| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 January 1982 |
| Residence | Portland, Oregon |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Event(s) | 5,000 metres |
| College/university team | University of Wisconsin, Madison |
| Coached by | Jerry Schumacher |
| Achievements and titles | |
| World finals | 2007, 5,000 metres, 4th 2009, 5,000 metres, 8th |
| Olympic finals | 2008, 5,000 metres, 13th |
| Highest world ranking | 2007, Ranked 10th in the 5000 meters by Track and Field News |
| Personal best(s) |
1500 : 3:34.25 |
Matthew Tegenkamp (born January 19, 1982) 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.[1]
He also holds a 5,000 meter PR of 12:58.56, which makes him the fourth fastest American all-time at the distance,[2] 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.[3] He is currently a professional runner for Nike and KIMbia Athletics.
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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 Footlocker 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.
Tegenkamp attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, 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.[4] Tegenkamp graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2005 with a bachelor of science degree in human ecology.
Following graduation, Tegenkamp stayed in 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, with a time of 13:36.83.
In 2007, he won the USA Indoor National 3k with a time of 7:46.08.[5] 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.[1]<[2]
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.[6] 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[7] to earn his first trip to the Olympic games.[8]
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.[9]
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.[10]