Kim Conley qualifies for Olympics in 5,000-meter run

EUGENE, Ore. - Kim Conley is going back to the Olympics.

Four years after qualifying for the London Olympics, Conley finished third in the 5,000-meter final Sunday at the U.S. Olympic Team Track and Field Trials to clinch her spot on the American team that will travel to Rio de Janeiro next month for the 2016 Olympics.

The 5,000 was a fallback position this year for Conley, a Montgomery High School and UC Davis graduate. She’s a former 10,000-meter national champion who was one of the pre-race favorites at the trials in that event.

Conley was thwarted in the 10,000 final when a runner clipped Conley while they ran in a tight pack. It knocked loose one of her running shoes and she had to stop to adjust it, falling hopelessly behind the pack.

“Obviously, the 10,000 was disappointing, having my shoe come off,” Conley said after the 5,000 final. “But I made a decision on the track that the gap was too big to close, and that the right call was to save myself for the 5,000.

“So once I stepped off the track, I turned the page right away and got really excited about running the 5,000 here, and even the prospect of running the 5,000 in Rio. I’ve just been totally forward-focused since July 2 and very relieved and excited to have made the team and looking forward to what’s ahead.”

She won her 5,000 qualifying heat on Thursday and on Sunday turned that into a second trip to the Olympics, clocking in at 15 minutes, 10.62 seconds to trail only Molly Huddle (15:05.01 and Shelby Houlihan (15:06.14). Huddle and Conley finished second and third in the 5,000-meter final at the 2012 trials.

Sara Bei Hall, a former teammate of Conley at Montgomery, also was in the 5,000 final but couldn’t keep pace with the leaders and finished 14th in 15:54.99.

While Conley’s third place marked the return of a familiar face to the Olympic stage, the biggest news on the final night of the trials was made by a 16-year-old from Scotch Plains, N.J.

Sydney McLaughlin, a senior-to-be at Union Catholic High School, finished third in the 400-meter hurdles behind Dalilah Muhammad and Ashley Spencer. It made McLaughlin the youngest athlete to make the U.S. Olympic track team since 1972.

“Sometimes, I just forget that I’m 16,” McLaughlin said. “There’s not as much expectation. You know, I don’t get paid for this. I’m here just for fun.”

McLaughlin grew up idolizing Allyson Felix, who finished fourth in the 200 meters and missed out Sunday on making the U.S. squad in the event. But that’s why McLaughlin appreciates Felix - those kinds of setbacks don’t get her down. Felix still has the 400, an event she won last weekend, and will focus on that.

“You realize that sometimes you have to lose in order to get better,” said McLaughlin. “That’s a big thing.”

McLaughlin, who turns 17 on Aug. 7, tried to find humor in just about everything. After winning her heat in the semifinals during a steady drizzle, she said, “The rain messed up my hair, but that’s OK.”

Just Sydney being Sydney.

“She’s super-consistent as a racer,” said her high school coach, Mike McCabe. “You don’t see many bad days. You come to a meet like this and you have to be on at the right time. She doesn’t take herself too seriously. Running isn’t her life. Running chose her. She just happens to be real good at it.”

Also Sunday:

Matthew Centrowitz made his second Olympic team with a victory in the 1,500 meters. Centrowitz finished fourth at the London Games. Runner-up Robby Andrews and third-place finisher Ben Blankenship also are headed to Rio. Leonel Manzano, the silver medalist in the London Olympics, finished fourth.

Beijing Olympics silver medalist Kerron Clement won the 400-meter hurdles. Runner-up Byron Robinson and third-place finisher Michael Tinsley, the silver medalist at the London Olympics, also earned spots on the team.

Tori Bowie won the women’s 200 meters to earn her first trip to the Olympics. Runner-up Deajah Stevens will also make her Olympic debut as will Jenna Prandini, who upset favorite Allyson Felix by 100th of a second for third.

Jenny Simpson earned a spot on her third Olympic team with a victory in the 1,500 meters. Runner-up Shannon Rowbury also made her third Olympic team to join third-place finisher Brenda Martinez.

Jenn Suhr will get to defend her Olympic gold medal in the pole vault after winning the event.