Nico Young

Nico Young
Young at the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (2002-07-27) July 27, 2002
Home townCamarillo, California
Sport
Country United States
SportTrack and field
Events
University teamNorthern Arizona Lumberjacks
ClubAdidas
Coached bySean Brosnan
(2016–2020)
Michael Smith
(2020–present)
Achievements and titles
Personal bestsAll information from athlete's World Athletics profile.
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  United States
Representing
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks/
Big Sky Conference
NCAA Cross Country Championships
Gold medal – first place 2020 Stillwater Team Gold
Gold medal – first place 2021 Tallahassee Team Gold
Gold medal – first place 2022 Stillwater Team Gold
Silver medal – second place 2022 Stillwater 10 km
Silver medal – second place 2023 Charlottesville Team Silver
NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Boston 5000 meters
Gold medal – first place 2024 Boston 3000 meters
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Birmingham Team 4th place
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Birmingham 5000 meters
NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Silver medal – second place 2024 Eugene 5000 meters
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Eugene 5000 meters

Nicolas Young (born July 27, 2002)[1] is an American long-distance runner who holds the American record in the outdoor 5000 meters, with a time of 12:45.27. He is a two-time NCAA champion having won both the 3000 m and 5000 m at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships while competing for Northern Arizona University. He also holds the collegiate records in the 5000 m (12:57.14) and 10,000 m (26:52.72), both set in 2024.[2] He is the current American champion in the 10,000 meters, winning at the 2025 USA Championships.

Athletic career

High school career

Young ran for Newbury Park High School in Newbury Park, California. He broke the 3 mile cross country American high school record at the 2019 Woodbridge Invitational, running a time of 13:39.7,[3] and lowered the American high school indoor 3000m record (previously held by Drew Hunter), running a time of 7:56.91.[4] At the 2019 Nike Cross Nationals, Young won the race and set the course record with a time of 14:52[5] and led Newbury Park to the team victory. Young was named the 2019-20 XC National Gatorade Player of the Year[2] and the 2019-20 Track and Field National Gatorade Player of the Year.[2] His senior season in 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

High school personal bests

Event Time Date Location Notes
Outdoor 800 m 2:06.8h April 23, 2018 Newbury Park, California
1600 m 4:07.33+ March 23, 2019 Azusa, California
Mile 4:08.82 March 23, 2019 Azusa, California
3000 m 8:11.02+ April 6, 2019 Arcadia, California
3200 m 8:40.00 April 6, 2019 Arcadia, California
5000 m 13:50.55 June 23, 2020 Portland, Oregon
Indoor 1500 m 3:58.64+ January 29, 2019 Boston, Massachusetts
Mile 4:14.92 January 26, 2019 Boston, Massachusetts
3000 m 7:56.97 February 8, 2020 New York City, New York High school record
XC 3 miles 13:39.7 September 20–21, 2019 Norco, California Former high school record
5 km 14:28.5 November 30, 2019 Fresno, California

Collegiate career

2020–2021

During the 2020 cross country season, Young placed 4th at the 2020 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships with a time of 29:58.3[6] at the 10 km distance, the highest a true freshman has placed since 2013. He set an American junior record in the 5000m at the 2021 Drake Relays with a time of 13:24.26.[7] With this time he qualified for the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, where he ran 13:35.94 and finished 9th.[8]

2021–2022

Later that year, Young placed 11th at the 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships with a time of 28:57.5, but he also lowered the American junior record in the indoor 5000m with a time of 13:22.59 at the BU Season Opener on December 4, 2021.

In 2022, Young placed 3rd in the 5000m and 7th in the 3000m at the 2022 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.

On May 6, Young ran 13:11.30 at the Sound Running Track Meet in San Juan Capistrano, which is the fastest 5000m ever run by an American teenager and the 3rd fastest outdoor 5000m in collegiate history.[9] He ended up placing 3rd in the 5000m at the 2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. At the 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Young placed 8th in the 5000m, running a time of 13:19.15.

2022–2023

During the 2022 cross country season, Young set a 10 km personal best of 28:01 at the NCAA Division I Mountain Region Cross Country Championships on November 11, 2022, before placing 2nd at the 2022 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships with a time of 28:44.5.[10] Two weeks later, Young lowered his indoor 5000m personal best to 13:15.25 at the BU Season Opener on December 3, 2022, finishing 5th in a field of collegiate and professional runners.

