CHICAGO – 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.
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