Grant Fisher may have won the U.S. Olympic Trials in impressive fashion on Friday night in Eugene, Ore., but two gutsy runs from Flagstaff-based Woody Kincaid and NAU graduate Nico Young propelled both to Paris for the Olympic Games.
Young, who sacrificed an almost assured NCAA 10,000-meter title by saving himself for the Olympic Trials 10K, did not disappoint. He went out fast behind early leader Conner Mantz, the Olympic Trials marathon winner, and stayed in the top two or three throughout, as Fisher bided his time and contemplated when to make his decisive move and Kincaid awaited to unleash his famous kick.
It looked as if Young, just 21, still had enough left to easily qualify, but he was challenged on the bell lap by Drew Hunter, who came from way back early on. But Young gritted it out to earn the final Olympic spot in 27:52.40.
Fisher won in 27:49.47 and Kincaid was second in 27:50.74. Both Kincaid and Young are coached by NAU’s Mike Smith. All three podium finishers attained the Olympic standard in March at The Ten, so they are set for the Paris Games.
NAZ Elite’s Futsum Zienasellassie, coming down from the marathon, finished 12th and McKirdy Trained’s Afwerki Zeru 18th.
Young’s race strategy was to remain near the front, which he did throughout. Mantz took out the pace fast, but he eventually faded and the lead pack settled into sub 28-minute pace in 80-degree temperatures in Eugene. Young answered moves by Sam Chelanga, Andrew Colley and Paul Chelimo.
He still looked strong with two laps to go, behind Fisher. But at the bell lap, Kincaid increased his pace and passed Young, though was too far back to rein in Fisher. That’s when Hunter pulled up on Young’s shoulder. But Young showed impressive fortitude and maturity in holding off the final challenge.
The 10,000 meters was the only final on the first day of competition, but other Flagstaff-based pros moved on in preliminary races.
A rundown:
— In the first heat of the m,en’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, Dark Sky’s Matt Wilkinson led from wire-to-wire to win and advance to Sunday’s finals. Wilkinson had the fastest time of the night in 8:20.61. In the second heat, his Dark Sky teammate, Isaac Updike, finished fourth in his heat to advance as well.
— In the first round of the men’s mile, NAU’s Colin Sahlman won a wild, scrambling finish in the first heat to move on to Saturday’s semifinals. In the second heat, Dark Sky’s Vince Ciattei finished a solid third, moving up from seventh in the final lap, to easily advance. His Dark Sky teammate, Kasey Knevelbaard failed to move on.
— In the women’s 5,000 meters, Naz Elite’s Abby Nichols surged in the bell lap to finish fifth in the faster heat and move on tothe finals in a race won by Elle St. Pierre. NAZ Elite teammate Katie Wasserman placed eighth in the heat but advanced on time, since the second heat went out decidedly slower.
Flag’s Rachel Smith ran a smart race in that second heat, remaining on the rail the entire way and cruised to the finals by finishing third in her heat. Elise Cranny won that heat.
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