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Lead Stories: Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Lagat Victorious in 5000m;
Teg, Dobson Round Out Team

Posted July 1st, 2008 at 2:09 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Image details: U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials - Day Four served by picapp.com

Double World Champion Bernard Lagat used a magnificent finish to cruise away from the field and win the 5000m at the 2008 US Olympic Trials. Matt Tegenkamp and Ian Dobson also used strong kicks to book their tickets to Beijing in what turned out to be a battle between five men for three Olympic spots.

The field assembled for the 5000m finals at this year’s Olympic Trials was billed as one of the deepest ever to lineup for a US championship. Seven athletes in the field (Tegenkamp, Solinsky, Asmeron, Lagat, Vaughn, Dobson, and Riley) had achieved the A standard of 13:21.50 within the qualifying window and several others were considered capable of reaching the standard in this race. The team would be comprised of the top three finishers with the A standard, either from this race or a previous one. This rule forced those without the standard to worry about keeping the pace honest while allowing those with the standard to relax and focus on their opponents.
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Faces in Races: Lagat, Teg, Solinsky and Curtis Look to Dominate Men’s 5000m

Posted June 30th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Jared Markowitz

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

The men’s 5000m features several potential Beijing medalists and is one of the most wide-open events of the 2008 US Olympic Trials. Again the A standard will be in play, as seven finalists have run 13:21.50 or better (Tegenkamp, Solinsky, Asmeron, Lagat, Vaughn, Dobson, Riley) in the qualifying window. The US Olympic team will be comprised of the top three finishers who have attained the A standard, either in the final or in a previous race. This sets up a dynamic where the aforementioned men can run for place while the rest of the field needs to ensure an honest pace. With several studs who have not yet achieved the A standard and the impressive list of those who have, the men’s 5000m final promises to be one of the most exciting races of the 2008 US Olympic Trials.

Velow we take a closer look at four of the favorites in this race: Bernard Lagat, Matt Tegenkamp, Chris Solinsky, and Bobby Curtis. To reward readers who get to the end of this article there will be some poorly thought out, undoubtedly biased, and completely unofficial picks for this showdown.
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Tegenkamp Takes 1st Heat, Rupp Shocks Crowd in 2nd to Advance in 5,000m Semis

Posted June 28th, 2008 at 12:25 AM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Hayward Field was made for the 5000 meters. The men’s preliminary race was highly anticipated Friday night.

In the first heat, Thomas Morgan led most of the race by a large margin. Eventually the gap was closed by Matt Tegenkamp (Pictured)(13:54.62), Jonathon Riley (13:54.69) and Bernard Lagat (13:54.93).

The pressure was on for University of Oregon star Galen Rupp in the second heat. He lived up to the hype by winning in 13:59.14. Rupp is a favorite in the 10000 meters, so he is still unsure if he will compete in both finals. The pack stayed tight throughout the entire race, with Chris Solinsky (13:59.85) and Robert Curtis (14:00.00) finishing the top three.
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TFS Running Podcast 130:
Matt Tegenkamp

Posted March 11th, 2008 at 1:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Today on Episode 130 of The Final Sprint Podcast, I had a chance to speak with Matt Tegenkamp, the American record holder in the two-mile run and two-time US Indoor champion in the 3000m who competes for Nike and KIMbia Athletics.

In the interview, Matt talks about his repeat victory in the 2008 US Indoor Championships 3000 meters, why he’s staying home while his KIMbia Athletics teammates Chris Solinsky and Jonathon Riley (who finished 2nd and 3rd) are heading to Valencia for the world championships while he’s staying home. He also talks about what’s in store for him in 2008 leading up to the Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR and the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Download the podcast to hear Matt discuss about his plan to assault the American record in the 5000m, his long-term goals for running and beyond, and much, much more!

TO DOWNLOAD: Right click and select “save as”

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Host: Jimmie Markham
Guest: Matt Tegenkamp
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 13.2MB
Length: 00:19:17

Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!

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U.S. Indoor Track & Field Championships Recap

Posted February 25th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Shannon Rowbury and Matt Tegenkamp [Pictured] dominated the 3-K’s, while Khadevis Robinson just held off Nick Symmonds in the men’s 800m to highlight two days of action at the AT&T U.S. Indoor Championships here. The meet served as the U.S. trials for next month’s IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics in Valencia, Spain, with the top-2 finishers in each event earning provisional berths on the U.S. team.

