Harris 6th in 800m final, True & Masters advance to 5k final

Harris 6th in 800m final, True & Masters advance to 5k final

Isaiah Harris had a goal of making the 800m final as he competed in the Olympic Trials this weekend. The 19 year old freshman from Lewiston made good on that goal as he was one of nine athletes that competed for a spot in Rio.

Because a runner was advanced to the final, there were nine in the final, and a waterfall start was deemed necessary by meet officials, usually in a 800m runners start in lanes. Thankfully the start was clean, and all athletes settled in without any issues.

Brandon Johnson took the pace out in 24.61 through the first 200m, Harris was near the back in 8th place coming through in a solid 25.22. As the runners hit the top of straightaway on the home stretch Isaiah moved out and started his way to the front as he came through 400m in 51.03 in third place.

In the next 200m, Harris would continued to move up as he hit 600m in second place in a time of 1:17.68. The pack was closing in and the three spots for Rio were still up in the air.

Boris Berian led the field down the final 100m, he would be chased down by NCAA 1500m champion Clayton Murphy who would take the US title in 1:44.76, he last 200m was the best in the field 26.66. Berian held on for second place in 1:44.92, while Charles Jock summoned the strength to get up for the third and final Olympic spot in 1:45.48.

"90 meters to go, just couldn't stride out, couldn't get into my stride and finish as hard as I wanted too." Harris told the press after his race.

Harris would go on the finish 6th overall in his first US National Championships, his final time was 1:46.47.

It was a great year for Harris who placed 4th at the NCAA's back in June in the 800m, he also won a pair of BG10 800m titles indoor & outdoor. Isaiah who entered college with a 1:49.63 personal best lowered his best down to 1:45.76 this year.

Isaiah isn't down racing this summer he will represent the USA in the NACAC U 23 Championships in San Salvador, El Salvador July 15-17th.

In the 5k first round Ben True & Riley Masters both competed in section 1. 

True established himself at the front of the pack during the earlier laps and remained in the top 2-3 spots through 2600m in 7:17.99. Masters wasn't far back as he was in 8th place at 7:19.02.

The pace slowed over the next 1200m as the runner geared up for the final 1200m, True moved back up into third as they pack crossed 3800m in 10:45.91. Masters dropped back to 10th but was right there less than a second back in 10:46.53.

At the gun True has moved up into second place as he covered the penultimate lap in 62.57, he would go on to finish in third to get one of the 6 automatic qualifying spots. His final 400m was 54.66 (he shut it down and was looking around to make sure he had the auto spot) as he crossed the line in 13:48.11.

Masters was still 10th at the bell as he as he went 62.60 before his final closing 400m of 55.66. Riley just missed the automatic qualifying spot as he finished 7th in 13:49.75. 

Masters would have to sit through the second section of the 5k to see if he advances to the final. In edition to the top 6 in each section, the next four fastest time would advance. Luck was on his side as he ended up having the second fastest non automatic time

Masters took to social media post race to sat "That was Stressful."

True & Masters will return on Saturday for the final, and a spot on the Olympic Team, it should be noted both have the Olympic A standard.