For NAZ Elite head coach Jack Mullaney, the night of The TEN in California was "very special."
That night during the event put on by Sound Running on March 29, NAZ Elite's Adrian Wildschutt, an Olympian for South Africa, became the 19th man in history to run under 27 minutes three times at the 10,000-meter distance, according to Mullaney.听
He finished third overall with a time of 26:51.27. He ran under 27 minutes at The TEN in 2024, as well as at the Olympic Games.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 starting to solidify himself as one of the best in the world," Mullaney said.
Three other NAZ Elite athletes made noise on that great day of running.
Ahmed Muhumed placed seventh in the men's 10,000m in 27:03.19 for a personal record. Mullaney said that result moved him to becoming the seventh-fastest American ever at 10,000m.
Mullaney said he was proud of Muhumed for running with the crew looking to get under 27 minutes. Muhumed stayed tight to the sub-27-minute train for most of the race, just slipping away toward the end.听
鈥淗e had to will himself to go for it," Mullaney said.
And NAZ Elite's Abby Nichols broke through for a win that day, running 4:11.91 in the women's 1500m. It was her first victory since winning the Sir Walter Miler in August 2023.听
Mullaney said Nichols executed the race plan brilliantly in being aggressive and ready to make a strong kick at the end of the race.听
She also, he said, checked off all her goals for the weekend with success.听
鈥淭he three goals for the evening were to own the process of competing and then turning around and pacing one of the heats of the 10,000 -- which she did really well," Mullaney said. "The second was to go for the win in 1500, and the third was to have fun and enjoy the racing experience overall."
Indeed, the athletes at the event had wonderful conditions for racing that evening -- which is always a big draw for athletes. NAZ Elite's athletes made the best of the "close to perfect" conditions. Mullaney said the temperatures were in the 50s and the wind was hardly present.听
"It was very ripe to run fast,鈥� he said.
NAZ Elite's聽Jackson Sharp also showed a speedy result, placing second in the men's 1500m in 3:36.82.
It was also a night that showed the team is on the right track heading into a very competitive summer season. Going to The TEN, Mullaney said, and having all the racers "competing" in the way they wanted was overall a good sign of things to come.听
It was also another opportunity for the runners and coaches to work through the process of preparing for, executing during and coming away from races.听
鈥淵ou really need reps. You don鈥檛 want to go into a major race or a major championship not having had a few reps practicing different racing scenarios, different types of things you want to do for an evening," Mullaney said.听