Nunn Fights the Flu, Then Wins 50K Walk Spot on Olympic Team

Saturday night, John Nunn of Bonsall was in a fetal position with the flu, crying. Sunday morning, he won the Olympic Trials 50-kilometer walk — qualifying for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and his third Games.

“Laid in bed all yesterday. I couldn’t fathom the idea of how I would do this,” the 38-year-old said minutes after finishing a Santee loop course in a personal best of 4 hours, 3 minutes, 21 seconds.

Nunn’s 11-year-old daughter, Ella, wearing orange Team Nunn T-shirt like dozens of others, said she knew he would compete.

“It’s amazing,” she said after handing him an American flag to drape around his shoulders. “It means another superexciting experience. I don’t know if I could be happier.”

With his brother’s help, Nunn found medicine that didn’t run afoul of doping rules.

Nunn got through the night at a nearby hotel. But he didn’t feel OK until 2 hours after the 7:22 a.m. start, he said.

Nunn defended his 2012 Trials title on the same 1.25K course (40 laps) — 19:10 ahead of 2010 Grossmont High School graduate Nick Christie, 24, of El Cajon.

• See results: Olympic Trials 50-kilometer race walk in Santee

Christie walked with (and sometimes ahead of) Nunn for more than half the race, briefly leading before falling off the pace for a 4:06 Olympic Games qualifying mark. He finished at 4:22:31 — 11 minutes off his previous best at the distance but 16 minutes short of the Olympic qualifying standard. Both Christie and Michael Mannozzi, third in 4:31:37, have until May 8 to chase the standard for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Christie, 24, coached by two-time Olympian Tim Seaman of Cuyamaca College, said the last 10K of the 31.1-mile race was painful.

“I was just crawling. My body shut down.” At 38K, Nunn “demolished me” and eventually lapped him twice.

He said he would had a “real good shot” at making the team in the 20K walk, but would try another time for a 50K qualifying mark at a Rome world team event in early May.

“The race started off pretty well. I felt good,” Christie told USA Track & Field. I was wearing a heart rate monitor. Everything looked good, and all of a sudden it’s what happens in 50K and marathon: the body just gave out and I crashed bad.”

He took solace that he didn’t stop, and said: “I might do the 50K in Rome at the World Team Challenge, but I might just focus on the 20K, do 50K work and focus on the 20K.”

A former hurdler and pole vaulter (best of 13-2) at Grossmont, Christie took up the walk in 2011, he said. He was runner-up to Nunn in the 2014 and 2015 national 50K championships.

Third at the trials was Michael Mannozzi, 29, of Toronto, Canada, but a 12-time USA Track Field champion at various distances. He clocked 4:31:47.

Although women don’t contest the 50K at the Games, Erin Taylor-Talcott, 37, of Oswego, New York, was the first female finisher in 4:44:26 — lapping the field three times by Lap 15 for more than a one-mile advantage. The race was a USATF national championship, however.

Taylor-Talcott was the sixth person overall to complete 50K.

In a separate 20K invitational race, the top man was Emanuel Corvera, 22, of San Diego, in 1:28:57. Winning the women’s race was late entry Robyn Stevens in 1:44:31.

Jon Matthews of Helena, Montana, at 59 years, 235 days, became the oldest man ever to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Track and Field events, finishing in 5:03:25 — and seventh out of 15 entrants.

Dave McGovern, 50, of Locust Valley, New York, became the first man to compete in eight Olympic Trials, stretching back to 1988.

Nunn, competing for the U.S. Army, broke down in tears during a postrace interview as he thanked “the generals” who made it possible for him to chase his Olympic dream.

Nunn won $10,000 from a purse of more than $33,000. He took 26th in the 20K walk in the 2004 Olympics and 43rd in the 2012 London Olympic 50K walk in 4:03:28.

Nunn, who is divorced, runs a gourmet cookie business, Ella’s Cookies, with his daughter.

He said making this team was more like a job, requiring him to buy a $2,000 altitude tent for sleeping at night — which caused nightmares until he lowered the elevation setting.

“It’s all been worth it,” he said. “I’m grateful.”

