Montgomery Grad Kim Conley Proving She Can Go Any Distance

Published by The Press Democrat on March 1, 2014

Kim Conley has made herself into quite a distance runner — defined, in this case, as someone who can win a race at practically any distance.

Most of us know Conley as the local product who qualified for the London Olympics in the 5,000 meters in 2012. Considering her background in cross country, that would seem to be a natural distance for this Montgomery High grad.

But rushing headlong into the indoor track season this winter, Conley nearly won at 800 meters before former UC Davis teammate (and Ukiah native) Lauren Wallace ran past her at the UW Indoor Preview in Seattle; set an Armory course record in the mile (and clocked the second-fastest time for a woman this year at 4:24.54) at the New Balance Games in New York; won at 2,000 meters in her first race ever at that distance, at the New Balance Grand Prix in Roxbury, Mass.; and returned to The Armory a week later to win at 3,000 meters in the prestigious Millrose Games.

Apparently, this woman’s never met a tape measure she didn’t like.

“I still consider myself primarily a distance runner,” Conley said by phone recently. “I work with a sports psychologist who tells me I am whatever I’m racing that day. If I’m running the mile, that day I think like a miler. If I’m running a 5K, that day I’m a 5K runner.”

Turning to 10K next

For her next trick, Conley will become a 10,000-meter specialist. After tearing through the indoor circuit, she should have been primed to compete at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championship in Albuquerque, N.M., last weekend. She declined, noting that the U.S. championship is primarily a springboard to the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Poland. Had Conley competed at the worlds on March 9, it would have delayed her outdoor training for the 10,000.

“I’m gonna go train at altitude in March. It became a matter of either-or,” Conley said. “I could go to Poland, or I could hit reset and do the work I need to do to get ready for 10K.”

Specifically, Conley is aiming for the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational. She won the 5,000-meter race at that meet last year. This year, she’ll be in the 10,000. Top-tier distance runners like Molly Huddle are expected to join her on May 4, and Conley wants to test herself.