Track and Field Blogs - Scott Bauhs

The Payton Jordan meet is an awesome experience every year. This year was beyond anything that I had seen before though. First off, it was so awesome that people didn't have to pay to get in and the only place that was off limits to spectators was the track itself. This made for a great atmosphere for the races, which were awesome as always.

My race was as perfect for me as any races are. The pace got out a touch slow which was certainly in my favor. We were a bit afraid that the pace might go out in 13:45 or even faster and that would have probably been over my head, but for me to be able to go out in 14 flat or so and be right in the middle of the pack was perfect. Nobody ever made any moves that I couldn't cover until the very end. The pack was spread out enough though that I was able to be on the inside lane for most of the race (unlike Mt. Sac).

With a mile to go I felt great and was planning on making a move to the front. Apparently, Mottram felt the same way though so we both ended up going at the same time and his move was a bit stronger than my move. After that, it was a bit of a free for all as people either tried to make up ground and pass, or hang on. I saw 26:47 on the clock with a lap to go and I started giving it everything I could. The clock on the other side of the track said 27:28 and I knew I had a 30 in me to hang on for the A standard.

This changes everything. Now I really have to start focusing on my shot at making the Olympics rather than having the trials being a nice cap to my season. All along, I was planning to double at the Trials and I have told many people my plan. Now since I don’t have the Olympic A standard in the 5000 it doesn’t really make sense to do it. So I imagine that I will only be doing the 10000 at the trials. I have entered both though just incase anything changes.

For NCAA nationals I have been planning to run the 1500 and the 5000. After talking to my coach today, we might be revising this as well. I have been really looking forward to tackling the 1500 and I think that my greatest challenge in Division II would come from Aaron Braun and the rest of the field, but now that my chances of becoming an Olympian have increased, there is a strong possibility that I might focus all of my energy on the 5000. This is a very hard decision because I only have 2 more track seasons in college to win National titles and get All Americans but the Olympics are only every 4 years and I only have so many chances… We all know the story but there is a good chance that I might only do the 5000 at nationals.

For now, though I just have to recover from the 10k and let it soak in. I can’t believe how fast I have become. Four years ago my first 10k was an extremely painful 31:29. My training is way different. I’m stronger, faster, older and taller than I was then but I never could have imagined what would become of me. And to think, this is still just the beginning.