Winona’s Garrett Heath one step away from Rio Olympics

Former Minnesota star qualified for Saturday’s 5,000 finals

EUGENE, Ore. — He’s been to the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2008 and 2012. Never, though, has Garrett Heath been in a position to qualify for the Olympics.

Saturday, the Winona, Minn., native will have that chance.

Sixteen runners qualified Sunday for a shot to go to the Olympics and represent the United States in the 5,000 meter. 

Heath was one of them – the 15th of those 16 – and, for those who were watching, rooting for him, it was nerve-wracking.  

There were two heats at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon’s campus. To get to the finals, runners had to finish in the top six of either heat or be the next four fastest times. Finals will begin around 7:20 p.m. Saturday. The Top 3 will represent the U.S. in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

During Heath’s heat Monday – the first heat – the TV announcers kept talking about how slow the race was. The statement felt like a non-factor, since Heath, who competes for Brooks and Brooks Beast TC, was entrenched in third place throughout.

But, during the final 600 meters, the field pulled apart and Heath was no longer in that all important top six. It was also obvious he wasn’t going to crack it, either. 

Heath has always been known for his kick, winning state titles with it in both cross country and track at Winona Senior High School, before taking it to Stanford and beyond.

Monday, he didn’t have it. As the field kicked down the stretch, Heath couldn’t keep up, finishing in seventh.

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“I just didn’t have it in that last lap when everybody kind of started moving,” Heath said immediately after the race and before the second heat. “It felt OK and I felt like I had a kick left, but when I went to call that kick, there was nothing left in the tank.

“Occasionally that will happen. It’s not fun when it does.”

And, after the finish of that first heat, one began to wonder if Heath would get one of those four qualifying times, after that “slow” race.

In the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, Heath made it as far as semifinals in the 1,500 before being ousted. The 1,500 is set up a little different, as there are three races, but Heath never got to the race that would allow him to make the Olympics.

This was Heath’s chance but everyone hoping for it to happen, had to watch that second heat and wait and wonder. 

 As that heat began, it was hard to compare the two races, unless you took meticulous notes. But some relief set in as the announcers noted that this race, too, was going slow.

Of course, right when they did that – like a jinx – the runners picked up the pace.

The pace, however, ended up being slower and Heath, of course, was safe.

The top four times between both heats, came from the first race, which was probably the difference maker for Heath.

He finished in 13 minutes, 50.63 seconds. The 16th to qualify, came in well behind him – and also from Heat 1 (13:52.16). Ultimately, of the final four to qualify based on times, three came from that first heat.

U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
at Hayward Field
Men’s 5,000 finals qualifiers
1. William Kincaid (Portland) 13:47.86
2. Ryan Hill (Nike Bowerman TC) 13:47.89
3. Ben True (Saucony) 13:48.11
4. Jeff See (Asics Furman Elite) 13:48.28
5. Bernard Lagat (Nike) 13:48.36
6. Lopez Lomong (Nike Bowerman TC) 13:48.48
7. Shadrack Kipchirchir (U.S. Army) 13:48.58
8. Eric Jenkins (Nike Oregon Project) 13:48.63
9. Diego Estrada (Asics) 13:48.71
10. Hassan MeadNike (OTC/Nike Otce) 13:48.81
11. Paul Chelimo (U.S. Army) 13:49.26
12. Galen Rupp (Nike Oregon Project) 13:49.50
13. Brian Shrader (Saucony) 13:49.50
14. Riley Masters (Brooks/Brooks Beasts TC) 13:49.75
15. Garrett Heath (Brooks/Brooks Beasts TC) 13:50.63
16. Sean McGorty (Stanford) 13:52.16