POST-MEET INTERVIEW
3000M STEEPLECHASE
LA GRANDE, Ore. – A successful career on the track didn't end at Eastern Oregon University – at least not for former standout Isaac Updike.
A 2015 EOU graduate, Updike posted an Olympic "A" standard time of 8:31.42 in the 3000m steeplechase on Saturday at the 2016 Hoka One One Middle Distance Classic in Los Angeles, Calif., to qualify for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. He took 12th overall in the event.
"Going into the race, I had just PR'ed at the Oregon Twilight in the steeplechase running more or less by myself," said Updike. "Knowing that, I had a feeling, with some solid competition, that I would be able to get into the mid-8:30s."
Updike said that despite being in last place after the first lap, his coach reassured him that he was right on pace.
"At that point I knew I just had to be patient, run my own race, and I would catch people late," said Updike. "I just didn't expect to catch everyone. I didn't expect to hit the Olympic Trials standard either."
A seven-time NAIA All-American for the Mountaineers, Updike holds outdoor school records in the 5,000m run (14:17.28) and steeplechase (8:47.00), as well as the indoor record for the 3000m run (8:23.70).
In 2013, Updike won the national title in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 9:55.16. During his senior campaign, he clocked his school-record mark en route to taking second in the event. Updike also earned sixth place at nationals in the 5,000m run in 2015. Also a member of the EOU cross country team, Updike took 24th place at the national meet in 2013 to snag All-America honors.
Updike is now one of four former Mountaineers to qualify for the outdoor U.S. Olympic Trials. The list also includes John Kefoot (1992), Don Stearns (1992), and Sean Nesbitt (2004). Kefoot is the uncle of EOU pole vault standout Talitha Fagen.
Updike currently competes for Team Run Eugene, along with five former EOU teammates in Doug Benson, Ryan Booth, DJ Flores, Hans Roelle, and his twin, Lucas.
The U.S. Olympic Trials will take place on July 1-10 at the University of Oregon in Eugene.
