Stanford’s Robinson Clinches Top 3 in NCAA Athletics

Stanford’s Performance at The NCAA Cross Country Championships

Stanford senior Ky Robinson showcased an exceptional performance at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, securing a third-place finish. His performance greatly contributed to Stanford men’s team capturing the eighth position on the leaderboard.

The Stanford women’s team also shone, with freshman Amy Bunnage leading the charge and securing the 59th position. The women’s team achieved an overall 12th place ranking.

This marked the 22nd instance when both Stanford’s men and women’s teams ranked among the top 12 in the same year. The men’s team also celebrated their 10th consecutive top-10 finish, reinforcing Stanford’s dominant presence in the sport.

In the 10K race, Robinson, the Pac-12 and West Region champion, bravely took the lead from Harvard’s Graham Blanks and New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel with just over two kilometers to go. Despite the tough competition, Robinson held onto the third position, marking his highest finish at this race and his second All-America honor in cross country.

Robert DiDonato, a sophomore, ended the race as Stanford’s No. 2 runner, marking his highest finish among the team since the 2022 USF Invitational. DiDonato managed to secure the 49th position, making him just nine places short of his first All-America honor.

The top five Stanford women ended the 6K course within 34 seconds of each other. The women’s team garnered 357 points, ranking them third among the Pac-12 teams.

Bunnage, the Pac-12 champion, showcased a strong performance, finishing the race in 20:18.3 and securing the seventh position among freshmen.

Rounding off the Stanford men’s team’s performance was Cole Sprout who finished 95th, followed by Evan Burke in 129th. This effort resulted in Stanford scoring 291 points, making them the top team in the Pac-12 Conference.

The 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships marked an end to Stanford’s 123rd year in the sport, a testament to the institution’s long-standing legacy and commitment to excellence in cross country.