Hicks hold off Alabama’s Kiprop in thrilling 10,000 finish, with Venters elevating to No. 6 female athlete in collegiate history, supported by Kemboi, Vestri and Kostarellis in NCAA all-time top 30; Loras’ Parker lowers own Division 3 10,000 record, with John Carroll’s Phillip eclipsing men’s 5,000 mark

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

PALO ALTO, Calif. – Whether it was another career highlight for Stanford’s Charles Hicks or the emotions showcased following a powerful performance by Utah’s Emily Venters, the college and professional distance races Friday at the Stanford Invitational captivated the crowd at Cobb Track and Angell Field during one of the most memorable nights in the meet’s history.

Add a pair of anticipated debuts for Washington, as well as Division 3 records for Loras’ Kassie Parker and John Carroll’s Alex Phillip, along with a near third all-time mark by Ethan Gregg of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and the depth on display for the final six hours of the event was truly remarkable.

INTERVIEWS | RESULTS

Venters became only the eighth female athlete in collegiate history to eclipse the 32-minute barrier in the 10,000 meters, and Hicks sent the Stanford faithful home happy with an impressive surge on the final straightaway to edge Alabama’s Victor Kiprop.

Venters elevated to No. 6 all-time with her 31:48.35 performance, covering the final 1,600 in 4:56.74 to lower her personal best by more than a minute.

The Utes’ All-American was moved to tears following the race when she reflected on her journey from a Kansas high school standout to Boise State to Colorado, before eventually joining the Utah program in 2021, overcoming injuries that sidelined her for multiple seasons along the way.

Venters produced the fastest collegiate effort since 2015, leading a group of 19 athletes to sub-33 marks in the top section.

Everlyn Kemboi of Utah Valley ascended to No. 10 in collegiate history by placing second in 32:03.30, punctuated by a 70.98 final lap.

Syracuse’s Amanda Vestri, who returned during indoor season to earn All-America honors after being sidelined with injuries for more than a year, elevated to the No. 16 all-time collegiate performer by taking third in 32:08.26.

Baylor’s Annamaria Kostarellis shined in her 10,000 debut by clocking 32:13.77, good for No. 26 in NCAA history.

Parker, who set the Division 3 record at last season’s Stanford Invitational, earned eighth in 32:36.22, lowering her mark of 33:03.61 from a year ago.

Although none of the male competitors in the top section of the 10,000 climbed the all-time collegiate ranks, there were plenty of highlights produced by a deep field, none more exciting than Hicks holding off Kiprop by a 27:57.47 to 27:57.63 margin, covering the final 800 meters in 2:01.94.

Hicks, the Division 1 cross country national champion, energized the loyal Cardinal supporters with his impressive closing speed in the last 75 meters to get past the Alabama standout, who ran the final 400 in 59.12.

Stanford’s Ky Robinson took third in 27:58.74, instrumental in helping Hicks in the final kilometer in their pursuit of qualifying marks to run in May at the NCAA West Regional in Sacramento.

Tulsa teammates Scott Beattie (27:58.92) and Peter Lynch (27:59.27), competing unattached, also eclipsed the 28-minute barrier.

Cornell’s Perry Mackinnon won the second section of the men’s 10,000 with an impressive 61.69 split of his own on the final lap to triumph in 28:33.90, with Cal Baptist’s Valentin Soca placing second in 28:34.34.

Gregg secured sixth in 28:40.35, the No. 2 performance in Division 3 history, trailing only Ian LaMere of Wisconsin-Platteville and his 2016 mark of 28:38.63 at Stanford.

After watching teammate Annabel Stafford set the Colorado State record by clocking 32:58.14 in the top section of the 10,000, Sarah Carter nearly eclipsed the mark in the second heat, before winning in 32:58.20.

Lily Tomasula-Martin also took third in 33:03.32 for the Rams.

Linda Perez smashed the UC Riverside program record, lowering her personal-best by nearly a minute to secure second in 32:59.10. Collette Lowengrub was also well under the previous Highlanders’ standard, finishing sixth in a lifetime-best 33:17.02.

Following transfers from their respective Ivy League programs to Seattle, Sam Ellis and Kayley DeLay both made their official Washington debuts, and did so in impressive fashion.

Ellis, a former Princeton standout, won the men’s 1,500 in 3:40.81, just ahead of Colorado freshman Isaiah Givens in 3:41.48.

Iowa State’s Ezekiel Rop won his section in 3:40.96.

DeLay, an All-American at Yale, prevailed in the women’s 3,000 steeplechase in 9:48.44, with Wyoming’s Katelyn Mitchem securing second in a personal-best 9:52.49 and Arkansas’ Laura Taborda taking third in 9:54.59.

Brigham Young’s Kenneth Rooks pulled away from a strong field in the final lap to win the men’s 3,000 steeplechase in 8:33.60, with Portland State’s Jordan Macintosh placing second in 8:39.01.

Anthony Camerieri of Ole Miss withstood several challenges in the men’s 5,000 to prevail in 13:26.58, with Kansas’ Chandler Gibbens finishing second in 13:28.71 and Northern Arizona’s Theo Quax taking third in 13:29.35.

Dillon Powell, an NCAA cross country, indoor and outdoor champion at Colorado School of Mines, ascended to the No. 4 performer in Division 2 history by finishing fourth in 13:30.93. Portland’s Matt Strangio was fifth in 13:31.87.

Air Force’s Eli Bennett emerged victorious in his section in 13:42.70, edging New Mexico’s Kevin Mulcaire in 13:42.99.

Phillip placed eighth in 13:47.41, setting the Division 3 record by eclipsing the 2019 mark of 13:51.40 established by Dhruvil Patel of North Central.

Chinese professional athlete WuGa He triumphed in the women’s 5,000 in 15:26.58, with the aggressive pace benefiting several collegiate competitors, most notably Grace Fetherstonhaugh of Oregon State, who ran a lifetime-best 15:30.55.

Stanford’s Lucy Jenks also celebrated a personal-best 15:33.13 to take third, with Brigham Young freshman Jenna Hutchins finishing fourth in 15:35.73 and Iowa State’s Cailie Logue earning fifth in 15:36.40.

Oklahoma State’s Billah Jepkirui held off Utah’s Simone Plourde by a 4:14.00 to 4:14.24 margin in the top section of the women’s 1,500 meters, with New Mexico’s Abbe Goldstein grabbing third in 4:15.64 and Brigham Young’s Clare Seymour placing fourth in 4:16.12.

BYU freshman Riley Chamberlain won her section in 4:18.31.