Redemption for Cooper Teare after winning the 1500m title

Cooper Teare breaks the tape in 3:45.86 to win the 1500m national title at Hayward Field on Saturday. Photo by Tim Healy

By Cassie Cole

The men’s 1500 meter final was all about strategy, whether the strategies worked out or not. Day three of the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships brought in more event finals on the track.

A slow start to the 1500m race pushed Oregon’s Reed Brown to take the lead for the first two laps, with training partner Cooper Teare following behind. Brown and Teare hoped to set a fast pace that would decrease the intensity of kicks during the bell lap.

“It’s cool when you can have some team tactics in a USA championship like this,” said Teare. The two were first teammates at the University of Oregon and have continued to train together since Teare turned professional last year.

Despite a team strategy, the race speed didn’t pan out as planned. Big kicks in the bell lap led to changes in position as Brown and Teare were boxed in. Teare, who was pushed to sixth place at 1200m, was able to pull away in the last 100m to finish first with a time of 3:45.86. Brown finished fifth in the race with a time of 3:46.28.

“Going into 400 to go I wanted to be there,” said Teare. “Going into 200 I felt really good, wasn’t really fatigued at all. Kind of came off that curve, found my spot and just didn't look back.”

Teare considers his national title a bit of a redemption after some of his previous races. Last year, he finished fourth in the 5000m race at the Olympic Trials, just barely missing the Olympic team. Teare also finished sixth in the Bowerman Mile at The Prefontaine Classic last month, the second highest American time in the field. His national title demonstrates progress being made.

“For the stakes that come with [the nationals], I felt really good about it and very proud,” said Teare. “Last year I think I was just happy to be here, and this year I was coming for it.”

A big factor in Teare’s improved performance between the Olympic Trials and the USATF Championships has been in his ability to recover. Teare’s 2021 outdoor season was a long one, often requiring him to compete in back-to-back distance events. This year, he’s focused on recovery in a way that works with his races.

“I feel like I’ve kind of figured out the recovery process. That’s a place I lacked in the past,” said Teare. “At the end of the day at Worlds, it’s gonna be who can recover the fastest.”

Teare wasn’t the only finalist to finish strong in the final. Jonathan Davis moved from sixth to second place in the last 100m to finish with 3:46.01, and Bowerman Track Club’s Josh Thompson went from ninth place at 1200m to finish third with a time of 3:46.07. Thompson credits much of his win to the slow pace.

“I felt a little tired coming off the prelim,” said Thompson, who scored the last qualifying spot in Thursday’s 1500m preliminary round. “I was happy the race went out slow, just gave me a mental boost in confidence.”

Thompson’s race plan centered around his competitors who have the qualifying standard for the World Athletics Championship next month. Thompson himself does not have the qualifying standard of 3:35.00 but could instead qualify for the World Championships through rankings. 

“I just knew if I was patient just within the mix, I could rely on my kick and rely on my speed to get into the team the last 50 meters,” said Thompson. “I didn’t really care if I got third or fourth as long as I beat people that had the time and I would probably be set to go to Worlds. But third was just icing on the cake.”

The World Athletics Championships will be held at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. After training and competing in the venue numerous times, Teare is ready for an international competition with a home crowd. He hopes the stands will be packed.

“When you hear your name called and that roar that some other people don't get, it’s definitely kind of a confidence boost on the line,” said Teare. “I’m looking forward to it and just looking forward to have the world in my backyard.”