Luchini to run 5K in Belgium

If Louie Luchini of Ellsworth is going to make it to Athens, he’s going to have to go through Belgium.

Luchini has been entered in the 5-kilometer run at the KBC Night of Athletics Grand Prix II meet on July 31 in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. If Luchini runs the Olympic A standard of 13 minutes, 21.50 seconds, he could earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

Luchini is one of four athletes left in contention for the team after the US Olympic trials, held last week in Sacramento. Only one of those athletes, Jonathon Riley, has run the A standard. The US may send up to three athletes to the Olympics if they have all run the A standard.

Luchini’s season best is 13:25.19.

“I think this race is my best shot [to make the A standard],” Luchini said. “I’ve heard the race itself just goes [fast]. They do it at nighttime, too, so it’s pretty cool.”

The meet is well-known for drawing a top-class international field. Last year, Eritrea’s Tadesse Zersenay won in 13:11.07 and seven men ran faster than the A standard.

It is likely that many of the athletes in the race will be in the same position as Luchini: chasing the standard in the hopes of making their country’s Olympic team. That should translate into fast times. But Luchini plans to be cautious.

“One of the problems in a race like that is that it can go out too fast. I just want to stay under control. I’m not sure what other athletes will be in the race. I’ll find out about that when I get there and will talk with my coach [Vin Lananna] about strategy,” Luchini said.

Luchini said that the sore Achilles that has hampered his training throughout the year is holding up well after the trials.

“I was surprised because I ran two races [semifinals and finals] at the trials and the track in Sacramento is really hard. I’m encouraged that [the Achilles] is responding so well,” he said.

Luchini will leave Sunday for Zurich, where he will stay for a few days before traveling to Belgium.

Besides Luchini and Riley, the other athletes still in contention are Tim Broe and Jorge Torres. Broe has said he will try for the standard on July 30 in London.