2023–2024

Young placed 6th at the 2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships with a time of 29:04.2.[11]

On January 26, 2024, at Boston University's John Thomas Terrier Classic, Young placed 2nd to Adrian Wildschutt's 12:56.76 in the men's 5000m White Heat, with a new personal best time of 12:57.14, defeating the 13:00.00 barrier, setting a new NCAA record, and hitting the Paris 2024 Olympics' qualifying standard of 13:05.00.[12][13][14]

On March 8, 2024, Young won his first NCAA individual title at the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships over 5000m. His last three 200m laps were recorded at 28.47, 27.10, and 27.29 seconds, respectively.[15] He followed up the victory the next day with an NCAA title at 3000m in 7:41.01. North Carolina's Parker Wolfe finished second in both events, but was not within a second of Young in either.

Just one week after his double-gold performance at The Track at New Balance in Boston, Young made his debut in the 10,000 m on the track, competing at The TEN in San Juan Capistrano with the goal of achieving the Olympic qualifying standard of 27:00.00.[16] Finishing in second place behind American-record holder Grant Fisher, Young broke the collegiate record[17] of 27:08.49 set by Sam Chelanga, and hit the Olympic standard, running a time of 26:52.72.[18][19] Later that month, on March 25, Young announced he had signed an NIL deal with Adidas, and would go pro.[20][21]

Two weeks after the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where he placed second in the 5000m to Parker Wolfe, Young competed in the 10,000m at the Olympic Trials. He out-kicked Drew Hunter to place third and qualify for the Olympic Games.[22][23] At the Olympics, he placed 12th in the 10,000 m in 26:58.11.[24]

Collegiate personal bests

Event Time Date Location Notes
Outdoor 800 m 1:47.65 April 27, 2024 Tucson, Arizona
1500 m 3:37.75 April 15, 2022 Azusa, California
5000 m 13:11.30 May 6, 2022 San Juan Capistrano, California
10,000 metres 26:52.72 March 16, 2024 San Juan Capistrano, California Collegiate record
Indoor 800 m 1:54.21A January 21, 2022 Flagstaff, Arizona
Mile 3:56.00 January 29, 2022 Seattle, Washington
5000 m 12:57.14 January 26, 2024 Boston, Massachusetts Collegiate record
XC 8 km 22:30.8 February 9, 2021 North Las Vegas, Nevada
10 km 28:01.8 November 20, 2021 Albuquerque, New Mexico

Professional career

2025

On March 2, at the Last Chance National Qualifier at Boston University, Young ran 12:51.56 in the short track 5000 meters, which stands as the second fastest time run by an American, behind Grant Fisher, who holds the world record at 12:44.09.[25]

On June 1, Young won the 3000 meters at the Philadelphia Slam, in a time of 8:01.03.[26] On June 12, he won the 5000 meters at the Bislett Games, in an American record time of 12:45.27.[27]

On July 31, Young won a national title over the 10,000 meters at the 2025 United States Outdoor Track and Field Championships, outkicking Grant Fisher in a time of 29:02.12 to 29:02.37.[28] On August 3, Young finished third to Fisher and Cole Hocker in the 5000 meters.[29]

Personal life

Young has younger twin brothers, Lex and Leo Young. All three brothers competed on the same team together at Newbury Park in 2019, when the twins were freshman and Nico was a senior. Both twins run collegially at Stanford and have NIL deals with On.[30]

Achievements

International competitions

Year Competition Venue Position Event Time Ref
2024 Olympic Games Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France 12th 10,000 m 26:58.11 [24]

Circuit results

Grand Slam Track results[31]
Slam Race group Event Pl. Time Prize money
2025 Philadelphia Slam Long distance 3000 m 1st 8:01.03 US$50,000

Diamond League

Year Competition Venue Position Event Time Ref
2025 Bislett Games Oslo, Norway 1st 5000 m 12:45.27 AR NR [27]

National championships

Year Competition Venue Position Event Time Ref
2021 Olympic Trials Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon 9th 5000 m 13:35.94 [8]
2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon 8th 5000 m 13:19.15 [1]
2024 Olympic Trials Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon 3rd 10,000 m 27:52.40 [1][23]
2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon 1st 10,000 m 29:02.12 [28]
3rd 5000 m 13:27.05 [29]

