Woody Kincaid outdueled Olympic bronze medalist Grant Fisher to win his third U.S. 10,000m title, while Sydney Vaught won the women’s 10,000m in her USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships debut.
Kincaid, a two-time Olympian, emerged from a three-man leading group going into the last lap of the 25-lap race on the first night of the four-day meet at Icahn Stadium in New York City.
He clocked 30 minutes, 13.66 seconds, beating Fisher by eight tenths. Drew Bosley was with Kincaid and Fisher at the bell, but faded to 30:20.60.
Kincaid previously won the 10,000m at the Tokyo Olympic Trials and again at nationals in 2023.
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He was eighth in the 5000m and 10,000m at nationals last year, his first time not making a U.S. podium since he wasn’t at nationals in 2018.
“It’s nice to know that finish is still there, that kick is still there, and I think it’s still deadly,” said the 33-year-old Kincaid, who ran a 25.95-second last 200 meters.
Fisher won the 2024 Olympic Trials. Nico Young, the 2025 U.S. champion, wasn’t in Thursday’s race.
Kincaid’s three national titles in the men’s 10,000m are the most since Galen Rupp won eight in a row from 2009-16.
Vaught won the women’s 10,000m in 33:30.60, gapping runner-up Katie Izzo by 6.38 seconds.
“It is just a dream come true,” Vaught said. “I couldn’t imagine anything better for my rookie year (as a pro).”
Vaught is coming off her senior season for the University of Arkansas. She was 10th in the 2025 NCAA Championships 10,000m and eighth in the 5000m at this season’s NCAAs.
The top eight women from the 2025 Nationals, including U.S. champion Emily Infeld, weren’t in Thursday’s race in a year with no World Outdoor Championships.
Nationals continue Friday, highlighted by the men’s and women’s 100m semifinals and final, live on Peacock and NBCSN.
