Chris Solinsky
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Chris Solinsky (born December 5, 1984) is a runner from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Among his more notable achievements, he won eight state championships in high school and five NCAA Division I championships at the University of Wisconsin. He is currently a professional runner for Nike and KIMbia Athletics.
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[edit] High School
Solinsky attended high school at Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH). In his high school career, he won 11 State medals, eight State titles, led the nation in time on six different occasions, and earned four 1st Team All-American awards. He broke Wisconsin high school state records in the indoor 1600m, the indoor 2-mile, and the outdoor 3200m. He also broke state meet records in cross country and the outdoor 3200m. His winning time of 14:41 at the 2002 Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships gave him a 20-second winning margin, tied for the largest margin in history. He finished his HS career with personal records of 4:03.80 (1600m) and 8:43.24 (3200m). His 8:43.24 time came at the Arcadia Invitational in California in which he outran possibly the deepest 2-mile field in High School history.
[edit] College
Solinsky chose the University of Wisconsin-Madison after graduating from high school in the spring of 2003. There, training under coach Jerry Schumacher, he continued to improve as a national-class runner. The Badgers were undefeated in Big Ten championships during Solinsky's career, sweeping the 2003-2007 cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field titles. Wisconsin also won two NCAA team titles during those years (2005 cross country, 2007 indoor track and field), and finished as national runner-up three times (cross country 2003, 2004, 2006). As an individual, Solinsky earned four Big Ten individual titles, 14 All American accolades, and five individual national titles (2005 & 2006 indoor 3000m, 2007 indoor 5000m, 2006 & 2007 outdoor 5000m). He also holds the Wisconsin school records in the indoor 3000m and outdoor mile.
At the Badger Twilight Meet on May 6 (52 years to the day after Roger Bannister broke the barrier for the first time), Solinsky and four other athletes ran a 1-mile race at the Dan McClimon track. Former Badger Matt Tegenkamp finishing first in 3:56.58 and Solinsky finished second in 3:57.80, both becoming the first to dip under 4 minutes on Wisconsin soil.
Solinsky graduated from Wisconsin in December of 2007 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in history and sociology.
[edit] Professional
Following the completion of his collegiate career, Solinsky signed a contract with Nike and KIMbia Athletics. He continues to live and train in Madison, Wisconsin under coach Schumacher. Matt Tegenkamp continues to be his training partner.
[edit] Personal Bests
- 1500 meters - 3.37.27 (7/7/2007)
- Mile - 3:57.80 (5/6/2006)
- 3000 meters - 7:36.90 (7/15/2007)
- 5000 meters - 13:12.24 (7/28/2007)
[edit] Achievements
- 2006 Big Ten Indoor Track Athlete Of The Year
- 2006 Big Ten Outdoor Track Athlete Of The Year
- 2007 Big Ten Indoor Track Athlete Of The Year
- 2007 NCAA Indoor Track Athlete Of The Year
[edit] Other
6'1", 175 lbs.
[edit] Audio Interviews
- TheFinalSprint.com's 5/29/07 interview with Chris Solinsky before the 2007 NCAA and USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
- Teleconference interview with Former Wisconsin Badger teammates and current training partners Chris Solinsky & Matt Tegenkamp on June 13, 2007
