Checking off Olympic standards was the primary goal for the top athletes in the Stanford Invite 10K, but racing instincts— as they are wont to do— took over, and we saw two great battles in the premiere events on Friday night in Palo Alto, California. 

WATCH DAY TWO OF THE STANFORD INVITE HERE!

Laura Thweatt (31:52.94 PR) and Leonard Korir (27:58.65) were victors when the dust settled, and each earned those coveted Olympic standards (28:00 for men, 32:15 for women) for their efforts.

Stanford men's 10,000m:

"27:59 - that was the goal." @kipchirchir85 and Leonard Korir #StanfordInvite pic.twitter.com/6UfiecSL54

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) April 2, 2016

"It feels great." - @thweatt11 on hitting the Olympic standard tonight. #StanfordInvite pic.twitter.com/mL7kQ1Xc8D

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) April 2, 2016

 

The 27-year-old Thweatt duked it out all race long with Aliphine Bolton, but finally shook her in the last lap as she blasted a 23-second PR. The Kenyan Bolton also went under 32 minutes for the first time in her career with a 31:54.20 runner-up finish.

The next six ladies behind the pair also went under the Olympic standard (32:15), but none did so in more exciting fashion than NAZ Elite’s Stephanie Bruce, who finished like a freight train to just dip under with her 32:14.42 eighth-place showing.

The 32-year-old, who, by the way, had a baby six months ago, ran her last mile unofficially in 5:03 to clock a 10-second PR and punch her ticket to Eugene, Oregon. She also unofficially won MVP of the night.

Steph Bruce is ecstatic:

When you run the Olympic 10k standard 6 months after giving birth! Congrats @Steph_Rothstein! pic.twitter.com/LWcwm0oHHD

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) April 2, 2016

Just ahead of Bruce, it was a big night for two collegians as Harvard’s Courtney Smith (32:08.32) and Tennessee’s Chelsea Blaase (32:08.39) slotted themselves into ninth and tenth all-time in NCAA history. The sophomore Smith chopped an unthinkable 2:45 off her old PR.

.@thweatt11 takes win in a new PR, and 8 women get the Olympic standard! #StanfordInvite pic.twitter.com/RRnBC4y19m

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) April 2, 2016

Note: Tara Welling was 3rd in 32:02.80 but was not immediately in the results 

The men’s race had a spotlight squarely on debutant German Fernandez, and he was solid tonight in running 28:06 to nab fifth. Fernandez was gassed once Korir and Co. started pushing hard after the bell, but for a guy who has struggled so mightily with injuries throughout his career, this was a big step in the right direction. No Olympic standard, at least yet, but he’s on his way to the Trials.

Upbeat German on the 10K debut: "A lot of laps"

1 to go! #StanfordInvite pic.twitter.com/gz1L41JNmv

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) April 2, 2016

 
German Fernandez and the 10K. Get used to it. 

U.S. Army teammates Korir and 2015 world finalist Shadrack Kipchirchir fought to the line, with the former Iona star gaining the slight edge, 27:58.65 to 27:58.91. NAZ Elite’s Scott Fauble will have to swallow the tough pill of falling excruciatingly short of the Olympic standard with his 28:00.43, but the silver lining was a massive 43-second PR.

Scott Fauble gave it everything to run 28:00, "pissed off" to just miss Olympic standard:

Waiting on full results here. Korir and Kipchirchir go 27:58, Fauble 28:00.43, German Fernandez 28:06 #StanfordInvite

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) April 2, 2016

For all the races and results from Day 1 at Stanford, click here.