Athletics News

T&FN Interview — Woody Kincaid

T&FN Interview — Woody Kincaid

Kincaid’s baptism under international fire came in the steaming cauldron that was Tokyo’s Olympics. (GLADYS CHAI/ASVOM AGENCY)

THE LAST FEW MONTHS have been a whirlwind for Woody Kincaid. One of the brightest stars in Nike Bowerman’s formidable distance stable, he left the team and the coaching of Jerry Schumacher — an unthinkable move in the eyes of many. He wandered for a bit, designing his own training awhile before landing in Flagstaff to work alongside some of Northern Arizona coach Mike Smith’s best pro runners.

A solid collegiate runner for Portland, Kincaid flourished under the coaching of Schumacher, making both the ’21 Olympic and ’22 Worlds teams. Along the way he put together great PRs of 12:58.10 and 27:12.78. But would leaving the training group be a move he would regret?

He put that question to the test in January when he entered the 5000 at Boston U’s Thomas Terrier Classic. Down by 10m with a lap to go, he sprinted madly to defeat Joe Klecker and break the American Record with his 12:51.61. (Continued below)



A week later, in the New Balance GP 3000, he again showed off impressive fitness, using a 25.79 last lap to crush another solid field in 7:40.71. Suddenly, he was on the cover of T&FN and not so many people were questioning his decision-making.

We caught up with Kincaid on a lively phone call, one we mutually decided to interrupt at the halfway point so we could follow live the Madrid 1500 that Yared Nuguse won in…

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