McColgan runs 30:00.86 to eclipse 2002 standard established by Radcliffe, with Monson clocking 30:03.82 to smash 2016 American record held by Huddle, leading four sub-31 U.S. performers for the first time in same race; Kincaid holds off Klecker by 27:06.37 to 27:07.57 margin in men’s showdown

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – The decision for Eilish McColgan to return to Sound Running’s The TEN event occurred so late in the week that there wasn’t enough time for meet organizers to print an official racing bib for the Scottish star and reigning Commonwealth Games gold medalist.

McColgan, an ASICS athlete, wound up taking a blank bib Saturday night and proudly printing her last name with a black marker.

Following her performance in the world section of the women’s 10,000 meters at JSerra High, McColgan’s name is permanently recognized as royalty in Great Britain.

INTERVIEWS | RESULTS

McColgan, 32, covered the final lap in 64.87 seconds including the last 200 with a 30-second split to pull away from On Athletics Club standout Alicia Monson and triumph in 30:00.86, eclipsing the British record and elevating to the No. 12 all-time global performer.

Monson achieved the American record and ascended to No. 14 in world history after placing second in 30:03.82.

McColgan took down the 2002 standard of 30:01.09 established by Paula Radcliffe, producing the fastest time ever on U.S. soil, smashing the previous performance of 30:09.94 achieved at last year’s World Athletics Outdoor Championships by Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey.

McColgan, who had spent five weeks training at altitude in Colorado in preparation for her debut at the London Marathon in April, decided only a few days prior to travel to California to compete in the 10,000, her first race since a 15-kilometer road event in November in the Netherlands.

She shared the news with her mother Liz, who was in Japan for the Tokyo Marathon, and her father Peter, who woke up at 5 a.m. in the United Kingdom to watch Eilish race on the live Webcast of the event.

McColgan had run 30:58.94 to take third at the TEN in 2021, before lowering her performance to 30:19.02 in Hengelo in June. She took 10th at the World Championships in Oregon in 30:34.60, before winning the Commonwealth Games in August in 30:48.60 in Birmingham, England, and securing silver two weeks later in 30:41.05 at the European Athletics Outdoor Championships in Germany.

But despite concerns over recent soreness in her taped left knee, McColgan took advantage of ideal racing conditions and even a light rain in the final 3,000 meters that resembled British weather more than it did Southern California climate to remain right behind Monson until the final lap, when she timed her definitive surge perfectly on the backstretch to secure an advantage she wouldn’t relinquish.

McColgan and Monson were paced through the midway point by Josette Andrews of On Athletics Club in 15:10, with both competitors achieving the World Athletics standard to provide them eligibility to compete in August in Budapest, Hungary.

Monson smashed the 2016 mark of 30:13.17 by Molly Huddle, lowering her previous-best effort from 30:51.09 at last year’s USATF Outdoor Championships in Oregon.

Elly Henes, an adidas competitor, delivered an impressive 10,000 debut to take third in 30:48.26, covering the final lap in 66.67 to edge Natosha Rogers of PUMA Elite in 30:48.69.

Henes ascended to the No. 6 all-time American competitor and Rogers elevated to No. 7 in U.S. history.

Fiona O’Keeffe, a PUMA Elite teammate of Rogers, finished fifth in 30:55.05 and improved to the No. 11 all-time American athlete, marking the first time four U.S. female athletes achieved sub-31 performances in the same race.

Laura Galvan, a HOKA athlete, eclipsed the Mexican record by running 31:04.08, taking down the 2000 standard of 31:10.12 established by Adriana Fernandez Miranda.

Woody Kincaid, a Nike professional, held off Joe Klecker of On Athletics Club by a 27:06.37 to 27:07.57 margin to win the men’s World section of the 10,000.

Kincaid covered the final 400 in 55.96 in comparison to Klecker’s 56.92 split to secure the victory.

Kincaid, who achieved the American indoor 5,000-meter record Jan. 27 by running 12:51.61 in Boston, ascended to the No. 5 all-time U.S. performer in the 10,000, with Klecker elevating to No. 7 in American history.

Athanas Kioko, a Kenyan athlete and assistant coach at Wake Forest representing Fast Break Athletics in Chattanooga, Tenn., was only anticipating pacing the race through the midway point at 13:35, but the former Campbell All-American decided to complete the competition and took third in a personal-best 27:23.84.

Conner Mantz, a Nike athlete, finished fourth in 27:25.30, with Swiss competitor Jonas Raess of On Athletics Club placing fifth in 27:26.40.

Luis Grijalva, a HOKA professional competitor and former Northern Arizona standout, produced the national record for Guatemala by finishing ninth in 27:42.56.

Lauren Ryan, an All-American at Florida State and first-year professional athlete representing Australia for Under Armour, won the women’s U.S. section of the 10,000 in a lifetime-best 32:09.82.

Ryan improved to the No. 21 all-time Australia competitor, lowering her previous-best effort from 2021 by more than six seconds, despite running the final 7,000 meters by herself.

Japanese athlete Takato Suzuki, representing SG Holdings, won the men’s U.S. section of the 10,000 in 28:08.04.

Casey Comber, a former Villanova standout representing Under Armour Mission Run Baltimore Distance, prevailed in the men’s 1,500 in 3:39.50.