Gomez captures 3,000 at Junior Olympics

| August 1, 2010 9:00 PM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Kinsey Gomez, who will be a senior at Coeur d'Alene High this fall, won the 3,000-meter run in the Young Women's division (born in 1992 or '93) on Saturday at Hughes Stadium at Sacramento City College during the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships.

Gomez finished in a time of 10 minutes, 12.62 seconds, six seconds better than Aubree Worden, who was second in 10:18.70.

"I honestly felt like I started too fast," Gomez said. "I had the lead the first two laps, but knew that it was a long race."

Worden, of Scottsbluff, Neb., took the lead after passing Gomez on the third lap. Gomez passed her midway through the final lap.

"I knew she was going to be my main competition," Gomez said. "Once she passed me, I knew I couldn't give up after being behind her. When I passed her, I tried to surge and get as much of a lead as I could. She kind of died right then, then I held the lead the rest of the way."

Temperatures were in the 90s during the race, which started at noon on Saturday.

"It was pretty hot down here," Gomez said. "It was definitely different racing in the heat. There wasn't much wind, but it felt like there was a lot of tailwind on the home stretch."

Gomez, who won state 5A titles in cross country, the 1,600 and 3,200 as a junior, is in contention for another national title today in the 1,500 after qualifying fourth in the preliminaries on Friday in 4:49.73.

"There are so many good runners in the 1,500," Gomez said. "I wasn't looking to place in that event when I came down here, but wanted to run a good time. Placing would be a great day for me on Sunday."

Of winning the national title, Gomez said it will hit her after today's race.

"It hasn't quite sunk in yet," Gomez said. "I was happy my family got to come see me race. It was the first time my grandpa had seen me race. It was a big deal for him to come. It was really exciting and he was really proud. I couldn't hear many people - but I could hear a lot of people yelling from the direction where my family was."