THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Former Coeur d’Alene High runner Kinsey Gomez likes to consider herself more of an aerobic runner, which is the idea of your muscles having the ability to have enough oxygen to produce all the energy you need to perform.

So far, it’s worked out pretty well for Gomez, who will compete in her biggest race of her career on Thursday night in Eugene, Ore.

GOMEZ, WHO finished fourth in the 10,000-meter race at the NCAA track and field championships first round in Lawrence, Kan., on May 27, will compete in the championship round on Thursday night at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.

She just started racing in the event as a junior at Oregon State in 2014.

“I’ve always had a love of the longer distance races,” Gomez said. “I just got more and more comfortable running it. When I was at Oregon State, I just really wanted to try the 10k, and was fortunate to do it. I just fell in love with it and it’s really the race I was meant to run.”

At Oregon State, Gomez broke the school record in a time of 34 minutes, 37.80 seconds at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 17, 2014, in Walnut, Calif., eclipsing the previous mark by 50 seconds. This year, she broke the Idaho record in 33:23.59, and also moved into fourth in school history in the 1,500 (4:22.10) and third in the 5,000 (16:11.17).

“At the time, Oregon State was an up and coming program, and didn’t really get reestablished for a few years,” Gomez said. “I knew it was going to be a lot harder to beat the one at Idaho because it was a 35-year old record.”

Gomez also competed in cross country and track and field at both Oregon State and Idaho, but never advanced to nationals until now.

“The last five years, they’ve been so amazing,” Gomez said. “It’s crazy to think this is going to be my last race in college. This year, I’ve been lucky enough to remain healthy all year.”

It was a hip injury suffered in her junior year at Oregon State that started the move to Idaho.

“There were a lot of different factors that went into it,” Gomez said. “When I ran the 10k, the (distance) coach ended up leaving and I got injured after she left. I just decided — and I loved everything about there (Oregon State) and the people — that I was able to transfer and be closer to home. And the experience was better than what I’d hoped for. I know transferring schools is a challenge to go through, but I was lucky with how it played out.”

AFTER SITTING out the spring 2015 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Gomez picked up with the cross country season in the fall, winning the Washington State Invitational and Montana Invitational in the fall. She finished 17th at the NCAA regional championships in Seattle, earning all-region honors.

“Cross country was awesome this year,” Gomez said. “It was a good base work for track and field. I just missed out on going to nationals (in cross country), so I was definitely gunning for it. I just wanted to go all the way and make this the most memorable season yet.”

With that extra year of eligibility, Gomez had the opportunity to train with Krista Story and Kara Story — both distance runners from Coeur d’Alene High.

“It’s been so amazing,” Gomez said. “With the twins, I never got the chance to compete with them at Coeur d’Alene, but it’s been cool to have this year with them. They’re so sweet and to be coached by (Coeur d’Alene coach) Cathy (Compton) and (assistant coach) Don (Walters) — who I still have a close relationship with — and to see the program they’ve built. I just love training with those kids.”

AND WHILE her college career will end this week — at some point — she hasn’t ruled out competitive running.

“That’s the goal,” said Gomez, who won three state cross country titles at Coeur d’Alene High, and won two state titles each in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. “I’ve got dual citizenship between the United States and Canada (her mother is Canadian). Right now, I’m not sure where my best option is to pursue professionally. Once this door closes, another will open and I’m excited to see where I can go.”

Gomez graduated in May from Idaho with a general studies degree and a minor in marketing.

“Because I transferred late in my career, I had to switch my major to graduate on time,” Gomez said. “But I’m definitely leaning toward business marketing (as a career) right now.”

Gomez noted the surroundings of Hayward Field, site of this week’s championships, shouldn’t faze her too much.

“I’ve competed here since I was in Junior Olympics,” Gomez said. “I’m definitely trying to treat it like any other race and event. I don’t want to get swept up in the arena too much and the allure of the big national meet. I don’t want to get caught up in the nerves and try to treat it like any other race and just be excited to be here. I’m just trying to go out and enjoy the experience. I’ve been working so hard to get here. I’m confident in my ability to race with the rest of the group and will try to run as hard as I can and hope for the best.”

The national meet, which begins tonight, will be streamed live on WatchESPN.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JEPressSports.