Stanford Invitational (CA)
RESULTS
ON-SITE COVERAGE COMING
National Leaders for Rocha (14:32), O'Keeffe (16:32)
Saucony Flo50 No. 6 Phillip Rocha of Arcadia threw down a nation-leading 14:32.5 for 5k to win the Seeded Boys race. The time is nearly 30 seconds faster than he ran last year to place third. The senior led Arcadia to runner-up honors in the team standings behind Saucony Flo50 No. 12 Jesuit, 100 points to 162.
Jesuit was led by junior Benjamin Holland in fourth place (15:10.1), as Sean Kurdy (13th, 15:26.3), Brendan Jones (26th, 15:39.3), Patrick Cummings (31st, 15:45.7) and Michael Lackner (40th, 15:55.8) averaged 15:35 and boasted a 45-second split. The team is undefeated this fall.
Fiona O'Keeffe, ranked Saucony Flo50 No. 2 and lead runner for Flo50 No. 17 ranked Davis, ran 16:32.02 for the fastest time of the day and a new national leader for 5k.
O'Keeffe won this event last year in a personal best time of 16:40. She is coming off a 16:41 three mile win at the De La Salle/Carondelet Nike CC Invitational, which broke a course record set by Foot Locker champion Julia Stamps.
Santa Cruz senior Cate Ratliff (pictured above) ran 16:49 for 5k to win the morning D4 race, perhaps giving D1 defending champion Fiona O'Keeffe some unexpected competition for fastest time of the day. At the time of her finish, her time stood as the third-fastest in the nation this year and beat out O'Keeffe's 16:59 for the fastest time in California.
The race is a breakout for Ratliff, who set a new course record at the Earlybird Invitational last weekend in 17:00 - a full minute faster than her previous course best.
Saucony Flo50 National XC Rankings: