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Las Cruces prep star Corbin Coombs wins national title in record time, Rio Rancho's Charlie Vause takes third
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Oregon’s Hayward Field has been kind to New Mexico distance runners over the past week.
After three individual national championships and two individual runners-up finishes in distance events for University of New Mexico runners at last week’s NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship at the famous track venue in Eugene, Oregon, Thursday was all about some in-state prep stars.
Las Crucen Corbin Coombs, a recent Organ Mountain High graduate, who will be attending Wake Forest after an upcoming two-year LDS mission in Oregon, set a meet record in his first-ever running of the 5,000 meters, winning the Nike Outdoor Nationals & USATF U20 Championship in a time of 14:04.49.
Coombs’ kick in the final 100 meters to edge Texas runner Ethan Locke smashed the previous record by seven seconds.
Rio Rancho High School’s Charlie Vause (14:13.67) finished third.
“I figured if I’m not racing Friday, I might as well race Thursday,” Coombs said, rather matter of factly, when asked by MileSplit.com’s Joshua Potts what went into the decision to run the 5,000 for what Coombs said was the first time ever.
Coombs, a multiple-time state track and field and cross country champion in New Mexico, broke a 4-minute mile last month and considers the mile and the 800 meters his best events. He will run the 800 in the event Saturday.
“I knew I’m distance oriented, so I figured I’d have a good shot at getting a good mark,” Coombs said. “And so I’m blessed that I did.”
It was Coombs’ first individual outdoor national title to go along with one he already has indoors.
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Before getting to college at Wake Forest, Coombs will be on a two-year Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints mission in Salem, Oregon. When he does join the Demon Deacons roster, he is hopeful to compete in several events.
“I would like it if they would let me run 800 up to 5k maybe 10k, I don’t know — that’s a little scary to think about now, but I know it’s great coaching down there,” Coombs said. “Just however they want to train me and whatever they think is best, and what I think is best, we’ll just have to see in the future.”
