Washington State University Athletics
Washington State University
Stanford Invitational
Cougs Start Strong in First Meets of Outdoor Season
April 03, 2026 | Track & Field
Stanford/San Francisco, California – The Cougars start their outdoor season hot with 15 personal bests and three runners finishing on the podium. Jepkorir finished highest for the Cougs, in second, with a personal best steeplechase time.
Stanford Invitational
Caroline Jepkorir was impressive in her first steeplechase event of the year, finishing Section 1 in second with a personal best time of 9 minutes and 59.08 seconds. This time is roughly 6 seconds faster than her previous personal best. Mercy Biwott competed in Section 2 of the steeplechase, finishing on the podium in third with a personal best time of 10 minutes and 10.99 seconds.
Hailey Cossey was the highest WSU finisher in the Women's 1500m, finishing her section in fifth with a personal best time of 4 minutes and 31.13 seconds
Kylah Madaraiaga and Maya Nichols both set personal bests in the Women's 5000m. Nichols smashed her previous best by almost a whole minute.
Evans Kurui started his outdoor season off hot, finishing in third in Section 1 with a time of 27 minutes and 48 seconds.
Mike Fanelli Invitational
Aleeya Cossey started the morning out for the Cougs with a top 10 finish in the Women's 5000m, finishing with a personal best time of 16 minutes and 40.82 seconds. Lehner, Sletner, and Hoyt also set personal bests in the race, with Hoyt breaking her old time by 30 seconds.
In the Men's 5000m, Eric Swedin was the highest Coug finisher, finishing only .02 off of his personal best time. Leo Cook set a personal best time in the race of 14 minutes and 49.30 seconds.
Eveline Sitnika ran the first steeplechase of her collegiate career, finishing in 14th with a time of 10 minutes and 56.14 seconds. Micaiah Aden broke his personal best time in the Men's steeplechase, with an impressive time of 9 minutes and 20.69 seconds.
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Stanford Invitational — Friday Results
Women's 3000m Steeplechase (Section 1)
Caroline Jepkorir, 9:59.08, 2nd [PR]
Women's 3000m Steeplechase (Section 2)
Mercy Biwott, 10:10.99, 3rd [PR]
Women's 1500m (Section 6)
Hailey Cossey, 4:31.13, 5th [PR]
Women's 1500m (Section 5)
Riley Pyeatt, 4:36.75, 9th
Women's 5000m (Section 4)
Kylah Madariaga, 16:35.73, 10th [PR]
Maya Nichols, 16:39.16, 11th [PR]
Women's 5000m (Section 3)
Faith Kipmaiyo, 16:37.42, 21st [PR]
Women's 10000m (Section 1)
Zenah Cheptoo, DNF
Men's 10000m (Section 1)
Evans Kurui, 27:48.06, 3rd
Josphat Meli, DNF
Men's 10000m (Section 2)
Ku Stevens, 28:44.67
Muhammed Ahmed, 28:54.90
Mike Fanelli Invitational — Friday Results
Women's 5000m
Aleeya Cossey, 16:40.82, 8th [PR]
Jaylyn Lehner, 17:07.80, 43rd [PR]
Taylor Sletner, 17:09.23, 46th [PR]
Lauren Hoyt, 17:16.80, 56th [PR]
Men's 5000m
Eric Swedin, 14:37.98, 51st
Leo Cook, 14:49.30, 66th [PR]
Grayson Wilcott, 14:56.20, 82nd
Evan Bruce, 15:10.19, 111th
Women's 3000m Steeplechase
Evelina Sitnika, 10:56.14, 14th [PR]
Men's 3000m Steeplechase
Micaiah Aden, 9:20.69, 19th [PR]
Women's 1500m
Isabela Alvarado, 4:33.27, 24th [PR]
Men's 1500m
Aiden Emerson, 3:52.99, 34th
Ferran Verges, 3:55.92, 54th
Ricard Verges, 4:00.37, 92nd [PR]
Chase Bartlett, 4:02.67, 104th
Players Mentioned
