Isaac Updike
The meet Isaac Updike of Ketchikan is targeting this season is the USA Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., less than one month away – that’s the springboard that will propel Americans to the World Championships.
In preparation for nationals, Updike, whose principal event in the steeplechase, honed his speed Saturday with a personal best in the 1,500 meters.
Updike, 31, clocked 3 minutes, 39.84 seconds, in finishing sixth at the Flanders Cup Putbos Memorial meet in Lede, Belgium.
His performance slashed 1.63 seconds off his personal best for the distance, improving on his 3:41.47 in Texas in 2021.
Saturday’s time improved Updike’s standing as the second-fastest 1,500-meter runner in Alaska history. Only Trevor Dunbar of Kodiak has run faster – Dunbar clocked 3:37.98 in 2017.
Updike’s PB was his second of the year. The former Eastern Oregon runner clocked 13:26.69 for 5,000 meters at an indoor meet in Boston in February to pocket an overall PB for 3.1 miles. That time is the second-fastest by an Alaskan, trailing Dunbar’s 13:26.27 in 2017 by a mere .42 of a second.
Updike is also coming off strong steeplechase performances earlier this season. He won the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina in 8:25.09 and defended his Penn Relays steeple title, in awful conditions, in 8:39.21. He ran the second-fastest steeple of his career with his 8:17.96 for second place at the Los Angeles Grand Prix in May. That was just .22 off his PB – 8:17.74 in 2021, the fastest time by an Alaskan – and ranks him fifth among Americans this year.
Updike’s 8:17 ranks him as the 24th-fastest steeplechaser in the world this year.
Next up for Updike is a steeplechase Saturday at a meet in Nice, France, that is a Bronze Level event on the World Athletics Continental Tour. Updike is aiming to run sub-8:15 – 8:15.00 is the qualifying time for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in August. Athletes can also qualify for Worlds through their world ranking – Updike is currently ranked No. 43 in the world.
After competing in France, Updike is scheduled to return to Flagstaff, Ariz., for more training at altitude prior to USA nationals.