Matt Tegenkamp
Encyclopedia
Matthew Tegenkamp is a professional distance runner from Lee's Summit, Missouri
. He is the American two-mile record holder, with a time of 8:07.07, set at the Prefontaine Classic
in 2007.
He also holds a 5,000 meter PR of 12:58.56, which makes him the fourth fastest American all-time at the distance, and a 1,500 meter PR of 3:34.25. Tegenkamp's mile best is 3:56.38, which he achieved while becoming the first person to break four minutes in the mile on Wisconsin soil. He is currently a professional runner for Nike
and KIMbia Athletics.
National Cross Country Championships. During his senior track campaign, Tegenkamp ran an 8:57.23 3200m and a 4:11.43 1600m to win both events at the Missouri state championships, leading his team to the state title.
, along with high school rivals Tim Keller and Josh Spiker. After redshirting
his freshman season, he defeated two-time high school national champion Dathan Ritzenhein
at the U.S. Junior Cross Country championships, handing Ritzenhein his first cross country defeat in several years. Tegenkamp then placed fifth at the World Junior Cross Country Championships, behind Ritzenhein and future world record holder, Kenenisa Bekele
.
Tegenkamp soon began to struggle with injuries that hindered him until Wisconsin coach, Jerry Schumacher
, changed his training regimen. He responded quickly, lowering his 5000m PR to 13:30.90 in 2004. Tegenkamp graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 2005 with a bachelor of science
degree in human ecology
.
to train as a professional under Schumacher. In 2006, he set personal bests at 1,500 meters (3:35.96), 3,000 meters (7:34.98) and the two-mile (8:16.50). Tegenkamp also ended his 2006 season by getting a bronze medal at the 2006 IAAF World Cup in Athletics
, with a time of 13:36.83.
In 2007, he won the USA Indoor National 3k with a time of 7:46.08. Then, he set a personal and American record in the two-mile run at the Prefontaine Classic with a time of 8:07.07, breaking the existing record set by Alan Webb
by more than 4 seconds.<
Tegenkamp also finished second behind Bernard Lagat
in the 5,000m at the 2007 U.S. Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which earned him the right to compete at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka. At the 2007 IAAF world championships Matt finished fourth in the 5,000m event, missing out on the bronze medal by .03 second, with a time of 13:46.78 to Moses Ndiema Kipsiro of Uganda
's 13:46.75.
At the 2008 United States Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon
, Tegenkamp finished second to Lagat in the 5,000-meter run with a time 13:29.68 to earn his first trip to the Olympic games.
In 2008, Matt and wife Michelle Carson, and Matt's coach moved to Portland, Oregon for Nike's Oregon Project.
In 2009 Tegenkamp became one of only 6 non-African runners to break the 13 minute barrier in the 5000 meters with his PR of 12:58.56.
Tegenkamp was once quoted saying, "I will never run a 10k," though he later retracted this statement and made his track 10,000 meter début on May 1, 2011 at the Payton Jordan Invitational, running 27:28:64.
Lee's Summit, Missouri
Lee's Summit is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Cass. As of the 2010 census found the population at 91,364 making it the sixth-largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and the sixth-largest city in Missouri...
. He is the American two-mile record holder, with a time of 8:07.07, set at the Prefontaine Classic
Prefontaine Classic
The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.-History:...
in 2007.
He also holds a 5,000 meter PR of 12:58.56, which makes him the fourth fastest American all-time at the distance, and a 1,500 meter PR of 3:34.25. Tegenkamp's mile best is 3:56.38, which he achieved while becoming the first person to break four minutes in the mile on Wisconsin soil. He is currently a professional runner for Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
and KIMbia Athletics.
High school
After being part of the state championship team as a sophomore, Matt showed steady improvement throughout his early career. As a senior he set a Missouri state cross country course record (15:26.7) on the Oak Hills course. He gained national recognition his senior year at Lee's Summit High School when he placed second in the Midwest Regional for cross country and fifth at the FootlockerFoot Locker
Foot Locker, Inc. is an American sportswear and footwear retailer, with its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and operating in approximately 20 countries worldwide. Formerly known as Venator Group, Inc., it is the successor corporation to the F.W. Woolworth Company , and many of...
National Cross Country Championships. During his senior track campaign, Tegenkamp ran an 8:57.23 3200m and a 4:11.43 1600m to win both events at the Missouri state championships, leading his team to the state title.
