Galen Rupp gave the crowd a thumbs up as he crossed the finish line well ahead of the pack Thursday, clinching his seventh consecutive national championship in the men’s 10,000 meter. He received a warm ovation from the sector of the crowd that still remembers him as the soft-spoken hero who delivered arguably the greatest running season in collegiate history six years ago.
“The support I received down here and everywhere has just been tremendous,” Rupp said. “[The thumbs up] was just a thank you to everybody for their continued support over the years.”
Despite his proven dominance in the event, many fans at TrackTown for the 2015 USA Track and Field championships have already branded an asterisk beside his name. The race was Rupp’s first since he released a statement refuting claims made by the BBC’s Panorama that he used the banned steroid testosterone at the behest of coach Alberto Salazar while competing for Oregon.
“It’s been hard, I’m not gonna lie,” Rupp said. “It’s been difficult to focus, but I’m really happy the report came out yesterday and I stand behind it 100 percent. I believe in clean sport and I think the truth will prevail.”
In the report, Salazar gives a detailed response to BBC, profusely denying any accusation of wrongdoing.
With temperatures steadily upward of 90 degrees and Excessive Heat Warning in effect in Northwest Oregon, Rupp wasn’t the only athlete who felt the heat.
“The thing about it is I’m not used to it,” U.S. Olympian sprinter Tyson Gay said of the extreme conditions. “It kinda winded me out a little bit, being in the humidity now, but I’m feeling pretty good.”
Gay, who withdrew from the U.S. team prior to the 2013 world championships due to doping allegations and served a year-long suspension, finished second in the men’s 100-meter. Gay is the third-fastest man in the event this year behind 2004 Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin.
Gatlin was able to sit out the 100-meter due to an automatic bye to worlds, but will compete in the 200-meter Saturday. Gatlin cruised to a new world-leading time of 19.68 seconds last time he ran the 200-meter at the 41st Nike Prefontaine Classic in May.
The world’s best athlete, UO alum Ashton Eaton, disappointed with a 14th place finish in men’s long jump, but also owns an automatic bye into worlds as the defending champion and world record holder. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin placed sixth with a leap of 8.09 meters, but previously stated the possibility of traveling to worlds was unlikely due to conflict with NFL training camp. “Maybe if it was the Olympics,” Goodwin told ESPN.
Jenna Prandini won her heat in the women’s 100-meter in 10.9 seconds, thus securing a spot on Team USA for the 2015 IAAF World Outdoor Championships set for August 22-30 in Beijing, China.
“I’m really happy with it,” Prandini said of her performance. “I think it was better than at nationals.”
Prandini played an integral role in the women of Oregon’s first NCAA title bid since 1985 less than two weeks ago. Prandini qualified in four events, the most by any athlete in the meet. She came from behind to win the 100-meter by .01 seconds with a lean at the finish line, and set the world’s fourth-fastest time in the 200-meter at 22.21 seconds.
“I love racing here,” Prandini said. “It’s always special to hear the fans screaming and yelling. You definitely get that sense of Hayward magic.”
Sam Crouser, who also just won an NCAA championship with the men of Oregon, placed third in the men’s javelin. His toss of 249 feet, one inch landed 23 and a half feet short of the winning mark, but still earned him a spot on Team USA come World Championships.
“I felt pretty good,” Crouser said. “I wish it had been a little farther, but now that I got third I can chase the standard. My season can keep going.”
Senior Will Geoghegan finished second in the semifinal heat of the men’s 1,500 behind former Oregon star Andrew Wheating, and both advanced to the finals. Wheating won five NCAA championships as a Duck from 2006 t0 2010: once in the 1,500, twice in the 800-meter and twice in distance medley relay. In his glory, he placed second in the ‘Oregon Sweep’ of the men’s 1,500 at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.
“In 2008 I didn’t know any better,” Wheating said. “The fun part of 2008 was there was no expectation, just run and see what could happen. The last two years it’s been, ‘Okay, you’ve reached the top. Now you’ve got to hold it and prove that you deserve to be here.’
“I needed a race like that to slap me back into reality. ‘You’re a professional, you’re good at what you do. Stop thinking otherwise,’” he reminded himself.
The USATF national championships continue Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Follow Kenny Jacoby on Twitter @KennyJacoby