Ryan Wilson

He may not be one of your household names going into the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Atlanta, but down the road, jot Ryan Wilson as a real comer in distance running.

Actually, "down the road" could be as early as this summer. That's the prediction of his coach, the veteran John McDonnell, who recently piloted his Arkansas Razorbacks to their fifth consecutive NCAA outdoor championship at Eugene, Ore. --- also McDonnell's 26th overall, including indoor and cross country titles.

Wilson, closing out his junior year at the Fayetteville, Ark., school, didn't contribute to his team's scoring total of 55 points, but he wasn't really needed (George Mason was second with 40), and besides, he didn't start in his "new" event, the 5000. McDonnell had him run the 1500, his one-time favorite event, but he failed to qualify for the finals.

"We thought he might get us some points in the 1500," said McDonnell. And although Wilson was disappointed he didn't do better, he had no regrets. "We had two guys in the 5000 (Godfrey Siamusiye was second and Jason Bunston third) and we thought I could sneak in and get some points in the 1500. I was disappointed I didn't make it, but I ran 3:42.48 in the semis and it was still a quality run for me."

Fifth in the NCAA cross country meet last fall, Wilson's future is in the 5000, his coach is convinced. The 6-1, 145-pounder was reared in Southern California. He was a middle distance runner at Agoura Hills High School, north of Los Angeles. He ran the 1600 as a prepster and four years ago was a California high school cross country champion.

As an Arkansas freshman, he was leaning toward the 5000, but the changeover to the much longer distance didn't come overnight. "I was a 1500 runner getting ready to do the 5000," he explained. "It was a matter of getting used to the 5000 on the track."

As a junior, the switch was gradual. What apparently convinced Wilson that he's more of a 5K runner than a miler happened at this year's Mt. SAC Relays at Walnut, Calif, where he won the 5000 in 13:28.6 -- a PR by some 25 seconds.

That was just his tenth 5K in competition and it left a lasting impression on him. Knocking nearly half a minute off his previous best came fairly easy, considering Wilson's self-analysis: "I was mentally and physically ready," he said. "Conditions were near perfect (and) I finished stronger than I had anticipated." Furthermore, he reached the point where he was convinced he could be a success at that distance.

Actually, the tipoff --- although under vastly different circumstances --- came in March when Wilson won the NCAA 3000 indoors at Indianapolis in 7:51.66.

"I knew at that point I could do the 5000 in the 13:30s or better," he said.

For now, the pressure is off for this collegian, a financial management major, but his focus is Atlanta. "Until the Trials, it's training and trying to relax," he said. "Our (Southern California) climate is similar to Atlanta. The conditions we have... it's just a matter of getting used to the heat."

As for his 5000 trials, he's upbeat, with a totally positive attitude. "I'm looking at the (trials) heats as my final. If I don't make it (the U.S. team), it's the end of the season. I try to remember picturing myself making the final. All else will take care of itself."

Any way he slices it, Wilson figures the competition will be "very tough, with everybody shooting for the three spots on the team." He tabbed veteran Bob Kennedy as "the class of the field. After him, it's pretty wide open.

"I think it'll be tactical (rather than strategic) because of the heat, but then, you never know."

His coach has all the confidence in his budding distance star who turns 22 in August. "Ryan is a winner," said McDonnell. "He's a good kid... he's young. No matter what happens, he'll be a good one down the road."

---Kurt Freudenthal