College
Tegenkamp attended the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, along with high school rivals Tim Keller and Josh Spiker. After redshirting
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his freshman season, he defeated two-time high school national champion Dathan Ritzenhein
Dathan Ritzenhein
Dathan Ritzenhein is an American long-distance runner. He held the American record in the 5,000 metres from 2009–10, when it was broken by Bernard Lagat...
at the U.S. Junior Cross Country championships, handing Ritzenhein his first cross country defeat in several years. Tegenkamp then placed fifth at the World Junior Cross Country Championships, behind Ritzenhein and future world record holder, Kenenisa Bekele
Kenenisa Bekele
Kenenisa Bekele is an Ethiopian long-distance runner, who holds the world record and Olympic record in both the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres events...
.
Tegenkamp soon began to struggle with injuries that hindered him until Wisconsin coach, Jerry Schumacher
Jerry Schumacher
Jerry Schumacher is an American coach for the sport of track and field, specializing in distance running. He has coached Olympic bronze medalist and the American women's 10k record holder Shalane Flanagan, the former men's American 10k record holder Chris Solinsky, the men's American two mile...
, changed his training regimen. He responded quickly, lowering his 5000m PR to 13:30.90 in 2004. Tegenkamp graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 2005 with a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in human ecology
Human ecology
Human ecology is the subdiscipline of ecology that focuses on humans. More broadly, it is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary study of the relationship between humans and their natural, social, and built environments. The term 'human ecology' first appeared in a sociological study in 1921...
.
Professional
Following graduation, Tegenkamp stayed in MadisonMadison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
to train as a professional under Schumacher. In 2006, he set personal bests at 1,500 meters (3:35.96), 3,000 meters (7:34.98) and the two-mile (8:16.50). Tegenkamp also ended his 2006 season by getting a bronze medal at the 2006 IAAF World Cup in Athletics
IAAF World Cup in Athletics
The IAAF Continental Cup is an international athletics competition which comprises track and field events. It is the only world cup contested by teams representing entire continents, rather than just those of individual nations...
, with a time of 13:36.83.
In 2007, he won the USA Indoor National 3k with a time of 7:46.08. Then, he set a personal and American record in the two-mile run at the Prefontaine Classic with a time of 8:07.07, breaking the existing record set by Alan Webb
Alan Webb (athlete)
Alan Webb is an American athlete. He holds the American record in the mile, with a time of 3:46.91. He competes professionally for Nike.-High school:...
by more than 4 seconds.<
Tegenkamp also finished second behind Bernard Lagat
Bernard Lagat
Bernard Kipchirchir Lagat is an American middle and long distance champion athlete.Lagat was born in Kapsabet, Kenya...
in the 5,000m at the 2007 U.S. Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which earned him the right to compete at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka. At the 2007 IAAF world championships Matt finished fourth in the 5,000m event, missing out on the bronze medal by .03 second, with a time of 13:46.78 to Moses Ndiema Kipsiro of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
's 13:46.75.
At the 2008 United States Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, Tegenkamp finished second to Lagat in the 5,000-meter run with a time 13:29.68 to earn his first trip to the Olympic games.
In 2008, Matt and wife Michelle Carson, and Matt's coach moved to Portland, Oregon for Nike's Oregon Project.
In 2009 Tegenkamp became one of only 6 non-African runners to break the 13 minute barrier in the 5000 meters with his PR of 12:58.56.
Tegenkamp was once quoted saying, "I will never run a 10k," though he later retracted this statement and made his track 10,000 meter début on May 1, 2011 at the Payton Jordan Invitational, running 27:28:64.
Personal bests
- 1500 meters - 3:34.25 (7/3/2007)
- Mile - 3:56.38 (5/6/2006)
- 3000 meters - 7:34.98 (8/19/2006)
- Two miles - 8:07.07 (6/10/2007) Current American Record
- 5000 meters - 12:58.56 (9/4/2009) #5 All-Time in America
- 10,000 meters - 27:28.22
External links
- Matt Tegenkamp Athlete Profile: KIMbia Athletics
- Matt Tegenkamp Athlete USATF Bio: USA Track & Field
Video interviews
- Flotrack Video Interviews of Matt Tegenkamp
- Matt Tegenkamp Talks About the 2009 US Outdoor Track Championships
Audio interviews
- Tegenkamp discusses his 4th place 2007 IAAF World Championships performance and missing a medal by 0.03 seconds
- Interview with Matt Tegenkamp after he finished second in the 5,000m at the 2007 U.S. Outdoor Championships and earned a spot on Team USA for the World Championships
- Teleconference interview with Former Wisconsin Badger teammates and current training partners Matt Tegenkamp & Chris Solinsky on June 13, 2007