Event: 3,000m steeplechase
Height: 5-6
Weight: 145
PR: 8:21.47 (2008)
Current Residence: Longmont, Colo.
High School: Taft Union (Calif.) HS ‘02
College: Colorado ‘07
Coach: Mark Wetmore
Agent: Self
Club: Nike

Career Highlights: Runner-up at 2008 Olympic Trials; 2003 USA Junior 5,000m champion; 2007 Big 12 Conference 3,000m steeplechase champion

Nelson toed the line for the men's 3,000m steeplechase final at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials - Track & Field needing to finish in the top three and better the Olympic "A" standard of 8:24 to make the U.S. team for Beijing. He did exactly that in racing to a personal record of 8 minutes 21.47 seconds, bettering his former career best by more than five seconds. "This was my dream," Nelson said. "I'm going to the Olympics. This is what I have been waiting for since I started running in 1997. The final played out exactly like I need it to." The 2003 U.S. Junior 5,00m champion and 2007 Big 12 Conference steeple champ, Nelson was a standout at Taft Union HS in California, where he graduated with school records in the 3,200-meter (8:54), the mile (4:15) and the 3,000-meter (9:35). His prep career culminated in his winning the Division IV California State Championship as a senior. That same season, he finished third at the FootLocker Regional meet before a ninth-place finish at Nationals. Following his prep campaign he finished third, and earned a bid on the national team at the 2002 USA Cross Country Championships in Vancouver, Wash. That March he finished 33rd (the second American) in the 8 km men's junior race at the World Championships in Dublin, Ireland.

Competition Results:
2008: Runner-up at Olympic Trials (8:21.47PR)
2007: Big 12 Steeplechase champ (8:47.89)...4th at NCAA Outdoors (8:33.33)...4th in opening round at USA Outdoors (8:42.23)...bests of 8:33.33 & 13:58.91.
2006: Big 12 Outdoor 5,000m champion (13:54.70)...10th at NCAA Outdoors (14:13.84)...best of 13:54.70i
2005: Bests of 8:46.36 & 14:09.41.
2004: Injured, redshirt year...best of 14:07.53.
2003: 7th at NCAA Outdoors (13:58.91)...2003 USA Junior 5,000m champ (14:21.46)...3rd at Big 12 Outdoor Champs...best of 13:58.91.

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