by Larry Eder
Woody Kincaid has made two Olympic teams (2021 Tokyo and 2024 Paris), two World Championship teams (in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023).
Indoors, outdoors and cross country, you better had a lot of distance on Woody Kincaid if you are going to stay out of the sites of his withering kick!
In 2021, Woody Kincaid used that kick to win the USA title at 10,000 meters on the track.
A cross-country state champion at Columbine High School in Colorado, Woody then went to the famed University of Portland, where he won several All American titles. Under Jerry Schumacher at the Bowerman Track Club, Woody began to blossom as a tough athlete over the 5,00 meters and 10,000 meters. Woody has had some fine coaches: Rob Connor at the University of Portland, Jerry Schumacher at Bowerman Track Club (2016-2022) and since 2023, with Mike Smith in Flagstaff.
Woody Kincaid is part of the new NIKE Club, Swoosh TC, which is based in Flagstaff and is coached by Mike Smith and Rachel Smith.
Woody has some serious speed, as his PBs can attest: 3000m in 7:38.31, 5,000m in 12:54.40 outdoors and a 12:51.61 for the 5,000 meters indoors (then, the North American record).
Woody has won the Sound Running 10,000m as well. Woody loves to compete. His 10,000m PB is 26:57.57 at the famed Sound Running The TEN race from 2024.
Woody told RunBlogRun that he is looking to the roads a bit, perhaps moving to the marathon. We understand the desire to make a place on the roads, but sure hopes that he races cross country and track still, he is so fun to watch race!
We asked Woody for a tip on cross-country racing for high schoolers, this is what he had to say:
#inthemixedzone, Woody Kincaid, Olympian, 5,000m and 10,000m racer extraordinaire, member of #nikeswooshtrackclub, provides the viewers of #runblogrun a tip on how to succeed in high school cross country! @NikeXCNationals
@nikerunning @runningnetwork #thejourneytocompete,… pic.twitter.com/z1OgOauJxx— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) November 23, 2025
