Corbin Coombs ends illustrious high school career with another podium finish at Nike Outdoor Nationals

Catch your breath, Corbin Coombs.

It’s been a heckuva run.

The high school running career of the Organ Mountain High star came to an end Sunday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon — the unofficial home of track and field in the United States.

The 18-year-old who will be running at Wake Forest after first serving a two-year church mission, clocked in at 4 minutes, 2.22 seconds in Sunday’s 1,600-meter run at the Nike Outdoor Nationals/USATF U20 Championships, good for third place — a third podium visit for the decorated star who last month broke a four-minute mile (3:59.23) in Huntsville, Alabama.

Sunday’s third-place finish follows two national championships — his first two outdoors individual national titles — in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters in this meet.

The New Mexico high school record holder in both the 3,200 and 1,600, was asked by DyeState.com on Saturday night after his title run of 8:03.58 in the 3,000-meters — the seventh-best time ever for a runner under age 20 in the United States — what he was thinking as his high school career was about to come to an end.

“It was a great high school career,” Coombs said. “I didn’t get any national records, which is a shame, but I was able to break four (minutes) in the mile and develop good range from the mile to 5K.

“I had a decent 800 with 1:50. So, yeah, had a great career — had some state titles, developed a lot and super grateful for this sport,” he added.

Coombs said he had targeted a time of 7:58 in the 3,000 on Saturday, but came up short — not entirely surprising considering how busy he’s been competing over the past several months, including four events this past week in Eugene (first in the 5,000 and 3,000, third in the 1,600 and 11th in the 800).

“Getting seventh all-time (in the 3,000) is super special considering three years a go I was maybe a top 50 freshman,” he said. “So it’s cool to have such good development throughout my high school career.”

In Sunday’s 1,600, Coombs trailed champion Quentin Nauman of Iowa (3:59.06) and Evan Noonan of California (3:59.17). Albuquerque Academy’s Nicholas Ponte finished 50th (4:19.27).

Rio Rancho High star Charlie Vause, who in his senior year and along with Coombs put on a show for New Mexico cross country and track fans, took third in both the 3,000 and 5,000 and did not compete on Sunday.

In other action involving New Mexicans at Sunday’s final day of the Nike Outdoors Nationals:

Santa Fe High graduate Bryce Melton advanced to the finals of the 200 meters with the eight-best time (21.68). In the finals, his 21.79 was 14th among the 15 finalists.

Fellow SFHS graduate Valin Wittenburg, who will run at UNM next year, was disqualified for a lane violation in the 200 preliminaries, according to meet results. He took third in the 400 on Saturday.

St. Pius graduate Bryan Thomas did not qualify for the 200 finals, running a 22.42 in prelims and finishing 52nd.

Melton, Wittenburg, Thomas and La Cueva rising senior Tanner Montaño took third for the New Mexico Elite Track Club in the 4x400-meter relay in the cub-only championship. Their time of 3:13.18 was the 24th fastest in the U.S., per meet results.

Cleveland rising senior Morgan James ran a 1:03.51 in the girls 400-meter hurdles, finishing 34th among the 72 competitors.

Portales graduate Manny Chavez finished 23rd in the javelin at 54.16 meters (177 feet, 8 inches).