EUGENE — Woody Kincaid and Cole Hocker sailed into the final of the 5,000 meters by winning their semifinal heats Thursday in the U.S Olympic trials at Hayward Field.
Both ran their heats like it was the final, even though each needed only a top-five finish to qualify automatically.
Both runners already made the U.S. Olympic team earlier in the meet, Hocker by virtue of winning the 1,500 and Kincaid with his second-place finish in the 10,000. But both had a nose for the finish line Thursday on the final lap in front of a roaring crowd of 11,851.
Hocker, the former University of Oregon star, tore through the final 400 in 53.11 seconds, going all-out on the last lap to cross in 13 minutes, 33.45 seconds.
“I wish I could have coasted in,” Hocker said.
Then again, that probably isn’t in his makeup.
“I enjoy racing and I love winning ...” Hocker said. “I haven’t lost a prelim or the final in the 15 (1,500). I hope I can keep that up.”
Fellow UO grad Cooper Teare placed third in Hocker’s heat, finishing in 13:34.07, also advancing to the final.
Kincaid’s heat was faster, and he didn’t hold back, going wide on the home straight of the last lap to win in 13:23.91. The former University of Portland star closed with a 54.43 last lap.
If Kincaid left anything in last week’s 10,000 final, it wasn’t obvious.
“I didn’t have anything to lose,” Kincaid said. “It’s easy to go for the win when you’re already on the team. Might as well, right? Halfway through we knew our heat was faster. I was there and I thought I would practice winning.”
U.S. record-holder Grant Fisher qualified with a comfortable third-place finish in the second heat. Also getting through were former UO runner Sam Prakel, Sean McGorty of the Eugene-based Bowerman Track Club and former West Salem High School star Ahmed Muhumed.
Sha’Carri Richardson waves to the crowd before her heat of the women’s 200 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Sha’Carri Richardson reacts before her heat of the women’s 200 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Sha’Carri Richardson gets set for her heat of the women’s 200 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Gabby Thomas looks on before her heat of the women’s 200 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Noah Lyles shows off his Yu-Gi-Oh! cards before his men’s 200-meter heat on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Noah Lyles looks on before his heat of the men’s 200 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Noah Lyles gets set for the start of his men’s 200-meter heat on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Kenny Bednarek (left) leads his heat of the men’s 200 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone leads her heat of the women’s 400-meter hurdles on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene. McLaughlin-Levrone won the heat.
Anna Cockrell competes in a heat of the women’s 400-meter hurdles on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Akala Garrett looks on before her heat of the women’s 400-meter hurdles on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Dalilah Muhammad waves to the crowd before her heat of the women’s 400-meter hurdles on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Rai Benjamin (center) leads his heat of the men’s 400-meter hurdles on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene. Benjamin won the heat.
Rai Benjamin (center) leads his heat of the men’s 400-meter hurdles on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene. Benjamin won the heat.
Cole Hocker wins a heat in the men's 5,000-meter run during the U.S. Olympic track and field trials Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Eugene. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Cole Hocker leads his heat of the men’s 5,000 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene. Hocker won the heat.
Woody Kincaid and Abdihamid Nur finish a heat in the men's 5,000-meter run during the U.S. Olympic track and field trials Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Eugene. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Runners compete in the second heat of the men’s 5,000 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Runners compete in the first heat of the men’s 5,000 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Kaylee Mitchell of Bowerman Track Club competes in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene. Mitchell finished fifth.
Runners navigate the water jump during the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Valarie Allman celebrates during the women’s discus final on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene. Allman won the event.
Valarie Allman poses for a photo in front of a discus rack on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Valarie Allman competes in the women's discus throw final during the U.S. Olympic track and field trials Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Eugene. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Third-place finisher Veronica Fraley (left) and second-place finisher Jayden Ulrich sign autographs after the women’s discus final on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Sinclaire Johnson looks on before her heat of the women’s 1,500 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Elise Cranny competes in a heat of the women’s 1,500 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Heather MacLean leads a heat of the women’s 1,500 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Sadie Engelhardt (from left), Gracie Hyde and Anna Gibson look on before their heat of the women's 1,500 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Teagan Schein-Becker competes in a heat of the women’s 1,500 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Grant Holloway competes in a semifinal heat of the men’s 110-meter hurdles on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Grant Holloway wins a men's 110-meter hurdles semifinal during the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Eugene. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Freddie Crittenden looks on before his semifinal heat in the men’s 110-meter hurdles on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
JuVaughn Harrison clears a bar in men’s high jump qualifying on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
JuVaughn Harrison reacts after clearing a bar in men’s high jump qualifying on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Winner Bryce Hoppel (right) and runner-up Hobbs Kessler high-five after their heat of the men’s 800 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Winner Bryce Hoppel (right) and runner-up Hobbs Kessler react after their heat of the men’s 800 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Isaiah Harris looks on after finishing second in his heat of the men’s 800 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Luciano Fiore lies on the track after his heat of the men’s 800 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Charles Jones looks on before a heat of the men’s 800 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Twanisha Terry looks on before her heat of the women’s 200 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Twanisha Terry looks on before her heat of the women’s 200 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Twanisha Terry looks on before her heat of the women’s 200 meters on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
A fan blows bubbles in the stands on Day 7 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
In the first round of the women’s 1,500, Sinclaire Johnson and Ella Donaghu of the Portland-based Union Athletics Club both moved on. The top seven finishers in each of the three heats advanced to Friday’s semifinals.
Johnson placed second in her first-round heat with a time of 4:08.50, just behind Heather MacLean, first in 4:07.31. Donaghu, who prepped at Portland’s Grant High School, crossed fourth in the third heat in 4:06.99, a personal best and also the day’s fourth fastest overall time.
Johnson, the 2022 U.S, champion, said the game plan was simple.
“Top seven, auto advance,” Johnson said. “That was the goal for today, and to try and make it as smooth, and as easy and as comfortable as possible.”
She had to make up some ground on the final lap to make sure she qualified.
“I just didn’t get out as hard,” Johnson said. “I was just trying to fight for position the first 100 meters, and then just ease my way up to the front.”
Donaghu is coming off of the 5,000 final, in which she placed seventh.
“I used a lot of mental energy in the 5k,” Donaghu said. “I was really, really nervous for that race. I’m proud of the way I ran the 5, but I cared so much about it that I honestly ran out of nerves in a good way. I went into this race really relaxed and confident. I credit the 5k for that.”
Among the other runners to advance out of the first round were Christina Aragon of the Eugene-based Bowerman Track Club, Elise Cranny, a former member of the Bowerman Track Club and second-place finisher in the 5,000 earlier this week, Elle St. Pierre, winner of the 5,000, and 2023 U.S. champion Nikki Hiltz. St. Pierre had the fastest qualifying time of 4:06.41.
Here are results from the U.S. Olympic trials.
-- Ken Goe for The Oregonian/OregonLive
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