IN A THRILLING TACTICAL battle Nico Young captured his first national title by besting Olympic bronze medalist Grant Fisher in a 25-lap contest that saw them both, along with 3rd-placer Graham Blanks, better 4:00 for the last four laps. Young, just days after his 23rd birthday, took the title in a modest 29:02.12.
To say the racing began at a pedestrian clip is understatement. Wisconsin’s Bob Liking drew the short straw and handled the early lead, passing 1600 in 4:39.42, followed closely by Casey Clinger and Fisher. Aiden O’Gorman took over before 3200 (9:30.13) and tried several times to run wide and hand off the lead. After 5000 in 14:53ish, Northern Arizona alum Drew Bosley and Gonzaga product James Mwaura took turns up front, but the pace still languished.
At 6000, after a 76-second lap, Bosley started injecting some effort. After 8K (23:59.00), he hit a 65.39 lap that encouraged Fisher to move out of the pack and to the front. Young and Blanks followed; Woody Kincaid — the only other man in the field with the standard — could not cover the move.
Fisher hit laps of 60.17, 59.39 and 60.93 at the front but could not shake his pursuers. On the final backstretch, Young flew past and Blanks moved alongside Fisher, who did not relent. Off the final turn, Fisher launched his bid.
This time it was Young who could not be reeled in. The 3rd-placer in last year’s Trials — and 12th in the Olympic final — the Northern Arizona alum finished off a last lap of 56.53 and a final 1600 of 3:57.03 to record his first-ever USATF title. Fisher crossed in 29:02.37, his final 4 taking 3:57.82. Blanks, 23, followed in 29:03.66, covering the last 4 in 3:57.69.
Unquestionably, it’s a strong 10K squad; all have Olympic finals experience, Blanks having placed 9th in the Paris 5000 last summer.
Said the winner, noting that he’s open to the thought of Tokyo gold, “I’ve got a lot of confidence going into Worlds. I’ll be excited to see how we do against other countries.”
After his win in Oslo’s Diamond League in an outdoor American Record 12:45.27, Young says his confidence has taken a tremendous jump. He confessed that he thought of only racing the 5000 here but said. “Sometimes I run better after having already run one event, so I’m thinking that maybe I’ll feel better…
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