FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Northern Arizona University track and field's Diego Estrada, a 2012 Olympian and nine-time All-American, will take on 23 of the world's best distance runners in the men's 5,000 meters at the Payton Jordan Invitational Sunday night in Palo Alto, Calif., a year removed from qualifying for his Olympic bid at the same meet.

"Diego has not run a 5,000-meter race outdoors yet this season, so he's looking to go run a fast race," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Eric Heins. "The main goal will be for him to get his qualifier for not only the Big Sky Outdoor Championships, but for the NCAA West Regional meet as well."

Estrada has always performed exceptionally well throughout his storied career with the Lumberjacks at the meet, held annually at Stanford University's Cobb Track and Angell Field. In fact, his current personal bests in both the 5,000 (13:26.94) and 10,000 meters (27:32.90) came at Payton Jordan in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Estrada's Payton Jordan appearance last April in the 10,000 meters was his meal ticket to becoming an Olympian for his native Mexico, while his 5,000-meter time from 2011 is the second-fastest in NAU and Big Sky Conference history. Because Estrada's time in the 10K came during his redshirt season, however, it did not count in school or conference record books.

The field around Estrada is among the toughest he has faced while wearing an NAU uniform, but after finishing the indoor season second nationally in the 5,000 meters and fourth in the 3,000 meters, by no means is he out of his league. Just four other collegians are entered into the race, two of whom Estrada beat at NCAA Indoors in the 5,000 meters, while the rest will be a mix of athletes competing unattached, for club teams, or for their national teams.

As far as post-collegiate runners, in the mix with Estrada will be two-time NCAA cross country champion Sam Chelanga, formerly of Liberty University, American mile record-holder Alan Webb, former Stanford All-American and recent USA Cross Country champion Chris Derrick, American 10,000-meter record holder Chris Solinsky, and Evan Jager, who finished sixth in the steeplechase at the London Olympics.

To put Payton Jordan's prowess as a distance mecca into perspective, according to Stanford's website 22 of the 40 fastest times by American men were run at the 2012 meet. Among those times, the men's 5,000 last year featured four of the seven top American times and 13 of the top 50. No other event, not even the Olympic trials, could match that.

In last year's Payton Jordan 5,000-meter race, NAU alum Lopez Lomong set a meet record of 13:11.63 and reached an Olympic 'A' standard in this event, despite miscounting his laps, coming to a complete stop with still 400 meters to go, and forging through the race's final lap to win. Although Lomong is not in the field, his record, as well as the world 'A' standard of 13:15.00 could be challenged in what could be the meet's marquee event.

According to Stanford's website, the Payton Jordan is annually the premier early-season domestic meet used to establish World Championship or Olympic qualifying marks, and, for collegians, to secure spots in the NCAA East and West Preliminary rounds.

Estrada takes off at 8:50 p.m. Arizona time Sunday night in Palo Alto. A full recap will follow on NAUAthletics.com.

Men 5000 Meter Run Section 1                                
  1     George-Byron Alex, Unattached                  
  2     Sam Chelanga, OTC                         
  3     Paul Chelimo, UNC-Greensboro                
  4     Bobby Curtis, Hansons-Brooks                
  5     Maverick Darling, Wisconsin                   
  6     Chris Derrick, Nike/Aurum                  
  7     Diego Estrada, Northern Arizona                
  8     Arne Gabius, Unattached                  
  9     José Mauricio González Gonzá, Colombia                    
 10    Garrett Heath, Saucony/Aurum                
 11    Dan Huling, nike                        
 12    Evan Jager, nike                        
 13    Eric Jenkins, Northeastern                
 14    Leonard Korir, Global Sport                
 15    David McCarthy, Unattached                  
 16    Hassan Mead, OTC                         
 17    Girma Mecheso, Oklahoma State                
 18    Byron Piedra, Ecuador                     
 19    Zane Robertson, Unattached                  
 20    Jeff See, Saucony                     
 21    Chris Solinsky, nike                        
 22    Ben True, Saucony                     
 23    Aldo Vega, Unattached                  
 24    Alan Webb, nike