Gonzaga's James Mwaura will get to line up in the US Olympic Trials 10000 Friday night after all...

SPOKANE--Gonzaga's James Mwaura (Paul Merca photo) will get to run in Friday's 10000 meter finals at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene at Hayward Field.

Gonzaga coach Pat Tyson was informed by USA Track & Field officials that Mwaura, who qualified for the the Trials with his 27:50.44 at the NCAA championship meet Wednesday, would be allowed into the meet despite the fact that they turned in their entry form after the deadline of Tuesday June 8th at 6 pm Pacific.

After Mwaura's outstanding time Wednesday, Tyson was informed by USATF that the entry deadline had passed – even though the organization was still accepting qualifying marks up through Sunday for athletes who had entered previously without having reached the standard in their events.

In a text Tyson sent to publisher Paul Merca, the Gonzaga coach said that (the USATF men's track & field committee, which is in charge of entries in the men's events), "they decided that the NCAA was an important qualifier due to the lack of opportunities during the abbreviated Covid season!  James certainly was a prime example!"

Competing in an event that provides few competitive opportunities during the regular season, Mwaura completed two 10000 meter races before the nationals, a 28:27.49 at the American Track League meet on May 14th against a field that included post collegians, and the NCAA West Regionals, where he ran 29:13.93 in hot conditions.

Tyson told the Spokane Spokesman-Review, “I believed they (USATF) focused on college athletes having very few opportunities to hit the standard due to COVID, thus the NCAA meet ended up counting. They have to be careful.”

Mwaura is the first Gonzaga track & field athlete to qualify for the US Olympic Trials.

Another Spokane athlete appears to have earned a spot in the US Olympic Trials, as Eastern Washington's Parker Bowden will get a place in the meet.

Shortly before 11 pm Monday, a quick count of the declared entries indicated that 14 athletes had declared, with a minimum of 32 athletes needed to run the proper number of rounds.

Bowden was the 21st athlete in the 110 hurdles entry status list.

The declaration period ends at midnight, Pacific time. USA Track & Field can add additional athletes to the Trials field as necessary to ensure that the proper number of rounds can be run.

NOTE: The Spokane Spokesman-Review contributed to this report.

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