Isaac Updike knew quickly in Sunday night’s steeplechase final at the U.S. Olympic Trials that his recent bout of COVID-19 had sapped his body and five-ring dream.

The 32-year-old pro runner from Ketchikan sat second among 14 racers one-third of the way through the 3,000-meter event over barriers and a water jump at the University of Oregon’s historic Hayward Field.

But Updike could feel his body could not sustain the pace. He faded and finished 12th in 8 minutes, 35.98 seconds. Only once in the last four years has he raced that slowly – his personal best is 8:17.47 in 2023 – and that came last year when he repeated as the Penn Relays champ in awful conditions – wet and windy.

Sunday, he felt lousy.

“Flat, zero rhythm, no legs,’’ Updike recounted on Monday morning. “It just sucks not to be in it because of outside factors. You play the cards you’re dealt. You can eat right, do everything right, and it just doesn’t matter (because of COVID).’’

Updike finished fourth in his preliminary heat in Eugene, clocking 8:27.12. Sunday’s final was especially disappointing because Updike, a former NAIA walk-on at Eastern Oregon, had been trending well the last few seasons. In 2023, he finished third at the U.S. national championships, making his first Team USA and representing the country at the World Championships.

Nearly two dozen friends and family were on hand in Eugene, Updike said. The Dark Sky Distance team member sponsored by Under Armour said he is bummed with his result, but already looking ahead to racing in Europe later this summer.

“There’s only so much pouting you can do in one night,’’ Updike joked.

On the upside, Updike’s Dark Sky teammate Matt Wilkinson, a former NCAA Division III athlete, finished runner-up to qualify for the Paris Olympics. That buoyed Updike some. He said Wilkinson told him after the race that he wouldn’t have succeeded without Updike’s mentoring and tutelage.

“It’s nice to know I’ve had some positive impact in the sport,’’ Updike said.

Updike is one of two Alaskans competing in the Trials. Steeplechaser Allie Ostrander, the former Kenai Central star from Soldotna and a three-time NCAA champ in her signature track event, races in Monday night’s preliminaries, seeking to seize a spot in Thursday night’s final.