EUGENE, Ore. – Wil Smith represented Gonzaga with a 13^th place finish in the 10,000 meters at the 2024 United States Track and Field Olympic Trials at Historic Hayward Field Friday.
 
"This was awesome," Smith said. "Definitely unlike any other race. The energy here is really cool. The crowd and atmosphere, it just makes you feel really privileged to be at this level and in a meet like this."
 
Smith crossed the line at 28:33.30. He was one of ten collegiate runners in the 24-runner elite field. On the same track two weeks ago, the Spokane native earned Second Team All-American honors with a 12^th place finish in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
 
"I heard a lot of people out there cheering for the Zags, which was awesome," Smith said. "It's really cool to know just how recognizable the brand of Gonzaga is. To be able to represent that is special."
 
Smith owns Gonzaga's second-fastest 10,000-meter time, 28:04.77, ran at the Stanford Invitational on March 29. James Mwaura holds the program record. Mwaura, a five-time All-American, also ran in the 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene in 2021, placing 14^th at 28:11.89.
 
Smith had the fourth-best collegiate finish Friday night. Grant Fisher (27:49.47), Woody Kincaid (27:50.74), and Nico Young (27:52.40) placed first, second and third in the race, meeting the Olympic standard and will represent Team USA at the summer games. Kincaid and Fisher were first and second at the 2021 Trials. Fisher then placed fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, while Kincaid was 15^th.
 
"Wil stayed locked in and ran his race," Gonzaga Director of Track and Field Pat Tyson said. "He represented the Zags amazingly. This was a confidence booster setting up for a great senior year."
 
Smith returns for his senior season at GU with plenty of experience in 2024-25.