NCAA championships

Year Competition Venue Position Event Time Ref
2022 Division I Indoor Championships Birmingham CrossPlex, Birmingham, Alabama 3rd 5000 m 13:21.23 [1]
7th 3000 m 8:00.83 [1]
Division I Outdoor Championships Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon 3rd 5000 m 13:28.62 [1]
Division I Cross Country Championships OSU Cross Country Course, Stillwater, Oklahoma 2nd 10 km 28:44.5 [10]
2023 Division I Indoor Championships Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 4th 5000 m 13:40.55 [1]
Division I Outdoor Championships Mike A. Myers Stadium, Austin, Texas 8th 5000 m 14:10.17 [1]
Division I Cross Country Championships Panorama Farms, Charlottesville, Virginia 6th 10 km 29:04.2 [11]
2024 Division I Indoor Championships The TRACK at New Balance, Boston, Massachusetts 1st 5000 m 13:25.29 [1][15]
3000 m 7:41.01
Division I Outdoor Championships Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon 2nd 5000 m 13:54.65 [1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Nico YOUNG | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on June 22, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Nico Young - Track & Field". Northern Arizona University Athletics. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Ochsner, Steve. "Best All-Time Boys Individual (SilverLakes course)". Woodbridge Cross Country Classic. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  4. ^ S, Rich; s. "High School 3000 Record Falls To Nico Young". Track & Field News. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "Nike Cross Nationals", Wikipedia, September 24, 2021, retrieved September 26, 2021
  6. ^ Curley, Joe. "Nico Young to complete memorable freshman collegiate year at Olympic Trials". Ventura County Star. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  7. ^ "Nico Young Posts Breakthrough Performance at Drake Relays". Northern Arizona University Athletics. April 23, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Newman, Eric. "Northern Arizona runner Nico Young reflects on freshman season". Arizona Daily Sun. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  9. ^ Mull, Cory (May 7, 2022). "Lex Young, Colin Sahlman Generate Historic 5K, 1,500 Efforts". MileSplit United States. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Results". live.pttiming.com. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Results". live.pttiming.com. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  12. ^ "Athletics track & combined events at Paris 2024: The entry standards".
  13. ^ "Track Scoreboard". live.lancertiming.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  14. ^ "Men's Indoor Collegiate Records". Track & Field News. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "NCAA Indoor Championships". flashresults.ncaa.com. NCAA.
  16. ^ "Sound Running's The TEN Sees Fastest 10,000m On U.S. Soil And 12 Runners Under Olympic Standard". March 17, 2024.
  17. ^ Nico Young Breaks Collegiate 10,000-Meter Record to Begin Outdoor Season Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
  18. ^ "Gebreselama and Fisher Highlight The TEN Sound Running with Record Breaking Performances | Watch Athletics".
  19. ^ Grant Fisher, Nico Young lead eight under Olympic 10,000 standard Daily Breeze
  20. ^ "Excited to Announce". Instagram. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  21. ^ Mull, Cory (June 24, 2024). "Nico Young Makes Deal With Adidas, Plus More Pro Contracts". FloTrack. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  22. ^ "NAU Track & Field Sees Four All-American Performances on Third Day of National Championship Competition". Northern Arizona University Athletics. June 7, 2024.
  23. ^ a b "U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials: Grant Fisher punches ticket to Paris, Sha'Carri Richardson advances in 100 meters". NBC News. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Men's 10,000 m Final Results". Olympics. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  25. ^ Tysiac, Ashley (March 3, 2025). "Nico Young Runs U.S. No. 2 All-Time 5k At Last Chance Qualifier At BU". FloTrack. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  26. ^ LetsRun.com (June 1, 2025). "7 Thoughts on Grand Slam Track Philadelphia: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden & Kenny Bednarek Rule the Sprints, Hello Nico Young, & More". LetsRun.com. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  27. ^ a b "Nico Young breaks American record in 5000m". NBC Sports. June 12, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  28. ^ a b By; Zaccardi, Nick; By; Zaccardi, Nick (August 1, 2025). "USA Track and Field Championships: Tara Davis-Woodhall, Nico Young lead day 1 winners". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  29. ^ a b LetsRun.com (August 4, 2025). "Cole Hocker closes in 51 to win 5000m and set up Tokyo double". LetsRun.com. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  30. ^ Dutch, Taylor (June 21, 2024). "Nico Young Is Running as His Most Authentic Self". Runners World. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  31. ^ "Grand Slam Track Results". Grand Slam Track. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
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