Following loss to Lomong at 2019 national final, Chelimo regains title by holding off Bowerman teammates with tactical stretch run to position himself for an opportunity at another medal in Tokyo; Fisher and Kincaid join Rupp as only American male athletes to qualify in both 5,000 and 10,000 in past 60 years

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

As long as the Nike Bowerman Track Club continues to showcase the deepest group of American men’s distance runners, and for as many years as Paul Chelimo remains a legitimate contender to compete for national titles, it seems inevitable their paths will continue to cross in the 5,000 meters, with spots on Olympic and World Championship teams at stake.

After Chelimo was edged by Lopez Lomong in the 2019 final in Des Moines, Iowa, with fellow Bowerman athlete Woody Kincaid placing third, the athletes were reacquainted Sunday during a chaotic and tactical race in the late morning, before competition was paused because of excessive heat at the United States Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Although Lomong was injured and unable to race, fellow Bowerman athlete Grant Fisher joined Kincaid in the final in their quest to become the first pair of athletes to both qualify for the 5,000 and 10,000 in the same year in Trials history.

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And as expected, just like the championship race two years ago, as well as the final at the 2016 Trials, the final lap saw several momentum shifts and lead changes, with Chelimo drifting out to lane four in the final 25 meters to ensure his victory in 13 minutes, 26.82 seconds, ahead of Fisher (13:27.01) and (13:27.13).

Oregon standout Cooper Teare, the reigning NCAA Division 1 outdoor champion, finished fourth in 13:28.08.

“What happened in 2019 was a surprise to me. I was confident I was going to come in and win. This year and (that) year are different. This year, I came out here with a different mentality. I knew I wasn’t the favorite and I had to make sure that I put in the work to come out successful,” said Chelimo, who won his third 5,000 national title.

“I knew their big goal was to take me down today and make sure that they win, and that’s what I could see in them. I wasn’t going to let it happen. Whatever I do, I train hard, and I feel like I train even harder than them. Why come and lose the race when I train harder than them? I really like it. They’re really young guys and Bowerman Track Club always shows up. You always have to have challenges, and always need people showing up, because it’s a good way to gauge my fitness heading into to Tokyo.”

Chelimo, the reigning Olympic silver medalist, was repeatedly questioned during his post-race media availability about his decision to drift wide across multiple lanes as he raced down the final stretch. But after being clipped an estimated 10 times during the race, Chelimo defended his tactics, by acknowledging that he never impeded the progress of Fisher or Kincaid.

“Those Bowerman guys came in here fit. They didn’t show up to take second and third, they came here to win,” Chelimo said. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to give it to them mentally too, and make sure they put in all the work and race the longest distance, so they know if they win, they put in a lot of work. That was one of my goals and one of my tactics, to take them all the way to the stands, as long as I don’t impede them.”

Fisher, who placed second behind Kincaid in the 10,000 final June 18, acknowledged the savvy veteran approach of Chelimo.

“That is just how you race. I don't think anything illegal was done. The most advantageous thing to do on the last lap is to run the shortest line yourself and force everybody else to run a longer line. We closed pretty hard today and tenths of seconds are really important,” Fisher said. “If you have a good position and if someone else has a bad position, you just don't want to give it to them. That's how you race. You put yourself in the best position possible while limiting other people's options. That is just smart racing.”

Despite closing in 52.74 for the fastest final 400, just like he did in the 10,000 championship, Kincaid knew he wasn’t going to be able to catch Chelimo down the straightaway, so he made sure he remained in front of Teare to ensure his opportunity to pursue the distance double if he chooses in Tokyo.

Fisher and Kincaid joined Galen Rupp in 2012 as the only American male athletes in the past 60 years to qualify for the Olympics in both events. Since the 10,000 was added to the Trials schedule in 1948, only six U.S. male athletes have placed in the top three in both races.

“That’s what we’ve always hoped that we could do, and to come out and do it is what we dream about,” Kincaid said. “I hope it sets the standard for all of Bowerman that we can do it, and hopefully we can do it again for teams to come.

“I think it’s a huge advantage to have somebody there that you know you’ve been training with and you know is gonna help you if you need it, and mentally that’s a huge edge.”

Teare remained optimistic that he might still have an opportunity to race in Tokyo, if either Fisher or Kincaid decide only to focus on the 10,000.

“I can’t really put an emotion on it right now, it hasn't really set in. Thinking four years ago, as a senior in high school, that I would get fourth place in the 5K at the Olympics Trials, I would’ve never thought that in a million years,” Teare said. “All of the stuff that I have done in the past month, it’s been the time of my life, really, and you can’t put a price on those achievements. Who knows, there is still a shot. The Olympic dream is still somewhat alive with some guys doubling, so maybe they’ll give me a chance to have my shot at the Olympics, but if not, I’m still happy with my performance, and getting fourth place is pretty surreal.”