American distance star Nico Young announced his arrival on the professional stage with a commanding victory in the men’s 3000m at the Philadelphia Grand Slam meet.
Young unleashed a blistering late surge over the final lap to clock 8:01.03, holding off a determined challenge from Sam Gilman and securing both the race win and the overall Grand Slam title.
The performance caps a sensational stretch for Young, who has rapidly transitioned from collegiate star to one of the United States’ most exciting distance talents. When the 21-year-old turned pro last summer, few predicted such an immediate impact, but Young has emphatically defied expectations.
Raised in the high-altitude training haven of Flagstaff, Arizona, Young has long benefited from elite coaching, first under Sean Brosnan at Newbury Park High School and then Mike Smith at Northern Arizona University. His early start in high-performance environments seems to be paying dividends.
After a grueling collegiate season last year, Young made his Olympic debut in Paris, finishing an impressive 11th in the 10,000m final with a time of 26:58. Since then, he’s been on a tear, clocking a 3:50 mile and a 12:51 5,000m during the 2025 indoor season, both world-class marks.
But it was his closing speed in Philadelphia that truly stood out. Young covered the final kilometer in 2:20.67 and stormed home with a 25.61 final 200 meters, showing the kind of championship finish that will make him a serious contender on the global stage in years to come. Equally notable was his refined form, once an awkward, gangly runner in high school, Young’s stride now looks powerful, smooth, and efficient, a testament to the technical work he and Smith have invested in over the past few years.
His chief domestic rival, Grant Fisher, was absent from the starting line after a minor hamstring issue in warmups, according to Fisher’s coach Mike Scannell. It’s a development that leaves Young as a front-runner heading into USATF Championships, where he’s already a favorite in the 10,000m and increasingly seen as a serious threat in the 5,000m as well. The question remains whether Young will double at nationals, a demanding schedule that would see him race twice in four days.
The Grand Slam Track series now shifts to its final leg in Los Angeles on June 27, where athletes will vie for series honors and look to sharpen their form ahead of a busy summer championship season.
