by Larry Eder
Emily Infeld takes her first national title!
In 2015, in the World Champs in Beijing, with less than fifty meters to go, Emily Infeld charged into the bronze medal position, stunning many with her furious finish!
Now, ten years later, Emily Infeld showed that the new sponsor, Brooks Running, made a fateful decision. Emily Infeld told this writer that she did not think she was in her 2015 shape, but her attentive race, her position upfront, and her final, furious charge, all those years later, earned Emily Infeld a 10,000m championship at USATF and a position on the World Champs team.
Emily was ecstatic, setting a record, this writer believes, for the most post-race interviews after a first title! At the age of 35, Emily Infeld is racing well. She told this writer that she had not run a good 25 lapper in some time. Well, that changed in Eugene on 30 July! Dreams to come true!
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
The pace was not challenging in the first, half, hit in 16:14, but the second half took its toll. Over the last 800 meters, Weini Kelati and Taylor Roe battled over the last six hundred meters for the bronze medal, with Taylor Roe, grimacing, and taking the third place, and Weini Kelati, relagated to fourth.
In the battle for the title, Elise Cranny succumbed to the focused sprint of Emily Infeld. Emily, having been there before, just pushed herself, perhaps willed herself into the first position. Elise Cranny did not give up, but she could not respond.
And a 35 year old runner takes her first national title!
Emily Infeld , Brooks Running, ran 31:43.56, Elise Cranny, NIKE Swoosh TC, ran 31:44.24 and Taylor Roe, PUMA, ran 31:45.21.
Nico Young takes the Men’s 10,000 meters!
The Men’s 10,000m went out the same way as the women, just way slower on a comparison basis. The first half of the 10,000m was run in 15 minutes! The second half in 14:02, and the last mile in 3:56, the last 800 meters was run in 1:57!
This type of racing is hard on the nerves, because the key players know that everyone is in the game, and there will be surprises. In a race like this, one minimizes surprises by inserting a change of pace,
Drew Bosley did that after 5200 meters, where he lead to 8000 meters. Drew told me afterwards that he felt pretty natural during this mid race. To get through the first 5,000 meters, Drew thought about his favorite cross country courses!
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
About 8400 meters, Grant Fisher decided that the party was over. First a 61 second lap, then, a 59 second lap, and then, there were three, Graham Blanks, Grant Fisher and Nico Young. Fisher threw in a 60 and then, the race was on!
Nico Young battled with Grant Fisher as they separated themselves from Graham Blanks. Grant was in the lead and ran a 57.33 second last lap, but Nico Young came from third and ran a 56.54, cementing his first win near the finish. Grant did not give up, trying to move still with fifty meters to go. Graham Blanks dropped from second to third, and protected his third place, knowing that he was going to Tokyo!
Nico Young, adidas, ran 29:02.12, Grant Fisher, NIKE Swoosh TC, ran 29:02.37, and Graham Blanks, New Balance, ran 29:03.66.
More on this race when I come up for air, check out our interviews of six of top ten on twitter, FB and IG.
