Erik Sowinski

Early life and career Sowinski was born on December 21, 1989, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, to Bryan and Jane Sowinski. He has two younger siblings, Andy and Emily. Running for Waukesha West High School, Erik won the 800m at the 2008 WIAA Wisconsin State Meet.

In college, Sowinski competed for the University of Iowa from 2009 until 2012. He set his school's 800-meter record at 1:45.90 when he placed second at the 2012 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Sowinski accumulated five All-American titles while at University of Iowa. Three weeks later, he won the 800 metres at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, winning in 1:47.09 ahead of a late charge by Robby Andrews. He signed with Nike in May, while continuing to work for the running store.

In 2014 he repeated as national indoor champion, which qualified him to represent the United States internationally at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland, where he placed 13th. At the 2016 Shanghai Diamond League, Sowinski placed eighth in a tactical race. At the 2016 World Indoor Championships, he won a bronze medal.

In 2017, he won the gold medal in the men's 4 × 800 metres relay at the 2017 IAAF World Relays held in Nassau, Bahamas. In 2019, Sowinski was also a part of the pacing effort, along with Christian Harrison and Harun Abda, which led to Yomif Kejelcha breaking the Indoor Mile World Record. thumb Sowinski (center) competes in the 800 metres at the 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

In 2020, Sowinski switched sponsors from Nike to Brooks, competing as a member of the Brooks Beasts while continuing to live in Iowa City, Iowa. He placed fourth at the USATF Indoor Championships before the outdoor season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, he competed for Bell Lap Elite. On February 17, 2022, Erik paced Olympic Champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen to a new Indoor World Record of 3:30.60. The pacing of other athletes has earned Sowinski praise, with several events requesting his pacing services.

Achievements