The goal for former Oregon distance runner Galen Rupp on Sunday at Hayward Field was simple.
After winning the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championship 10,000 meter title on Thursday, punching his ticket to the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, two months from now, Rupp wanted to double-dip by also qualifying in the 5,000 meters.
Rupp, who currently runs for Nike Oregon Project, had already accomplished this feat twice in his career (2007, 2013). Still, he was nervous before the start of the race. He knew the 12-and-a-half race was going to be, what he called, “tactical.”
“[It] puts a little more added pressure because you know it’s going to be a big group at the end,” he said.
Rupp led that tactical group heading into the the final lap, but was passed by Bowerman Track Club’s Ryan Hill, who finished in first, and Saucony’s Benjamin True in the final 50 meters to finish in third place and qualify for August’s World Championships.
“Qualifying was the No.1 thing that I needed to do,” Rupp said. “Those guys all put up a great fight – it wasn’t easy today at all…I was just happy to hang onto third and represent the US in Beijing in eight weeks.”
Rupp finished with a time of 13:51.09 – he ran a time of 13:12.36 at the Prefontiane Classic at Hayward Field in May.
Also in the field was Nike’s Eric Jenkins, who graduated from Oregon earlier this month. He finished in seventh place with a time of 13:56.16.
Over concerns of heat, with temperatures reaching triple-digits in Eugene over the weekend, the 5,000 meter race was moved up to 10:45 a.m. on Sunday.
With about three laps to go, Jenkins felt a rain drop hit his face. At the time, he couldn’t tell if it was rain splashing him, or it was spit from one of his competitors that latched to the wind and hit him the face.
“That wakes you up a little bit,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins woke up to the front of the pack separating from the rest of the 24-person field. He hung with the group and made his move forward, as well.
After the race, Jenkins called his race “flat,” saying that he hung out in the back too much and that he could’ve run a smarter race.
“You can’t do that,” Jenkins said, regarding his stay in the back of the group. “You might be able to get away with it in the NCAA 10,000, but you can’t do it here.”
Still, Jenkins, in his World Championship competition debut, is using the race as a learning experience.
“I graduated from school,” Jenkins said, “but I’m still learning.”
Despite racing in the 10,000 meters on Thursday, Rupp said “there’s no excuses” for not finishing the race in first.
“I felt great today,” he said. “I don’t think it had anything to do with me being exhausted. Those guys were just better than me and that’s all that it comes down to.
“I thought doing what I did would’ve been enough to win but they all handled it very well and they had a great last lap. It’s going to be fun going to Beijing with a great group of guys.”
Follow Joseph Hoyt on Twitter @JoeJHoyt