In an interview published in the Ventura County Star on Thursday, NAU’s Nico Young confirmed months of speculation by telling writer Joe Curley: “I’m leaving after this year… I haven’t said that (before), but I think people know that. It just makes sense.”
This decision was expected, but, as Young told the Star, it is the first time he’s addressed the issue. In terms of eligibility, Young is a junior, but few expected him to return for his senior season — though some mused that he might in hopes of winning an elusive NCAA Cross Country individual title.
Most assume Young will keep NAU Coach Mike Smith as his professional coach — as Luis Grijalva and Abdihamid Nur did after their collegiate careers — but Young did not address that in the article. About his future, he told the Star: “There’s so many options and so many companies that I would like to work with. That process is going to start soon.”
Young will race at The Ten Saturday night in San Juan Capistrano in hopes of achieving the Olympic standard of 27 minutes. If he does that, it also will be an NCAA record.
Leave a Reply