Olympian Matt Tegenkamp to Make Marathon Debut at 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon today announced that two-time U.S.
Olympian Matt Tegenkamp will take on the 26.2-mile distance for the
first time at the event’s 36th running on Sunday, October 13.
The 31-year-old native of Lee’s Summit, Mo., has been one of the
country’s most decorated track athletes for the past decade. He has
represented Team USA at two Olympic Games (2008 and 2012) and three IAAF
World Track & Field Championships (2007, 2009 and 2011) in the 5,000-
and 10,000-meter distances. In his highly anticipated move to the
marathon, Tegenkamp bolsters the American presence alongside Olympic
teammate Dathan Ritzenhein.
“I am very excited that all the stars aligned this year to make the Bank
of America Chicago Marathon my debut at the distance,” said Tegenkamp.
“There are a lot of great fall marathon options, but for my first I
wanted to stay true to my Midwest roots—born and raised in Kansas City,
Missouri, college at University of Wisconsin, married in Madison, and
now the Chicago Marathon. I know that Chicago will provide a great
course, electric fans, and amazing competition, which will provide the
perfect stage for me to take on one of the toughest events in sports.”
Tegenkamp, a 2005 graduate of the University of Wisconsin, resides in
Portland, Ore., where he runs professionally for Nike and is coached by
Jerry Schumacher. He is the American record-holder in the two-mile
(8:07.07), and he placed 4th in the 5,000-meters at the 2007
IAAF World Championships (missing the bronze medal by .03 seconds) and
was 13th in the 2008 Olympic final. In 2009, Tegenkamp became
one of only six Americans in history to break the 13-minute barrier in
the 5,000-meters with a personal best 12:58.56. In 2011, he turned his
focus to the 10,000-meters, placing 10th at the 2011 IAAF
World Championships and 19th in the 2012 Olympic final.
“I’ve long admired Matt’s ability to deliver year after year and
championship after championship on the track. I’m excited that he’ll
bring that big game mentality and professionalism to his marathon debut
at the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon,” said Executive Race
Director Carey Pinkowski. “With Matt and Dathan on the start line, the
U.S. has the strongest one-two punch in the history of the Chicago
Marathon.”
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has a rich history of debut
marathon performances, with three debut world bests: Khalid Khannouchi’s
2:07:10 in 1997, Ondoro Osoro’s 2:06:54 in 1998, and Evans Rutto’s
2:05:50 in 2003. In 2002, Alan Culpepper ran 2:09:41 in Chicago, tying
Alberto Salazar for the fastest ever debut by an American. The fastest
world and American debut marathons currently stand at 2:03:06 (Moses
Mosop, 2011 Boston) and 2:08:24 (Ryan Hall, 2008 London), respectively.
About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
In its 36th
year and a member of the World Marathon Majors, the Bank of America
Chicago Marathon annually attracts 45,000 participants, including a
world-class elite runner and wheelchair athlete field, and an estimated
1.7 million spectators. As a result of its national and international
draw, the iconic race assists in raising millions of dollars for a
variety of charitable causes while generating $219 million in annual
economic impact to its host city according to a report by the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Regional Economics Applications
Laboratory (R.E.A.L.). The 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will
start and finish in Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October
13. In advance of the race, a two-day Health & Fitness Expo will be held
at McCormick Place Convention Center on Friday, October 11, and
Saturday, October 12. For more information about the event and how to
get involved, go to www.chicagomarathon.com
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Copyright Business Wire 2013