Galen Rupp doesn’t rule out competing in 5,000 meter event at Rio

Originally Posted on Emerald Media via UWIRE

Galen Rupp won his eighth consecutive 10,000 meter U.S. Championship and punched his ticket to Rio once again with a time of 27:55.04 at Hayward Field Friday evening.

Rupp toyed with the field for the entire race, surging 20 meters ahead at the 1,200 and 7,000 meter marks before falling back to the pack. Shadrack Kichirchir hung tight with Rupp until 200 meters to go before the former Olympic silver medalist turned on the jets and kicked his way to victory.

With the win, Rupp has now secured a spot for two events at Rio — the 10,000, and the marathon.

However, according to Rupp and Nike Oregon Project head coach Alberto Salazar, the 5,000 could also still be on the table for Rupp as well.

“He’s not gonna run all three,” Salazar said. “He’ll run the five here and he wants to keep his options open. He’d have to do something incredible there that made him think ‘you know what, I wanna go with the ten and the five now.’

“He’s definitely running the ten, and if he makes it in the five, he’ll make a decision between the five and the marathon.”

Rupp won the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials on February 13 in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 12 seconds in what was his marathon debut. He owns the fifth fastest 5,000 meter time for an American in the Olympic Trials qualifying period, but has yet to declare his intention to compete in the event.

“I’m keeping my options open,” Rupp said. “I’m gonna run the (5,000 meter) prelim, definitely run the final — if I make the final… If I run really well in the five, it’s a possibility; it’s not out of the question.”

The 5,000 will take place on July 9 at 5:20 p.m.

Follow Jarrid Denney on Twitter @jarrid_denney

 

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