EUGENE, Ore. -- Adam Goucher will get another chance to qualify for the Olympics.

The former University of Colorado star won an appeal to enter tonight's 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials and will run in the event despite not having a qualifying time.

Goucher's admittance to the race caused some controversy at Hayward Field on Thursday because he was basically given a spot. But according to USATF, he earned the spot long before this season.

"He is a five-time USA champion on the track and in cross country, who was a finalist in the 5,000m at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships," USATF said in a statement. "It is not unusual for past national champions who lack qualifying standards to be granted entry into national championship events, and Mr. Goucher's case is no exception."

Goucher dropped out near the end of Monday's 5,000-meter final because he knew his time wouldn't qualify him for the Olympics at the pace he was running.

"I had to hedge my bets," a visibly upset Goucher said after Monday's race.

He said after that race he was saving energy for the 10K, which isn't usually his specialty. His PR in the event is 27:59.41 and his best time this year was 28:43.80. The top-seeded runner in the event, Abdi Abdirahman, clocked in at 27:16.99 coming into the event.

The 10K final is set for 10:20 p.m. and includes Boulder's Jorge Torres, Edwardo Torres and James Carney, while former Buff and Boulder resident Dathan Ritzenhein is declared to compete.

Jorge Torres won this event in 2006 and has the fourth-best qualifying time this year, while Carney has the sixth-best time.

"Ritz" has already qualified for Beijing in the Olympics and lives a few miles from Hayward Field.

Hatch, Pifer through

to 1,500 semifinals

Boulder's James Hatch and former CU star Stephen Pifer qualified for the men's 1,500 semifinals after finishing in the top six of their respective quarterfinal heats.

Hatch, competing for the Boulder Running Company, was sixth in his heat despite suffering from an asthma attack. He is staying in the mountains outside Eugene to reduce grass allergies.

Pifer ran with former Texas star Leonel Manzano for most of his heat before falling back to fifth to advance. Pifer and Manzano battled for most of their careers, including this season, and Thursday night was no different.

"It's comforting," running with Manzano once again, Pifer said. "It feels like just another day at the track."

Pifer and Manzano are now actually teammates. Pifer earned a deal with Nike during these trials after the men's 5,000 prelims on Friday. For his first race he wore his Colorado jersey but he has been wearing a Nike uniform ever since. Manzano is also a Nike runner.

Hegelbach 4th

in masters 3K

Boulder's Peter Hegelbach was fourth in the master's 3,000 meters exhibition.

The race was not a qualifying event for the Olympics and only open to masters runners. Hegelbach, running for Fleet Feet Boulder, finished in 8:58.55.

Tony Young won the event in 8:47.17.

Former Buff wins

on the trail

Jon Severy, a former CU runner, won the USA Trail Championships on Wednesday in Steamboat Springs.

Severy, who lives in Aspen, covered the 13.2-kilometer course in 59:51. He had to hold off another former Buff, Clint Wells, who was second by nearly a minute. Wells won the Bolder Boulder citizens title convincingly in May.

Boulder's Matthew Russell was third in 1:02:24. Boulder masters ace Andy Ames was seventh overall in 1:04.36 and won the masters title.

Broomfield's Paul Petersen won the junior title in 44:34.