DESPITE HARSH CONDITIONS, GEBERKIDANE COMPLETES USATF JUNIOR DISTANCE DOUBLE WITH 10,000M WIN
By Chris Lotsbom, @ChrisLotsbom
(c) 2015 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

EUGENE, Ore. (27-Jun) -- In the midst of an unusual heatwave hitting the western part of Oregon, the thought of running 5000 meters in 90-degree heat automatically brings sweat to your brow. The thought of running a 10,000m the following morning, when temps were a bit cooler yet humidity still high, makes one's legs quiver.

Yet Oklahoma State's Cerake Geberkidane did just that, the only junior man to complete the distance double in less than a 24-hour span. He finished second in the 5000m on Friday in 14:52.87, then won the 10,000m this morning going away in 31:29.15.

"Coming into the 10,000m I wanted to go out with a championship, being number one. I wanted to win it," he told Race Results Weekly, speaking with the gold medal draped around his neck. "I have no race tomorrow so I was going to go all out today. The other day I couldn't do that."

The key to Geberkidane's victory was recovery and patience. After the 5000m on Saturday, he took advantage of all USA Track & Field's amenities for athletes, visiting trainers, chiropractors, and massage therapists on site after his cooldown. Hydrating and staying off his legs the rest of the day, Geberkidane felt prepared as he toed the line for 25 laps this morning. It was his debut 10,000m.

Consulting with Oklahoma State coach Dave Smith, Geberkidane knew his best bet was to sit and wait, not exerting any more energy than the bare minimum.

After a slow opening lap of 83 seconds, many of the competitors couldn't help but let out an amusing laugh. The pace would quicken before the field hit 5000m in roughly 16:00, then again increase in the subsequent mile. While Texas's Connor Hendrickson and Virginia's Chase Weaverling did most of the leading, Geberkidane sat back in third, his lean and muscular frame looking more like that of an elite professional than a junior competitor.

Striking with a kilometer to go, the 19-year-old native of Denver, Co., left everyone in his dust. Striding in perfect symmetry, he'd cross the line celebrating in 31:29.15, earning the national title in his debut in the discipline.

"In my head I was saying be conservative," he said. "I just stayed as relaxed as possible and kept my eye on the lap counter and when he said three laps I just had to drop the hammer and let it all out... I'm really blessed."

Second went to Weaverling in 31:32.88, while Hendrickson was third in 31:53.10 after having done a majority of the front running throughout the competition. Hendrickson gave much credit to Geberkidane for completing the distance double in such harsh conditions.

"I'll tell you what, he's in great shape," said Hendrickson with a laugh. "Cerake is definitely very good. I ran against him three or four times this year in cross and he always brings his best and always runs his hardest. You have to commend him, he definitely deserves it."

"This is my first 10,000m," said the polite Geberkidane when asked how it feels to win in his debut. "It's great, I'm happy. It is great in your first 10,000m to win your first junior national title [laughs]. It's great, thank you."

Next up, Geberkidane will represent Team USA at the Pan-Am Junior Championships from July 31 to August 2 in Edmonton, Alberta. It will be the third time Geberkidane has worn the USA singlet this year; he also ran at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country meet in Scotland in January (finishing second in the U20 race) and at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Qingzhen, China this past March (34th in the U20 race).

"I'm just blessed I tell you. I just love representing USA," he said. "I was told that I can run both [the 5000m and 10,000m at Pan-Ams] if I wanted to so I'm going to think about it and maybe run both... It's going to be very exciting and I can't wait."

PHOTO: Cerake Geberkidane (center) on his way to victory in the men's 10,000m at the 2015 USATF Junior Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.; Connor Hendrickson leads and Chase Weaverling follows (photo by Chris Lotsbom for Race Results Weekly)