Friday, June 18
Eugene, OR
7:25 p.m.
Gonzaga University
vs
United States Olympic Trials
Photo by: Paul Merca
Mwaura Accepted into 10,000-meter U.S. Olympic Trial Field
6/15/2021 11:47:00 AM | Track and Field
Zags’ sophomore runs Friday night at 7:25 on NBC
SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga's James Mwaura runs for a 10,000-meter spot into the 2021 Summer Olympics at the United States Olympic Trials Friday night. The Zag sophomore returns to Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., where he ran the USATF qualifying standard on June 9. Mwaura is one of six collegiate participants in the 24-runner field.
Last Wednesday night, Mwaura shattered his own 10K school record time at 27:50.44 at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene. He placed ninth in the race and was named Second Team All-American, becoming GU's second-ever track All-American. It was his third-ever attempt at the 10K on the track.
Mwaura's previous personal best was 28:27.49, ran on May 14 at The Track Meet in Irvine, Calif. That was his first attempt ever on the track at 10,000 meters. The Tacoma, Wash., native, qualified for the 10K national final after placing 10th at the NCAA West Preliminary Round with a time of 29:13.93 in College Station, Texas, on May 26.
On June 11, Mwaura was named honorable mention All-American after a 17th-place finish in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He crossed the line at 13:36.43. He was ranked 24th coming into the 5,000-meter 24-runner field, with the GU all-time best time of 13:36.18. Mwaura ran that school record at Hayward Field at the Oregon Relays on April 23.
Mwaura also owns the school's cross country records on 8,000-meter and 10,000-meter courses. As a freshman, he ran a 29:48.9 at the 2018 NCAA West Regionals on the 10K course.
The 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials will be Friday at 7:25 p.m. The race will be televised live on NBC, with live results available on GoZags.com.
U.S. Olympic Trials Men's 10,000-meter Field
Last Wednesday night, Mwaura shattered his own 10K school record time at 27:50.44 at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene. He placed ninth in the race and was named Second Team All-American, becoming GU's second-ever track All-American. It was his third-ever attempt at the 10K on the track.
Mwaura's previous personal best was 28:27.49, ran on May 14 at The Track Meet in Irvine, Calif. That was his first attempt ever on the track at 10,000 meters. The Tacoma, Wash., native, qualified for the 10K national final after placing 10th at the NCAA West Preliminary Round with a time of 29:13.93 in College Station, Texas, on May 26.
On June 11, Mwaura was named honorable mention All-American after a 17th-place finish in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He crossed the line at 13:36.43. He was ranked 24th coming into the 5,000-meter 24-runner field, with the GU all-time best time of 13:36.18. Mwaura ran that school record at Hayward Field at the Oregon Relays on April 23.
Mwaura also owns the school's cross country records on 8,000-meter and 10,000-meter courses. As a freshman, he ran a 29:48.9 at the 2018 NCAA West Regionals on the 10K course.
The 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials will be Friday at 7:25 p.m. The race will be televised live on NBC, with live results available on GoZags.com.
U.S. Olympic Trials Men's 10,000-meter Field
| Name | Affiliation | Mark |
| Lopez Lomong | NIKE / Bowerman Track Club | 27:04.72 |
| Grant Fisher | NIKE / Bowerman Track Club | 27:11.29 |
| William Kincaid | NIKE / Bowerman Track Club | 27:12.78 |
| Benjamin True | 27:14.95 | |
| Eric Jenkins | NIKE | 27:22.06 |
| Emmanuel Bor | U.S. Army | 27:22.80 |
| Joe Klecker | On Athletics Club | 27:23.44 |
| Leonard Korir | U.S. Army | 27:34.01 |
| Robert Brandt | Georgetown University | 27:39.20 |
| Conner Mantz | Brigham Young University | 27:41.16 |
| Sam Chelanga | 27:42.02 | |
| Abdihamid Nur | Northern Arizona University | 27:42.73 |
| Frank Lara | Tracksmith / Roots Running Project | 27:43.13 |
| Eric Hamer | Colorado State University | 27:44.87 |
| Girma Mecheso | U.S. Army | 27:49.53 |
| James Mwaura | Gonzaga University | 27:50.44 |
| Isai Rodriguez | Oklahoma State University | 27:52.92 |
| Dillon Maggard | HOKA ONE ONE | 27:54.89 |
| Jacob Thomson | Tracksmith | 27:57.32 |
| Martin Hehir | Reebok Boston Track Club | 27:57.52 |
| Juan Diego Estrada Constantino | 27:57.99 | |
| Reid Buchanan | On | 27:58.67 |
| Galen Rupp | NIKE | 28:00.37 |
| Abbabiya Simbassa | 28:01.15 |
Players Mentioned
/ Track and Field
Tuesday, June 30
Monday, June 29
Monday, June 29
Friday, June 26
