The United States' top female distance runners will
tour Cobb Track for 25 laps (6.2 miles) on Friday evening as they
attempt to break the 10,000 meter American record of 31:19.89 held by
Lynn Jennings since 1992. Among those expected to challenge the
American record are U.S. distance stars Deena Drossin, Jen Rhines,
Kim Fitchen, and Nicole Jefferson. As a two-time U.S. 10,000 meter
champion and six time U.S. cross country champion, Drossin is
considered the top women's distance runner in the United States.
Drossin made international headlines on April 7 when she set a world
record of 14:54 in the women's 5K at the Carlsbad 5000 road race in
San Diego. In March, Drossin finished second overall at the World
Cross Country Championships in Dublin, Ireland and last November she
became the fourth fastest American ever in the marathon after her
debut effort in New York City. In 2001, Jen Rhines was ranked second
in the U.S. in the 10,000 meters and finished 22nd at the World
Championships. Hometown favorite Kim Fitchen enters tonight's race
with the fastest 10,000 meter time in the nation at 32:18.82 set at
the Stanford Invitational in March. Nicole Jefferson is perennially
one of the top women's distance stars in America.
Competing against the Americans in their record attempt will be
a contingent of international stars including Yoko Shibui of Japan,
Canadian Courtney Babcock, and Marie Davenport of Ireland. Shibui
had the fastest time in the world in the women's marathon in 2001 and
will certainly be a factor in tonight's race. Babcock currently
leads the world in the women's 5000 meters with a time of 15:10.66.
Marie Davenport has one of the world's top times in the 5000 meters
this season.
The men's 10,000 meters will again be one of the highlights of
the Cardinal Invitational. Meb Keflizighi returns to Cobb Track and
Angell tonight for the first time since setting an American record of
27:13.98 in the 10,000 meters at the 2001 Cardinal Invitational. The
entrance of Kenya's Luke Kipkosgei, Albert Chepkurui, and Daniel
Gachara will assure a fast pace. Kipkosgei had the third fastest
10,000 meter time in the world in 2001 and recently placed second at
the World Cross Country Championships. After placing sixth at the
World Cross Country Championships, Chepkurui is one of Kenya's rising
stars at the age of 20. Look for Canadian national record holder
Jeff Schiebler, U.S. Olympians Abdi Abdirahman and Brad Hauser, and
Great Britain Olympian Karl Keska to be amongst the leaders.
Olympian Bolota Asmeron will push the pace in the 5000 meters
along with Anthony Famiglietti, one of the top steeplechasers in the
United States. Eastern Michigan's Boaz Cheboiywo, the 2001 NCAA
cross country champion, will also be a factor. The meet and Cobb
Track record of 13:24.13 set by Tim Broe in 2001 may be in jeopardy
tonight.
Indoor American record holder Nicole Teter will highlight the
women's 800 meters. At the 2002 USATF Indoor Championships in March,
Teter captured her first national title in record fashion with a time
of 1:58.71. Teter also has the top time by an American runner in the
1500 meters this year.
Participants in the men's 1500 meters will be chasing the IAAF
"A" standard of 3:34.90 needed to compete in next year's World
Championships. Stanford graduate Jason Lunn and Gabe Jennings will
lead the charge as both enter with outstanding credentials. Jennings
was a semifinalist in the 1500 meters at the 2000 Olympics while Lunn
is the 2002 U.S. Indoor champion in the mile. Jennings and Lunn have
1500 meter bests of 3:35.21 and 3:36.50 respectively.
Hundreds of other top university and post collegiate athletes
will be vying for championship performances at tonight's Cardinal
Invitational. 2000 Olympic gold medalist Nick Hysong will compete in
the pole vault. Hysong was ranked #1 in the world in 2000 and sixth
in the world in 2001. American record holder Elizabeth Jackson will
compete in the steeplechase. Jackson has a best of 9:41.94 and was
ranked in the top five in the world last year. Ray Hughes and Robert
Gary will battle in the men's steeplechase as both were ranked in the
top ten in the U.S. in 2001. Competing for the Nike Farm Team, U.S.
Olympian Bryan Woodward will highlight the men's 800 meters.
We are confident you will enjoy the 2002 Cardinal Invitational.
Many of the most prominent American and international stars will
compete at Cobb Track and Angell Field as the championship portion of
the 2002 outdoor track and field season gets under way at Stanford.
Enjoy the meet!
