To no one’s surprise, former NAU distance star Nico Young on Monday officially signed a professional contract to run for Adidas.
Young, who finished third in the Olympic Trials 10,000 meters last week (wearing an Adidas kit) to qualify for the Paris Games, had signed an NIL with Adidas in March, midway through his final outdoor track season as a Lumberjack. NAU, too, is sponsored by Adidas.
In previous interviews, Young has intimated that he plans to remain in Flagstaff under NAU coach Mike Smith — although that was not a part of Young’s Adidas announcement Monday. Young will double back and race in the semifinals of the Trials 5,000 meters on Thursday.
If, as expected, Young remains under Smith’s tutelage, it will add to an already impressive stable of distance runners Smith coaches, in addition to heading the NAU men’s and women’s teams.
Smith’s pro athletes now include: Young, Luis Grijalva, Woody Kincaid, Nikki Hiltz, Adbi Nur, Elly Henes, Rachel Smith, Galen Rupp. In addition, NAU associate head coach Jarred Cornfield now is coaching Elise Cranny, though Cranny remains in Colorado. Former NAU runner Theo Quax, who turned pro this spring, has remained in Flagstaff to train, but it is unclear whether Smith officially is his coach.
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