Eugene weekly., June 07, 2007, Page 15, Image 15

‘I think he’s a legitimate
contender to qualify for
World Championships,
he’s a legitimate contender
at the NCAAs to win his
first title.’
— Oregon Director of Track and Field
Vin Lananna
G
alen Rupp also heads into this week’s national championships harboring
Olympic dreams, and hunting for his first NCAA title.
After suffering through a thyroid condition that hampered his training throughout
last season, this season marks a rejuvenation for the man who is being heralded as the
successor to legendary Oregon distance runner Steve Prefontaine.
“Last year was unfortunate because of my thyroid problem and I didn’t have a per-
formance anywhere near what I would have liked,” Rupp said. “Still, it helped build my
character and taught me another lesson about running and not taking anything for grant-
ed.
“I definitely moved on from the last year, and this year I’m much better prepared,
largely thanks to my family, coaches, friends and God who have looked out for me.”
Rupp has already set new personal bests in both the 5,000 meter and the 10,000
meter this year.
At the Oregon Invitational in April, he held off defending NCAA champion Chris
Solinsky in the 5,000 meters to take the title with a personal best of 13:30.49.
Then, two weeks later at the Stanford Invitational, Rupp rewrote the record books
this year when he shattered former Duck Bill McChesney’s 25-year-old Oregon record
in the 10,000-meter race.
Rupp’s time of 27:33.48 was more than 15 seconds faster than McChesney’s
27:50.83 1982 record. It is also the third-fastest time in NCAA history.
“Galen Rupp has put himself in a position where he is truly an international-caliber
athlete,” Lananna said. “I think he’s a legitimate contender to qualify for World
Championships, he’s a legitimate contender at the NCAAs to win his first title.”
This week, in an effort to maintain his fitness toward his ultimate goal of making the
Olympic team, Rupp has elected to compete only in the 10,000-meter race even though
he qualified for the 5,000 meter as well.
“It was a tough call because the team could have used some extra points, but we
decided that we probably weren’t going to win a team championship, and if we looked
longer term, it would have hurt my chances the following week at (USA Outdoor
Championships),” Rupp said. “It’s a tough double to do at the NCAAs, so we agreed
that we made the right decision. Everybody’s comfortable with it and my teammates
support it.”
Lananna emphasized that Rupp’s well-being and the team’s well being are synony-
mous.
“Is there a conflict between what’s good for the team and what’s good for Galen
Rupp? There’s absolutely no conflict between those two endeavors,” Lananna said.
“Galen has a shot at winning the NCAAs and what better stake for the Universtiy of
Oregon and Eugene, Oregon than to say we’ve got the NCAA champion in the 10,000
meters and a guy who’s got a legitimate chance of making the U.S. team?”
Like Noble, the NCAA championships is but a stepping stone for Rupp, the number
one seed going into this week. But regardless of what happens in Sacramento, Rupp’s
season will not end there.
“The NCAAs is another chance to compete and not worry about times or spilts so
much as the fundamentals of beating people,” Rupp said. “It’s important long-term in
the next year in some respect, although we’re not trying to overemphasize any race,
even the USA Championships (June 21) or the Olympic Trials.
“I want to go into this weekend with the mentality to do my best and try to win it.”
A win in the 10,000 meters would give Rupp, a three-time All-American, his first
collegiate title and elevate him to the heights of of former Oregon legends like
McChesney, Prefontaine and Alberto Salazar.
“It means a lot to be compared to those guy who have compiled such a great histo-
ry,” Rupp said, “They were great in so many ways, and it’s truly an honor to try and join
them in a special way. I can only hope to do some of what they actually accomplished.”
Rupp also quashed rumors about him leaving the Ducks and turning pro at the end
of this season.
“I’m certainly enjoying college life. We still have big meets coming up, so my atten-
tion is 100 percent on them right now,” Rupp said. “The thought hasn’t crossed my
mind about what will happen in the future.
“It’s on training and doing everything I can at nationals and helping the team. I don’t
want it to ever become a distraction because I’m so happy with how everything’s gone.
I’m trying to enjoy my time here right now.”
ew
GEOFF THURNER
Galen Rupp will be going
for his first NCAA title
JUNE 7, 2007 15