As expected, Tegenkamp defended his title, but now has the distinction of winning the national 3000m crown in the slowest ever time since the event was introduced to these championships in 1987. In fact, his 8:02.52 clocking is the only winning time north of eight minutes in the history of the meet.
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USA Indoor T&F Champs:
Teg Repeats in Men’s 3k

Posted February 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 PM by Jeremy Sussman

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Former Wisconsin standout Matt Tegenkamp used a blistering final quarter to successfully defend his 3k title at the 2008 USATF Indoor Championships. “Teg” was followed closely by training partners Chris Solinsky and Jonathon Riley in what amounted to a sweep by Jerry Schumacher’s boys.

The race started at a very pedestrian pace and was led by Chris Solinsky and then Anthony Gallo. A tightly bunched pack went through their first four 400m splits in 1:10.3, 2:16.4, 3:23.2, and 4:30.5. The pace picked up slightly after the mile as Daniel Kanyaruhuru briefly took the lead and went through 2000m in 5:36.6.
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After Brilliant 2007, Tegenkamp Looks for Even More in 2008

Posted February 22nd, 2008 at 1:51 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

If you’ve been having trouble getting in your own training this winter because of the weather, Matt Tegenkamp feels your pain. In snowy and cold Madison, Wis., the fastest American ever over two miles has been counting the days until spring.

“It’s been a record-breaking year this year for all the snow,” Tegenkamp said in a telephone interview from his home yesterday. “I was actually in Tempe (Arizona) for December and January. I keep complaining about it. Maybe the warmer weather made me soft.”

“Soft” isn’t an adjective one is likely to hear when Tegenkamp’s name is mentioned. Under the tutelage of University of Wisconsin associate head track coach, Jerry Schumacher, the 26 year-old 5000m runner has blossomed into America’s #2 5000m man behind double world champion, Bernard Lagat. He’s coming off of a career year where he ran a USA best for the two-mile (8:07.07), and recorded U.S.-leading outdoor times for both 3000m (7:35.68) and 5000m (13:07.41). He also ran the #3 U.S. time for 1500m (3:34.25).
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Interview with former Wisconsin Badger star
Chris Solinsky

Posted September 8th, 2007 at 3:35 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Special Features, Interviews

Former Wisconsin Badger, Chris Solinsky, who now runs for Nike, is a 5-time individual champion in the NCAA and has personal bests of 3:57, 7:36 and 13:12.

Q. Can you explain how you first got starting in the sport of track and field?

A. I got started in running through some persuasion from my parents after some early signs of success in running. I was a soccer player all my life and really enjoyed it, but showed some glimpses of ability in running during the gym class mile. I ran somewhere around 6 minutes when I was in 4th grade and won the district track meet mile in 6th grade. I ran track in middle school but never really trained as I would practice my high jump when the rest of the distance guys would run. I would get beat a lot. My first 5k was something like 19:40 or so in the 8th grade my parents had me try cross country and actually train for running and I had pretty good success and fell in love with the sport. Our team was great as we were all real close, so that helped a lot too.

To read the rest of this interview conducted by our friends at Joffroi Running, pleaseCLICK HERE.

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Accustomed to winning, University of Wisconsin may be on the verge of losing Schumacher

Posted August 6th, 2007 at 11:05 AM by Jessica Galvano

Section: News & Results, Cross Country

The University of Wisconsin has long been reputed as a cross country powerhouse. Much of the Badger’s athletic distinction is owed to head coach and former All-American, Jerry Schumacher. Once a celebrated distance runner at UW, Schumacher’s now off-the-course contribution has garnered further successes for his alma mater. With five consecutive years of nationally acclaimed cross country and a 2005 NCAA title, the UW dynasty could now be in jeopardy of possible defeat: losing Schumacher.

Recently, the University of California has offered Schumacher the opportunity to replace Chris Huffins as director of the University’s track and cross country programs. A move to California, while not entirely devastating to a solid Wisconsin team, would nonetheless, negate the momentum Schumacher has brought to UW during his nine years as head coach.
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Video: Solinsky runs impressive 3000m in Sheffield; 8th fastest American

Posted July 17th, 2007 at 11:30 AM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Chris Solinsky ran 7:36.90 - a 15-second PR - on a cold, rainy night in Sheffield, UK. His time, the 8th fastest ever by an American, was good for third place behind Kenenisa Bekele and Craig Mottram at the Norwich Union Grand Prix meeting.

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Note: Click “Read the rest of this entry” for more information from KIMbia Atheltics about Solinksy’s impressive performance in England.

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