UW Athletes Shatter 5 Records in One Day at Stanford

Three University of Washington runners made history on the same night, shattering decades-old records within minutes of each other at Stanford's legendary Cobb Track.

Ashley Schroeder started the record-breaking day just before noon with her very first javelin throw of the season. Her 175-foot, 10-inch toss sailed 15 feet past her personal best and broke a school record that had stood since 2011.

The javelin success didn't stop there. Junior Saydi Orange competed for the first time in nearly two years after an injury kept her sidelined throughout 2025. Her comeback throw of 173 feet, 8 inches beat her previous personal record by 11 feet and landed her at number three in university history.

As darkness fell at the Stanford Invitational, the distance runners took center stage. Chloe Thomas crossed the finish line in the women's 10,000 meters at 32:19.59, beating a 2019 school record by just one second in her first-ever track 10K.

In the very next race, Evan Jenkins lowered his own school record in the men's 10,000 meters with a time of 28:03.51. Jenkins had set the previous record two years earlier at the same meet.

Junior Alex Rhodes dominated the 400-meter dash with a career-best time of 45.22 seconds. His winning time ranks third in school history and leads the entire NCAA based on times entering the weekend, proving that patience and training pay off for athletes who transfer from smaller programs.

Why This Inspires

These athletes showed up ready to push themselves beyond what they thought possible. Schroeder exceeded her personal best by 15 feet on her first throw, while Orange proved that setbacks don't define your future after missing nearly two full seasons.

The back-to-back 10K records demonstrate something special about team culture. When Thomas broke her record, Jenkins watched and then went out and broke his own just minutes later, showing how teammates inspire each other to reach new heights.

Rhodes' journey from Division III national champion to NCAA leader proves that talent can bloom anywhere with the right support and dedication.

These five athletes didn't just break records on April 3rd. They showed thousands of young athletes watching that persistence, comeback stories, and believing in yourself can lead to extraordinary moments.