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Another in an occasional series, checking in with our friends who competed at the Olympic Trials in Eugene. Today, Brent Vaughn:

My short-term plans are to get healthy. I am a little banged up and am looking forward to resuming training as soon as possible. I am going to run U.S. cross and an undecided race beforehand. I would have liked to continue with my track season, but considering my history of injuries, I decided to cut it short.

I am staying in Boulder to train, but I hope to meet up with Chris, Teg, Simon, Tim and Jonathon to train this year. I am being coached by Greg Weich, and Jay Johnson is going to handle my ancillary work.

Matt Tegenkamp took second in tonight’s 5,000m final at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Chris Solinsky took fifth after seizing the lead off a sluggish pace with three laps to go. After leading early, Brent Vaughn took ninth.

We’ll be back on Tuesday with more words and some video. For now, results.

Matt Tegenkamp, Brent Vaughn and Chris Solinsky all advanced to Monday’s 5,000m final.

Matt won his heat, the first. Taking the lead in the last lap, Matt ran a sub-60 last lap after a slow opening (8:37 at 3K) to finish in 13:54.62. Brent Vaughn didn’t finish in the top 6, and therefore had to await the results of the second heat to see if he got through to the final as one of four time qualifiers.

Surprisingly, the second heat, which Chris was in, went out even slower. Chris, with “strict orders not to take the lead until three laps to go,” found himself in second for most of the race. He wound up second in 13:59.65. Brent’s 14:06.90 from the first heat got him into the final as the last time qualifier.

“I’m excited to see what happens on Monday,” Chris said. “Everyone certainly saved it tonight, so Monday should be something special.” We agree.

Things didn’t go as well for Elva Dryer in the women’s 10,000m final. She finished 15th in 33:38.60. “No go” was Elva’s two-word race summary. “When they made that move, I just had no acceleration.” Still, she said, “I know I still have good fitness, and I’m optimistic I can show it soon, most likely on the roads. I like the roads!”

5,000m results | 10,000m results

After a highly successful career at the University of Colorado, which included a school record of 13:18.46 for 5,000m, Brent Vaughn will make his professional debut on June 27 in the 5,000m qualifying rounds at the Olympic trials. Brent is coached by Colorado coaching legend Mark Wetmore. With his wife (and former teammate) Sara, he is parent to Ciara Grace Vaughn, who will turn 2 in September.

Will you be staying in Boulder for the foreseeable future?
Yeah, but I’m actually hoping to do some altitude training in Boulder and then some periods at sea level, hopefully in Portland [Oregon].

With the Jerry Schumacher crew?
I imagine we’ll meet at the same time and start our runs together. I don’t know if we’ll be doing the same workouts, but it would be cool if I could at least meet with them.

When would that occur versus when you would be at altitude?
It’s not something I’ve gotten into too much yet. I have to talk with my coach and see when’s the best time, depending on what my racing schedule is next year. We have to plan that out and then see where it fits in.

Have you had a chance yet to think about what else might be different now that you’re not in college?
I think the main thing is I’m going to have a lot more time to rest. I think I can train harder than I did this past year. I look forward to doing that—throwing in more workouts, and harder workouts, and more volume, and also resting more.

Did you enjoy being a student, or were you kind of eager by the end for it to get over so that you could move on to the next phase?
I started off as a math major and I finished that in four years, and then I picked up a business major, and while business school was easy, I didn’t really enjoy it. By my fifth year I was pretty burned out on school and was more focused on athletics.

Is your main focus the next few years the 5,000?
Probably 5,000 and 10,000.

At the Olympic trials, of the guys who have the Olympic A standard, you’ve run more 5Ks this year than the rest of them. Lagat has run one, Tegenkamp one, Solinsky none. Is that good or bad for you?
I don’t know. I guess it’s probably a slight disadvantage that I had to go run all these meets. But luckily for me, a lot of them weren’t all-out efforts. That’s good, that I didn’t have to race hard every single time. I think more than anything it’s a mental thing. I feel fresh and I’m very excited for the trials. I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time. I think I’m just as prepared as all those other guys.

First I have to focus on getting there. I think they only take 12 guys, and it’s a loaded field, so first I’m going to focus on getting there. After Friday night, then I’ll think about the final. It’s a deep field, so I better be on my game in the prelim, and then even more so in the final.