Officially, Hoka NAZ Elite’s Adrian Wildschutt is now an Olympian. Saturday in Johannesburg, Wildschutt did the expected and easily won the South African Olympic Trials 5,000 meters.
His time, 13:30.38 pales compared to the 12:56.76 time (below the Olympic standard) he threw down indoors to beat NAU’s Nico Young in Boston. But then again, Wildschutt didn’t need to run as fast to claim the national title and a spot on the Olympic team. He was nearly four seconds faster Saturday than second place Elroy Gelant (13:34:04).
Wildschutt also has the Olympic standard in the 10,000 meters, after running 26:55.54 at The Ten in California, so he likely double in Paris.
Meanwhile, it was a steeplechase type of weekend for Under Armour Dark Sky Distance. On Friday night, Matt Wilkinson won the event at the Virginia Challenge in 8:18:53, a PR by five seconds and three seconds off the Olympic standard in the event.
At the Diamond League opener Saturday in Xiamen, China, Dark Sky’s Regan Yee, a Canadian Olympian, placed eighth at 9:31.47 and Dark Sky teammate Adva Cohen, representing Israel, placed 12 at 9:35.57. The event was won by Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech in a world-leading time of 8:55.40. Both Yee and Cohen are still seeking the Olympic standard in the women’s steeple (9:23).
On Sunday, NAZ Elite’s Alice Wright competes in the London Marathon.
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