Track and Field | 4/29/2016 3:28:00 PM

Meet Schedule | Live Results | Webcast (FloPRO subscription required)

STANFORD, Calif. – The San Francisco track and field team is set to compete in one of the nation's premier meets as the Dons take the field at the 21st Payton Jordan Invitational at Cobb Track and Angell Field on Sunday.  

Eight student-athletes will be competing for the Dons, as USF looks for its largest contingent of NCAA qualifiers in school history. In 2014, eight individuals represented USF in the West Regional (six women and two men). The Dons are on pace to see an even larger number of competitors in this year's regional field.

As it stands now, nine student-athletes rank in the top 48 in their event's descending order list (Mohamed Aziz – 3,000 m SC, Elena Burkard – 5,000 m, Ryan Driscoll – 3,000 m SC, Frédérique Latraverse – 10,000 m, Matt Leach – 5,000 & 10,000 m, Hugh Nicklason – 800 & 1,500 m, Weronika Pyzik – 5,000 m, Alex Short – 10,000 m, Charlotte Taylor – 5,000 & 10,000 m), but the next month of the competition across the nation still leaves plenty of room for movement up and down the rankings.

Nine current school records were set on the grounds at Stanford, and at last year's Payton Jordan three school records were broken. Recent graduates Sean Gomes (800 m), Jose Madera (10,000 m) and Robert Parker (javelin) each set new USF standards at the meet. Madera's time of 29:07.75 was good for 20th in the west an earned the senior his third straight spot in the 10K national semifinal field. Two of those three records still stand, but current freshman Hugh Nicklason has since raced to a new school best in the 800 m, at Stanford's Invitational held on April 2.

Being an Olympic year, the meet takes on special significance as a prime opportunity to reach the qualifying standards for the Olympics and Olympic Trials. In this meet, fast times are the goal, and with many runners coming down from altitude training for this meet, there is even more of focus on speed.

Many notable athletes in the sport are set to run at the Payton Jordan. U.S. Olympian Evan Jager, ranked No. 4 in the world in the steeplechase in 2015 will compete in the 1,500 meters, and Kenyan Sally Kipyego, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the 10,000, takes to the track in the 5,000 on Sunday. Oregon junior Edward Cheserek, a 13-time NCAA individual champion, will toe the line in the 1,500.

Tickets to the Payton Jordan are $10 for adults, and $5 for youth and seniors. Follow the meet live online with results updates, or watch via Flotrack's premium webcast.
 
USF Schedule of Events:
1,500 m (M) Heat 4 – 4:32. p.m.
Hugh Nicklason
 
1,500 m (W) Heat 6 – 11:22 a.m.
Kate Jamboretz
Weronika Pyzik
 
5,000 m (W) Heat 4 – 6:10 p.m.
Frédérique Latraverse
 
3,000 m Steeplechase (M) Heat 4 – 11 a.m.
Mohamed Aziz
Ryan Driscoll
 
Javelin (M) – 11 a.m.
Katoa Ahau
 
Javelin (W) – 1 p.m.
JoJo Ananouko