Sandburg graduate Dylan Jacobs, who wins the 10000 meters for Notre Dame, enters transfer portal. And the Olympics? ‘It’s a goal.’ – Chicago Tribune

Notre Dame senior Dylan Jacobs was coming down the stretch in the 10,000-meter run of the NCAA Track and Field Championships on June 8 in Eugene, Oregon.

Jacobs passed the leader en route to a final lap of 55.45 seconds. The Sandburg graduate would become the first runner from Illinois to earn a national title in that event.

John OMalley, Jacobs coach in cross country and track distance at Sandburg, usually tries to stay on an emotional even keel but that went right out the window.

I was screaming at the TV so much so that my wife (Heather) actually picked up the phone to record me, OMalley said. With 1,200 meters to go, I felt like he was going to win.

I can always tell when Dylan is feeling good, and he was locked in.

But there were two things OMalley and a lot of other people didnt know.

Jacobs fell at the 3,000-meter mark. He had battle to get back to the pack. His fall wasnt shown on TV.

Then, Jacobs ran the rest of the race on a sprained ankle that was swelling with every step he ran.

He still won with a time of 28:12.32, including a 1:57.63 in the final 800 meters.

Adrenaline is a crazy thing, Jacobs said. I didnt really feel it.

He said he cant remember ever falling in a race before, blaming himself for the mishap.

I stepped on the rail, he said. It was definitely all on my own and its part of the reason I said, You better get back up. It was all on me.

I was on the inside of Lane 1 and looking up, and I snuck a little too far on the turn.

Notre Dame's Dylan Jacobs, a Sandburg graduate, reacts after winning the 10,000-meter run during the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene Oregon on Wednesday, June 08, 2022. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

Already impressed with Jacobs finish, OMalley was floored when he heard the rest of the story.

I did not know about the fall until his postrace interview, OMalley said. I talked with him on FaceTime the next morning, and he showed me his swollen ankle that was wrapped up.

It makes it that much more amazing. He said the pack wasnt running very fast at that point, so it wasnt as challenging to reconnect, but there is an undeniable loss of energy, momentum and emotional drain from such a challenge.

Staying calm was key for Jacobs, whos the first Notre Dame runner since Ryan Shay in 2001 to win the 10,000-meter race.

I just focused on staying as relaxed for as long as possible, Jacobs said. It just happened, so you know, get back up and get to the back of the pack and just be ready for any moves that are going to be made.

I was pretty relaxed before. I figured if I was in the back of the pack or the middle of the pack, it was no big deal. You just try to stay calm and stay relaxed and everything will go well.

So many things have gone well for Jacobs in 2022.

Twice-weekly

News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday

He broke a four-minute mile in January and set an American college standard for the indoor 5,000 meters in February with a 13:14.04.

Jacobs future is intriguing. He graduated from Notre Dame but still has a year of college eligibility left and has entered the transfer portal.

If he doesnt use up another year in college to try for another national title, Jacobs could turn pro and shoot for the 2024 Olympics.

OMalley said the NCAA champion in the 10,000 meters is usually a contender for an Olympic spot.

Its a goal, Jacobs said of the Olympics. After this race, its become realistic. There would still be a lot of training and work to be done before that.

Im not too focused on that right now, but its in the back of my mind.

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

Read the original:

Sandburg graduate Dylan Jacobs, who wins the 10000 meters for Notre Dame, enters transfer portal. And the Olympics? 'It's a goal.' - Chicago Tribune