Fans of Matthew Forgues, a fifth-grade teacher and coach at a South Dakota Indian reservation, showed their hopes. Photo by Ken Stone

Erin Taylor-Talcott, who would finish in 4:41:26, averaged 9:10 for 31 miles. Photo by Ken Stone

John Nunn is cheered by some of the 20 West Hills High School cheerleaders at the 50K Olympic Trials race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

John Nunn checks his split at the finish-line turn of men’s 50K Olympic Trials race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Robyn Stevens won the women’s 20K invitational race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

The long race afforded time to relax for one of the hundreds of spectators south of Santana High School. Photo by Ken Stone

Dave Talcott races amid temperatures rising to the low 70s in Santee. Photo by Ken Stone

Two-time Olympian Tim Seaman yells encouragement to eventual 20K invitational winner Emanuel Corvera. Photo by Ken Stone

The 50K walk on Mast Boulvard consisted of 40 laps of 1.25 kilometers each. Photo by Ken Stone

Erin Taylor-Talcott, 37, would finish 37 minutes ahead of her husband, Dave Talcott, 55, at the 50K walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Matthew Forgues of Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in South Dakota leads Steve Washburn of Imperial Beach in 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Jon Matthews kept eyes in shade at men’s 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Erin Taylor-Talcott of Oswego, New York, won the women’s 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Erin Taylor-Talcott of Oswego, New York, won the women’s 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Nick Christie shows the strain late in men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Nick Christie fell behind late in men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

John Nunn begins shedding arm warmer early in race at men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

John Nunn celebrates winning men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk. USATF Director of Events Jim Estes holds the tape. Photo by Ken Stone

John Nunn reaches out to kids in Team Nunn T-shirts after winning men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

John Nunn reacts as he wins the men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk, defending his 2012 Trials victory. USATF Director of Events Jim Estes holds the tape. Photo by Ken Stone

At 59 years, 235 days, Jon Matthews of Helena, Montana, was the oldest entrant in Olympic track and field trials history. Photo by Ken Stone

Santee Councilman Jack Dale was instrumental in bringing the men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk to his city in 2012 and 2016. Photo by Ken Stone

A race walk entrant tapes over brands not allowed by USA Track & Field at men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Nick Christie leads men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk seconds after start on Mast Boulevard in Santee. Photo by Ken Stone

Women’s entrants at start of 50K race walk national championships. Photo by Ken Stone

One of seven judges watch for rules violations at men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Ian Whatley of Greenville, South Carolina, and Nathan Vanderall of Grand Rapids, Michigan, battle at men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Tracy Sundlun announced race for 6 hours at 2016 men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk in Santee. Photo by Ken Stone

John Nunn and Nick Christie of El Cajon quickly went to the lead at men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

John Nunn of Bonsall stretches before 7:22 a.m. start of men’s Olympic Trials 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Robyn Stevens is captured by cameraman after winning the 20K. Photo by Ken Stone

John Nunn says he still felt the effects of the flu for the first 12 miles of the 50K race walk trials. Photo by Ken Stone

Team Nunn in orange shirts cheers John Nunn as he nears finish line of 31.1-mile race. Photo by Ken Stone

Ella hands her dad John Nunn the American flag a second after he won his third trip to an Olympic Games. Photo by Ken Stone

John Nunn and daighter Ella pose for photographers at finish of Olympic Trials 50K walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Nick Christie gathers himself for interviews after taking second in the 50K walk at the Olympic Trials in Santee. Photo by Ken Stone

Michael Mannozzi signals his third-place finish in the men’s 50K race walk. Photo by Ken Stone

Race leaders from the start, Nick Christie and John Nunn pass a volunteer at the Olympic Trials. Photo by Ken Stone

John Gastaldo of The San Diego Union-Tribune focuses on men’s 20K winner Manuel Corvera, a recent San Diego State University graduate. Photo by Ken Stone

Robyn Stevens grabs a bottle on way to her 20K invitational victory. Photo by Ken Stone

Walkers early in the 20K race pass signboard denoting disqualifications. Photo by Ken Stone

Knee locked, a walker passes the rolling start and finish stanchion at the Santee Olympic Trials. (File photo by Ken Stone/Times of San Diego)