by Larry Eder
Upsetting all of the form charts, and giving U.S. track fans more hope, Chris Solinsky broke
the former AR of Meb Keglezighi, (set on the same track, in April 2001, of 27:13.98), with a scintillating finishing time of 26:59.6, and an epic battle over 24 laps. That Galen Rupp, the person who most considered ready to break the former AR, in fact, did break the time, with his fine 27:10.74, shows the depth of U.S. distance running and the forethought of one Alberto Salazar, who pushed the Oregon Project with Nike to make it a reality: a place where American runners could train to challenge the best in the world!
Here is the race story in pictures, courtesy of PhotoRun.net’s Andrew McClanahan (special
thanks to Stanford Associate SID, Ricky Brackett, who was immensely helpful):
The race took off at 4:20 pace, as the lead pack cruised 65 seconds a lap
for the first seven laps, hitting 1 3/4 in 7:35. Galen Rupp followed rabbits
as the pack hit 5,000 meters in 13:34.5. The lead pack consisted of
Galen Rupp, Sam Chelanga, Chris Solinsky, David Selel, with Simon
Bairu following the pack….
The pace dropped after 7 laps to 64 second laps, as the lead pack is down
to four, and Rupp continues to push the pace, at 8,000 meters, the time is
22:50. As RBR observer Jeff Shaver texts RBR, “bye, bye, AR”. Rupp,
Solinsky, Selel, Chelanga, wtih Bairu following….
Chris Solinsky, past the halfway point, KM 10,000m, photo by Photorun.net.
Chris Solinsky is looking good, as Rupp, Selel, Chelanga battle…..
Chris Solinsky begins to push, 800 meters to go, Photo by PhotoRun.net.
The pace has been hard. As Chris Solinsky pushes to the front, with 800 meters
to go, Galen Rupp begins to falter, dropping to fourth, with Salel, Chelanga
behind Solinsky. Solinsky drops a 61 second lap, and begins to have a
break….
Solinsky sprints to finish, Payton Jordan Invitational, photo by PhotoRun.net.
Having just run a 61 second lap, Solinsky continues to drop the pace,
running 55 seconds for the last lap, he has broken the pack, and is on
way to breaking the American record!
Solinsky near finish, photo by PhotoRun.net.
Sensing a break, Solinsky does not let up, and continues to pour it
on, getting closer and closer to the finish line, when his upset of the
Kim McDonald 10,000 meter field, in his debut at the distance, will
be complete! About twenty agonizing meters to go!
Photo by PhotoRun.net.
What goes across one’s mind when one has just surpassed any reasonable
goal for the evening’s race? Chris Solinsky, a fine runner, has just become
the American record holder and first non-African born runner to dip under
27minutes for the 10,000 meters! The days of anonymity are over….
Chris Solinsky hugs his training partner, also former college
teammate, Simon Bairu, as both set national records this
evening. Chris for the U.S. and Simon for Canada!
Watch for our upcoming interview of Chris Solinsky, and
our coverage in Athletes Only Summer 2010!
For more on the sport, please click on www.runningnetwork.com.
