After landing in Boston to head into the NCAA Track and Field Indoor, Nico Young capitalized on his learning experience. The North Arizona University junior already has a stunning CV, flaunting the record time in the 5000m sprinting at the collegiate level. So, when an expectation question was raised about his upcoming challenge in NCAA track and field, Nico went into full balance mode, weighing between his Olympic and collegiate dreams. However, on Friday, the phenom in him took the best time to pace the track.
In an ensuing way, Nico Young claimed his first victory in the NCAA contest on Friday. In revealing his mindset, the 21-year-old vaunted, keeping no secret.
Nico Young’s extraordinary pace gives him the upper hand
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In owning the fight against the outdoor champion, Ky Robinson, the Newbury Park High School attendee needed to do something extraordinary. In claiming such high bounds, Nico Young increased his pace, finishing the race in 13:25.29 minutes, 0:02.50 seconds earlier than the Stanford junior. So when Citius Mag’s host went to him on confessing the winning strategy, Nico said, “I’ve been practicing moving off already fast paces and that’s kind of what happened here.” The 0.16 length snippet on X from Citius Mag disclosed some unheard notions.
🗣️ “I think it’s a testament to the training I’ve been doing all season. I’ve been practicing moving off already fast paces and that’s kind of what happened here. Being able to close off a sub 13 minute race, I knew that no matter what pace we were going I was going to be able to… pic.twitter.com/h0IU0a5hCz
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) March 8, 2024
Eventually, Nico Young calibrated his NCAA track and field indoor race almost the same as he did in January this year in making the mentioned record. On Friday, he finished the last 200m in 27.29 seconds. In the last 400 m length, that time stood at 54.39 seconds. Discussing that speed, the NCAA track and field star claimed, “I think it’s a testament to the training I’ve been doing all season.” Owing to that training, he could again close off the race in the sub-13 category. Now, that scenario might help him in building a chance for Olympic participation.
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The NCAA track and field build a practice moment for the Olympics
Among the many other enviable performances, Nico Young holds the special title of being the first collegian to break into the sub-13 category in the 5k event, both indoors and outdoors. Moreover, in January itself, he registered a time length of 12:57.14 affirmatively, compared to the Olympic qualification mark of 13:05 in the 5k event. On Friday, Nico’s timing stood slightly far away from the mark.
Read more: 4 Big Storylines That You Might Have Missed From NCAA Long-Distance Event
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But before the US Olympics trial in Oregon in June, performances like this will add magic to uplifting the personal rank. As of now, Nico will have to keep his stride ready. On Saturday, he will have to face Ky Robinson again, but at the 3k indoor event. The Stanford University student boasts of having the best time there as well. So, it will be time to watch if Nico Young can embrace his double NCAA victory from Boston.
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