EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Hardly even looking the least bit exhausted, Galen Rupp gave a thumbs-up sign to the crowd before crossing the finish line.
Really, though, the last few weeks have left him thoroughly drained.
Rupp easily won his seventh straight 10,000-meter title at the U.S. championships Thursday night amid allegations that coach Alberto Salazar encouraged him and others to skirt anti-doping rules.
For 28 minutes, 11.61 seconds on a sweltering evening, Rupp had nothing on his mind but racing. Afterward, the questions began concerning the allegations that have triggered the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to launch an investigation.
“It’s been hard. I’m not going to lie. It’s been difficult to focus,” Rupp said. “I believe in clean sport. I believe the truth will prevail.”
Rupp found himself at the center of a controversy after a story by ProPublica and BBC earlier this month contained contentions from former Salazar assistant Steve Magness and a former Salazar runner, Kara Goucher, that the coach skirted the rules. Salazar responded on the eve of nationals by publishing a 12,000-word letter online disputing the allegations, saying the Oregon Project he leads “will never permit doping.”
“I stand behind him 100 percent,” said Rupp, who will also run the 5,000 on Sunday. “The statement came out yesterday and I was thrilled with it.
“We always have business to take care of on the track. This is a big meet and we definitely wanted to make sure all of our focus is on here.”
There was no catching Rupp as he pulled away from the field with around two laps remaining. He beat runner-up Ben True by nearly three seconds, the crowd giving Rupp a warm reception. Rupp rose to prominence at Hayward Field as a member of the Oregon Ducks.
That’s why he gave the thumbs up, he explained. Salazar was by his side after the race.
“The people here are so great. The support has been tremendous,” Rupp said. “In the end, I know the truth. Got to take a step back sometimes and look at everything. I’m ready to race. I’m not going to let anything get in the way of that.”
In the 100 meters, Tyson Gay overcame his nerves, just not his training partner, in advancing through the first round. The 32-year-old Gay was second in his heat behind Remontay McClain, one of the new faces to burst on the scene.
McClain finished in 9.82 seconds to hold off Gay, who’s still rounding back into shape after returning last summer from a one-year suspension for doping.
“It was weird — maybe weird is not the right word — going against the group of guys I’m running with now,” Gay said. “When I went into the back, I saw all these new faces. It’s just different, man. I’m trying to get used to new faces.
“It’s a different era for me.”
He knows McClain well enough, being his training partner and all. Gay will soon get to know Trayvon Bromell well, too, since the up-and-coming sprinter from Baylor keeps flying down the track. Bromell posted the second fastest time of the night.
Taking all the action in from the sideline was Justin Gatlin, who’s saving his energy for the 200 since he already has an automatic bye into the world championships in the 100 courtesy of his Diamond League title last season.
Gay wasn’t sure how he would be treated in light of his doping offense. He received a one-year ban that started June 23, 2013, for testing positive for steroid precursor DHEA — a penalty that was reduced after he provided information that led to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s case against his former coach, Jon Drummond. Gay, the American record-holder in the 100, also accepted a loss of results dating to July 15, 2012, which included the 400 relay team being stripped of its silver medal from the London Olympics.
When his name was announced to the crowd, Gay received some cheers.
“When you’re honest and man up to the mistakes you’ve made, I believe they forgive you,” Gay said. “But I was nervous (for the race). No lie. I was just nervous. You are in your hotel all day, just waiting to get it over with.”
Carmelita Jeter had the top time in the women’s 100, finishing in 10.87 seconds, which was just barely ahead of Jasmine Todd. Jeter is working her way back from a quadriceps injury.
Asked how she was feeling as she sped out of the mixed zone, Jeter simply said, “Good. Feeling good.”
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