Whittaker edges reigning NCAA Division 1 indoor mile champion, as Stanford has five athletes in top seven in 1,500 meters; Georgia’s Minichello prevails in men’s javelin against Williamson and Thompson, with UTEP’s Morais also victorious

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

WALNUT, Calif. – Olivia Howell knew after winning the NCAA Division 1 indoor mile title March 11 in Albuquerque, N.M., that there would be plenty of competitors lining up to face her during the outdoor season, a challenge the Illinois junior welcomed this spring.

Howell considered it the ultimate sign of respect Friday at the 63rd Mt. SAC Relays when Stanford entered five athletes in the women’s invitational elite 1,500-meter race, including three members of the indoor distance medley national championship lineup, with freshmen Roisin Willis and Juliette Whittaker also taking the top two spots in the 800 as well.

Whittaker, a two-time New Balance Nationals Indoor mile champion during her prep career at Mount de Sales Academy in Maryland, was able to surge past Howell in the final 25 meters and prevail by a 4:12.49 to 4:13.27 margin at Hilmer Lodge Stadium.

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Willis took third in 4:13.31, Melissa Tanaka was fourth in 4:13.91, Lucy Jenks placed fifth in 4:14.81 and Ellie Deligianni secured seventh for the Cardinal in 4:19.47.

Another reigning NCAA champion, Marc Anthony Minichello of Georgia, achieved success Friday against a pair of professional competitors in the men’s invitational elite javelin field.

Minichello, who won the title for Penn before transferring to Georgia this year, produced a third-round mark of 264-6 (80.62m) to triumph against Capers Williamson at 262-3 (79.95m) and Curtis Thompson with his 260-10 (79.52m) effort.

Arianne Morais of UTEP, a Florida transfer representing Norway, secured a significant victory in the women’s invitational elite javelin.

Morais prevailed against a field that included American professional athlete and former U.S. champion Ariana Ince and reigning NCAA Division 1 champ Ashton Riner of Brigham Young, delivering a third-round throw of 188-3 (57.38m) to hold off Lianna Davidson of Texas A&M at 183-11 (56.07m).

Veerle Bakker, a Dutch competitor and former Portland athlete, won the women’s invitational elite 5,000 meters in 15:39.42.

Dani Shanahan, a Loyola Marymount graduate representing McKirdy Trained, was second in 15:41.06 and Appalachian State assistant coach Tristin Van Ord, representing On ZAP Endurance, took third in 15:42.78.

Ryan Ford, an Iowa State graduate also representing On ZAP Endurance, won the men’s invitational elite 5,000 in 13:43.43.

Eastern Kentucky’s Abdelhakim Abouzouhir placed second in 13:47.71 and Dan Schaffer of On ZAP Endurance secured third in 13:48.26.

Virginia Tech’s Viktor Idhammar emerged victorious in the men’s invitational elite 1,500 in 3:42.83 and Kansas State’s Hadley Splechter was second in 3:43.98.

South Dakota’s Gennifer Hirata produced a personal-best 14-7.25 (4.45m) clearance to win the collegiate/open section of the women’s pole vault. Hirata also needed a third-attempt clearance at 14-5.25 (4.40m).

Duke’s Megan McGinnis produced the fastest times across all sections combined in the collegiate/open women’s 200 and 400. McGinnis ran a lifetime-best 52.06 in the 400 and added a wind-aided 23.16 in the 200.

Minnesota State’s Denisha Cartwright elevated to No. 5 in NCAA Division 2 history in the women’s 100-meter hurdles with a wind-legal 13.04 performance in the collegiate/open final.

Cal Poly Pomona’s Ryan Fields ran a wind-legal 13.75 seconds in the men’s collegiate/open 110 hurdles to ascend to the No. 20 all-time Division 2 competitor.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps ran the fastest Division 3 time this season in the men’s collegiate/open 4x400-meter relay, clocking 3:10.56 to finish fourth overall among all sections combined.

In the 20,000-meter race walk events that opened Friday’s schedule, Mexico’s Ever Jair Palma Olivares triumphed in 1:23:00.55, with American Nick Christie placing second in 1:26:14.54.

Miranda Melville was the fastest female athlete in the mixed elite race, clocking 1:37:45.71, with fellow American Maria Michta-Coffey just behind her in 1:38:23.23.